Ariz. Admin. Code § R13-13-105 - Special Needs Standards

A. General requirements:

1. A school bus introduced to Arizona on or after May 31, 2008 used for transporting disabled passengers shall comply with the minimum standards applicable to school buses and the specifications contained in this Section. A school bus introduced to Arizona before May 31, 2008 used for transporting disabled passengers shall comply with the minimum standards in this Section or shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's original specifications.

2. Any school bus that is used for transporting a passenger who uses a wheelchair shall be equipped with a wheelchair lift.

3. A wheelchair lift shall be located on the side of the bus body opposite the school bus driver. The wheelchair lift shall not be attached to the exterior sides of the school bus and shall be confined within the school bus body when not extended.

4. Any school bus that is used for transporting disabled passengers shall be equipped with a belt cutter that is accessible only to the school bus driver. The belt cutter shall be secured in a location within reach of the school bus driver while belted into the driver's seat. The school bus may be equipped with additional belt cutters. Additional belt cutters shall be accessible only to the school bus driver or adult aides or attendants.

B. Special-service entrance:

1. A school bus used for transporting disabled passengers shall have a special-service entrance of a width and depth to accommodate a wheelchair lift. The special-service entrance shall have a minimum clear opening of 30 inches horizontally to allow for the passage of a wheelchair.

2. The special-service entrance shall be located on the side of the bus opposite the school bus driver and far enough to the rear of the school bus to prevent the special-service entrance door from obstructing the service door when the special-service entrance door is open.

3. A drip molding shall be installed above the special-service entrance to divert water from the special-service entrance.

4. The frame surrounding the special-service entrance shall provide support and strength at least equal to at the conventional service and emergency doors.

C. Special-service entrance doors:

1. A school bus used for transporting passengers in wheelchairs shall provide a special-service entrance door not to exceed 50 inches in width.

2. Two doors may be used for a special-service entrance on a school bus, if the doors are equipped with a positive latching mechanism to prevent accidental opening.

3. The special-service entrance door shall be constructed to open toward the exterior of the school bus. A Type A school bus is exempt from this provision if its special-service entrance door is provided by the school bus chassis manufacturer.

4. The special-service entrance door shall have a fastening device attached to the school bus body to hold the special-service entrance door in an open position.

5. The special-service entrance door shall be weather-sealed by a waterproof cushion affixed to the door or door frame.

6. Door materials, panels, and structural strength of a special-service entrance door shall be equivalent to the standards contained in R13-13-107 for a service door and an emergency door. Color, rub rail extensions, if installed, lettering, and all exterior features shall match adjacent sections of the school bus body.

7. The window in the special-service entrance door shall be made of safety glass, mounted in a waterproof manner that is equal to the mounting of the other windows, and aligned with the side windows of the school bus.

8. A pressure switch shall be installed in the special-service entrance door frame that will actuate a visible signal located in the school bus driver's compartment when the ignition is in the "on" position to warn the school bus driver when the special-service entrance door is not closed.

9. A switch shall be installed in the special-service entrance door frame so the wheelchair lift will not operate when the special-service entrance door is closed.

D. Wheelchair lift:

1. A wheelchair lift shall be capable of lifting a minimum load of 800 pounds.

2. When the wheelchair-lift platform is raised to the maximum position, it shall be held in position by the wheelchair-lift.

3. Controls shall be provided that enable an individual authorized by the school bus driver to activate the wheelchair lift from either inside or outside the school bus.

4. The wheelchair lift shall be equipped so it may be manually raised or lowered in the event of a power failure to the wheelchair lift.

5. The wheelchair lift shall contain a safety device to prevent the wheelchair-lift platform from falling.

6. The wheelchair lift shall be constructed so it allows the wheelchair-lift platform to rest completely on the ground.

7. All edges of the wheelchair-lift platform shall be designed to restrain the wheelchair and prevent the feet of an individual in the wheelchair from becoming caught during the raising or lowering process.

8. A barrier shall be attached along the outer non-loading edges of the wheelchair-lift platform that will prevent the wheelchair from rolling off the wheelchair-lift platform when the wheelchair-lift platform is placed in any position other than completely extended on ground level.

9. A self-adjusting, skid-resistant plate shall be installed on the loading edge of the wheelchair-lift platform to reduce the incline from the wheelchair-lift platform to ground level. This plate shall be used as a restraining barrier on the loading edge of the wheelchair-lift platform. The wheelchair-lift platform shall be skid-resistant.

10. A school bus may be provided with a battery to be used exclusively to operate the wheelchair lift. If a battery is installed for this purpose, an appropriate size circuit breaker meeting the wheelchair lift manufacturer's specifications shall be installed between the battery and the wheelchair lift motor. The circuit breaker shall be located as close to the power source as possible, but not within the school bus driver's compartment.

11. The wheelchair lift shall be equipped with an adjustable switch that limits the electrical power to the wheelchair-lift motor and a bypass valve to prevent pressure from building in the hydraulic system when the wheelchair-lift platform reaches the maximum up or down position.

12. A ramp may be carried on a school bus for use during an occurrence that requires evacuating the school bus. The ramp shall not be stored within the passenger compartment of the school bus.

E. Wheelchair and wheelchair-passenger securement:

1. Each wheelchair in a school bus shall be secured in a forward-facing position. Medical equipment and supplies required to accommodate a disabled passenger shall be secured in a school bus by means of alterations approved by the Department in accordance with R13-13-108(G).

2. Each wheelchair-securement system location in a school bus shall have a minimum clear floor area of 30 inches in width from the interior school bus wall to the aisle and a minimum of 48 inches in length. A wheelchair shall not be placed in a position that prevents passage through the special-service entrance.

3. Each wheelchair-securement system shall have four full-length tracks, with an L-track four-point tie-down configuration.

4. The wheelchair-securement system shall provide a minimum of four wheelchair-securement anchorages attached to the school bus floor with a minimum of two anchorages located at the rear of the space designated for a wheelchair and a minimum of two anchorages located at the front of the space.

5. The wheelchair-securement system shall provide a minimum of one wheelchair-securement device located in each of the rear anchorages and a minimum of one wheelchair-securement device located in each of the front anchorages.

6. A wheelchair space shall have a minimum of one wheelchair-passenger shoulder restraint anchorage attached to the interior wall of the school bus and a minimum of two wheelchair-passenger restraint anchorages located at the rear of the space.

7. Each wheelchair space shall have one wheelchair-passenger restraint. A school bus equipped with a wheelchair-passenger restraint shall have the following information available on the school bus:

a. A telephone number where information may be obtained about installation, repair, and parts; and

b. Instructions regarding use of the restraint, including a diagram showing the proper placement of the wheelchair and positioning of securement devices and occupant restraints, including correct belt angles.

F. Dome light: A dome light shall be placed in the interior ceiling of the school bus to illuminate the wheelchair lift area. The dome light shall be activated by a pressure switch located in the special-service entrance door or by a manually operated switch located in the interior of the school bus no more than one foot from the special-service entrance door. This switch shall be used exclusively for the dome light.

G. Aisles: All aisles leading to an emergency door from any wheelchair space shall be a minimum of 30 inches in width. The emergency door opening shall be a minimum of 30 inches in width.

H. Seating arrangements: All fixed seats in a special-needs school bus shall be forward facing.

I. Emblems: A school bus used for transporting disabled passengers shall display two International Symbol of Accessibility emblems. One emblem shall be placed below the upper window on the emergency door or below the window on the special-service entrance door, and the second emblem shall be placed below the windshield on the side of the bus or on the bumper opposite the school bus driver. The emblems shall be made of blue, reflective material and be a minimum of 6 inches and a maximum of 12 inches in width and height and shall contain a reflective white wheelchair impression with a minimum of 1/8 inch reflective white border around the outer edges of the emblems.

J. Types A and B school buses used to transport disabled passengers shall comply with the specifications contained in this Section except:

1. A ramp may be installed in place of a wheelchair lift;

2. If a ramp is used, it shall be of a strength and rigidity to support a wheelchair, passenger, and an individual attending the wheelchair passenger. The ramp shall be equipped with a barrier on each longitudinal side to prevent the wheelchair from leaving the ramp;

3. The floor of the ramp shall be covered with nonskid material; and

4. A ramp shall not be carried in the passenger compartment of a school bus.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R13-13-105

Amended by final rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 3211, effective 1/24/2016.