NOTE: Equivalency - Permission to use a device or material as an "equivalent" to that called for in the "requirements" must be requested in writing by the manufacturer or owner. Any item supplied as an "equivalent" must have prior approval in writing from the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Executive Director of the Office of School Facilities and Transportation (State Director).
New Products - New products may be subjected to the experimental and field test evaluation procedures facilitated by the WVDE Office of School Facilities and Transportation staff for one year from the start date. The staff in conjunction with the State Director may determine the county(ies) in which the field test evaluation will be conducted and the length of time of the evaluation.
Changes - Any proposed changes in design or equipment by counties after receipt of the school bus must have prior approval in writing from the State Director.
1. School Bus Chassis.
1.1. Air Cleaner
1.1.a. The engine intake air cleaner shall be
dry element type and properly installed by the chassis manufacturer to meet
engine specifications. The manufacturer shall provide an air restriction
indicator device. Exception: Type D vehicles with engine in rear are required
to have a clearly visible air restriction indicator mounted in the engine
compartment.
1.2. Axles
1.2.a. The front and rear axles including
suspension assemblies and all frame-to-ground components shall have a gross
axle weight rating (GAWR) at ground at least equal to that portion of the load
as would be imposed by the chassis manufacturer's maximum gross vehicle weight
rating.
1.2.b. All vehicles shall
be equipped with appropriate GAWR axles or suspension systems and tires by
chassis manufacturer.
1.2.c. The
front axle shall be heavy-duty bus type and equipped with oil bath (synthetic
lubricant) wheel bearings. Exception: Type A buses.
1.3. Back Up Alarms
1.3.a. All buses shall be equipped with an
audible electrical warning device, automatically actuated when the bus is in
reverse gear.
1.3.b. The device
shall be of 112 decibels (dB), meeting Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
J994B. The device shall be mounted behind the rear axle, between the frame
rails, and shall emit an intermittent sound. Variable sound is not
permitted.
1.4. Brakes
(Air). 1.4.a. A braking system including a
service brake and parking brake shall be provided.
1.4.b. Buses using an air-operated braking
system shall be equipped with a Wig-Wag warning device and/or devices readily
audible, which have a minimum rating of 80 dB and a maximum rating of 85 dB
measured at the operator's ear and visible to the operator. The device will
give a continuous warning when the air pressure available in the system for
braking is 60 pounds per square inch (psi) or less and must remain activated
until the system is at or above 60 psir. An illuminated gauge that will
indicate to the operator the air pressure in pounds per square inch or the
inches of mercury vacuum available for the operation of the brakes shall be
provided. An anti-lock braking system (ABS) shall be standard on units with air
brakes. 1.4.b.1. Air brakes shall be
installed on all chassis. Exception: Electric-powered vehicle, Type A and less
than 35 passenger vehicles.
1.4.b.2. All air-operated brake systems
shall: 1.4.b.2.A. have S-Cam type on all
wheels incorporating a long-stroke brake chamber. Exception: Air
Disc.
1.4.b.2.B. use the same brand
of automatic slack adjuster on each axle. Exception: Air Disc
1.4.b.2.C. have at least 13.2 cubic feet per
minute (CFM) air compressor.
1.4.b.2.D. be protected by a desiccant type
air dryer with an Air Dryer Internal Purge (ADIP) or equivalent spin-on
replaceable filter.
1.4.b.2.E. be
equipped with an engine or an exhaust brake. A clearly identified manual
control shall be within easy reach of the operator, in addition to a modulated
control through the brake treadle valve. Exception: Propane and gasoline school
buses. Propane and gasoline buses may be equipped with drive line retarder
systems.
1.4.b.2.F. have a Schrader
valve to charge the school bus air system in the event of a compressor
failure.
1.4.b.2.G. be equipped
with long stroke welded clevis air chambers. Exception: Air Disc
1.4.b.2.H. be equipped with automatic slack
adjusters. Exception: Air Disc
1.4.b.3. Air disc type brakes installed by
chassis manufacturers are permissible.
1.4.b.4. All air brake systems shall be
designed to permit visual inspection of brake lining wear without removal of
any chassis components.1.4.b.5. Any
brake system dry reservoir shall be safeguarded by a check valve or equivalent
device so that, in the event of failure or leakage in its connection to the
source of compressed air or vacuum, the stored dry air or vacuum shall not be
depleted by the leakage or failure.
1.5. Brakes (Hydraulic)
1.5.a. Buses using a hydraulic assist-booster
in the operation of the brake system shall
1.5.a.1. be equipped with warning signals
that are readily audible and visible to the operator and that will provide
continuous warning in the event of a loss of fluid-flow from the primary source
or loss of electric source powering the back-up system.
1.5.a.2. be equipped with a source of
hydraulic pressure, automatically initiated upon loss of power from primary
source, and operating independently of the primary power
source.
1.5.b. All brake
lines and power and booster-assist lines shall be protected from excessive heat
and vibration and be installed to prevent chafing.
1.5.c. All brake systems shall be designed to
permit visual inspection of brake lining wear without removal of any chassis
components. Exception: Type A
1.6. Brake (Parking).
1.6.a. The parking brake, when applied, shall
remain in the applied position despite exhaustion of source of energy used for
application or leakage of any kind.
1.6.b. All non-park pawl transmissions shall
incorporate a park brake interlock that requires the service brake to be
applied to allow release of the parking brake.
1.6.c. The parking brake knob shall be an
easy-grip design.
1.7.
Bumpers. 1.7.a. All bumpers are to comply
with the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures (NSTSP)
and shall be painted black or manufacturer's standard. (See subsection
2.5.a.2.).
1.7.b.
Exception: Type A.
1.8. Certification.
1.8.a. The bus manufacturer and the bus
dealer shall certify in writing to the State Director that the product meets
all applicable federal and state requirements.
1.8.b. The first production unit of each type
shall be used as a "pilot model" and shall be inspected at the manufacturing
facility or a location to be determined by the State Director in consultation
with the dealer prior to any remaining units being produced.
1.8.c. The bus shall have a data tag
installed on the bus that states the maximum seating capacity which includes
the driver.
1.9.
Differential. 1.9.a. The differential ratio
shall be determined by the dealer to provide the best possible fuel
economy/performance balance.
1.9.b.
In no case shall the ratio be used to limit road speed.
1.10. Drive Shaft.
1.10.a. The torque capacity of the drive
shaft assembly shall exceed the maximum engine torque as developed through the
lowest transmission gear reduction.
1.10.a. Each drive shaft section shall be
protected by a metal guard or guards around the circumference of the drive
shaft to prevent whipping through the floor or dropping to the ground if
broken.
1.11. Electrical
System. 1.11.a. Battery
1.11.a.1. Diesel Power: Three Group 31
batteries with a minimum of 1950 cold cranking amps (CCA) total are required.
Exception: Type A gasoline-powered buses shall have two batteries.
1.11.a.2. Battery cables of sufficient length
without splices shall be provided by the chassis manufacturer.
1.11.a.2.A. All cables shall conform to the
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J541 with respect to electrical
resistance.
1.11.a.2.B. All cable
assemblies shall conform to American Trucking Association-Truck Maintenance
Council (ATA-TMC) RP105.
1.11.a.2.C. The manufacturer shall assure
continuous ground integrity.
1.11.a.3. Batteries for Type A, C, and D
vehicles shall be mounted in the body skirt by the body manufacturer.
1.11.a.4. All cables, mounting, etc., shall
conform to current design specifications.
1.11.a.5. The body manufacturer will be
responsible for final cable and connections between batteries.
1.11.a.6. All buses shall be equipped with a
body battery disconnect switch to allow the electrical source on the bus body
to be turned off in case of an electrical short and when the bus is not in
use.
1.11.a.7. The switch is to be
placed in a location not readily accessible to the driver or
passengers.1.11.a.8. The location
shall be labeled and the labeling shall be visible from the exterior of the
bus.
1.11.b. Alternator.
1.11.b.1. All Type C and D vehicles shall
have an alternator with a minimum charging rate of at least 200...
