LAW
Writer®
Ohio Laws and Rules
(A) Axles and suspensions
(1) Front and rear axles, including suspension assemblies and all frame-to-ground components shall have a gross axle rating 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.
(2) Heavy-duty double-acting shock absorbers compatible with the manufacturer’s rated axle capacity shall be installed on the front and rear of the school bus chassis.
(3) Suspension assemblies as specified shall maintain control stability of school bus under all load conditions.
(B) Battery
(1) Gasoline powered engine shall be equipped with one six hundred cold cranking amperes battery or larger.
(2) Diesel powered engine shall be equipped with two five-hundred cold cranking amperes battery or larger.
(3) One-piece non-spliced battery cables shall be provided by the chassis manufacturer.
All cables shall conform to society of automotive engineers standard J541 with respect to electrical resistance.
(4) Buses equipped with a lift shall have dual batteries of six hundred cold cranking amperes or larger.
(C) All braking systems shall comply with FMVSS 105 and shall be manufacturer’s standard.
(D) Front bumper shall be manufacturer’s standard.
(E) Clutch shall be manufacturer’s standard.
(F) Chassis color
(1) Bus shall be painted national school bus yellow. Hood shall be non-glare national school bus yellow or non-glare black.
(2) Wheels shall be black and/or gray.
(G) Cooling system
(1) The cooling system radiator shall be of sufficient capacity to cool the motor at all speeds in all gears.
(2) On all chassis requiring hoses or extensions to fill radiators, the hose or extension shall be so designed to permit adding coolant without trapping air.
(3) Permanent ethylene-glycol base or propylene-glycol base antifreeze shall be provided by chassis manufacturer. Anti-freeze shall be compatible with the cooling system.
(4) When a chassis is equipped with an automatic transmission, the chassis shall have a heavy-duty cooling system with increased capacity in the radiator, fan, and other necessary components to provide for the additional cooling required by the automatic transmission.
(5) Chassis shall be equipped with a coolant recovery system or a deaeration system.
(H) Manufacturer’s standard drive shaft guard shall be required to prevent drive shaft from dropping to ground.
(I) Driver’s seat shall be chassis manufacturer’s standard.
(J) Electrical system
(1) Alternator shall be a minimum one hundred ampere.
(2) All buses shall be equipped with a voltmeter. Manufacturer’s standard acceptable.
(3) All wiring shall meet applicable society of automotive engineers requirements.
(K) Exhaust system
(1) Exhaust pipe, muffler, and tailpipe shall be outside bus body and attached to chassis.
(2) Muffler shall be heavy-duty truck type of aluminized or stainless steel, or ceramic coated to offer maximum resistance to corrosion or oxidation.
(L) Front fenders’ total spread of outer edges, measured at the fender line, shall exceed the total spread of front tires when front tires are in straight-ahead position.
(M) Frame
(1) Frame shall be designed to correspond with or exceed standard practice performance criteria for trucks of same general load specifications used for highway service.
(2) Extension of these frame members shall be designed, furnished, and guaranteed by chassis or body manufacturer. Installation shall be guaranteed by the company installing the extension. Extension of frame length shall not be for the purpose of extending wheel-base.
(3) No holes shall be permitted in the chassis frame rails except those drilled at the chassis plant or authorized by the chassis manufacturer.
(4) Any welding to chassis frame rails must be guaranteed by the company performing the welding procedure.
(N) Manufacturer’s standard fuel tank construction shall prevent spillage or drainage of fuel on any part of the exhaust system.
(O) Horn(s) shall be capable of producing complex sound in band of audio frequencies from two hundred fifty to two thousand hertz and having a total sound band of eighty-two to one hundred two decibels within these frequency limits when measured at fifty feet from the vehicle.
(P) Instruments and instrument panel shall be manufacturer’s standard.
(Q) Chassis lamps and signals
(1) All lamps and their installation shall conform to current FMVSS 571.108.
(2) Bus shall be equipped with a column mounted dimmer switch.
(3) A self-canceling turn signal shall be installed by the chassis manufacturer as an integral part of the steering column assembly,
(R) Oil filter shall be manufacturer’s standard.
(S) All openings made by the chassis manufacturer in the floorboard and fire-wall shall be sealed by the chassis manufacturer to prevent gases from entering the driver’s compartment. Boots for the accelerator pedal, clutch, service brake, gearshift, and emergency brake, when required, shall be supplied by the chassis manufacturer.
(T) Power train
(1) Chassis equipped with gasoline engine shall have a minimum three-hundred fifty cubic-inch displacement and shall be fuel-injected.
(2) Chassis equipped with diesel engine shall have a minimum of one hundred-sixty horsepower.
(U) Steering system shall be equipped with heavy-duty integral power steering compatible with the gross vehicle weight for each capacity.
(V) Tires
(1) All tires shall be tubeless radial and meet all applicable tire and rim association standards. Tires shall be of adequate size and load rating for applicable gross vehicle weight.
(2) All tires on a given vehicle shall be of the same size, construction and capacity.
(W) Transmission
(1) Automatic transmission shall have at least three forward gears, neutral, and reverse.
(2) Manual transmission shall be synchromesh in all gears except first and reverse gears. Gearshift shall not interfere with operation of service/entrance door.
HISTORY: Eff 7-15-78; 2-11-93; 2-18-93; 9-1-98; 9-1-03
Rule promulgated under: RC 119.03
Rule authorized by: RC 4511.76
Rule amplifies: RC 4511.76
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 03/07/2003 and 03/07/2008