Rule 4501-5-03 | School buses used to transport pupils with special needs.
[Comment: For dates and availability of material incorporated by reference in this rule, see paragraph (S) of rule 4501-5-01 of the Administrative Code.]
(A) General requirements.
(1) All school buses equipped with wheelchair lifts shall comply with rules 4501-5-01 to 4501-5-03 of the Administrative Code, when applicable.
(2) School buses used for the transportation of pupils with special needs that require the use of a wheelchair and/or other mobile seating devices which prohibit use of the regular service entrance shall be equipped with a power lift.
(3) The lift shall be located on the right side of the body, in no way attached to the exterior sides of the bus. When not extended, the lift shall be confined within the perimeter of the school bus body. Buses equipped with a lift shall not have passenger seats installed directly across the aisle way from the lift unless they are seats that have been designed to be removed for the purposes of alternative passenger securement.
(4) All school buses equipped with wheelchair lifts shall be equipped with an electronic communication system. The electronic communication system shall be capable of constant contact with the school or dispatch point. This equipment may be excluded from the bus manufacturer's bid and purchased separately.
(B) Aisle width.
All school buses equipped with a power lift shall provide a minimum thirty inch pathway leading from any wheelchair position to an emergency door that is at least thirty inches wide.
(C) All school buses equipped with attachment points, securement devices and/or wheelchair securement systems shall also be equipped with a durable webbing cutter having a full width hand-grip and protected blade. The cutter must be appropriately stored in the driver's compartment to the left of the driver. This equipment may be excluded from the bus manufacturer's bid and purchased separately.
(D) Wheelchair securement.
School buses designed for the transportation of pupils using wheelchairs or special mobility devices shall have wheelchair securement and occupant restraint systems that comply with SAE standard J2249 installed as specified in FMVSS 571.222, sections 5.4.1 to 5.4.4 at each wheelchair location.
(E) Wheelchair tie down systems shall meet minimum requirements. Minimum wheelchair tie down systems include:
Securement system for mobile seating device and occupant.
(1) The designated area for the wheelchair/mobile seating devices are to be a minimum of fifty inches longitudinally by thirty inches laterally. The designated area is to be free of all obstructions pursuant to FMVSS 571.222.
(2) All securement system attachments or coupling hardware not permanently attached are to be designed to prohibit accidental disconnecting.
(3) All attachment or coupling systems designed to be connected or disconnected frequently are to be accessible and operable without the use of tools or other mechanical assistance.
(4) No mobile seating device securement system hardware is to be placed so that a mobile seating device can be placed blocking access to lift door or emergency door(s) with the exception of track hardware.
(5) Detailed instructions, including a parts list, regarding installation and use of the system is to be provided with each vehicle equipped with an occupant securement system.
(6) Detailed instruction, including a diagram regarding the proper placement and position of the system including correct belt angles, is to be provided with each vehicle equipped with an occupant securement system.
(F) Seat spacing.
Flexibility in seat spacing and floor plan layout to accommodate special devices is permitted.
(G) Special service entrance shall meet minimum requirements. Minimum special service entrance requirements include:
(1) The special service entrance door(s) is to be at any convenient point on the right curb side of the bus. When the special service entrance is located forward of the rear wheels, the special service entrance door(s), in the open position, cannot obstruct the regular service entrance.
(2) The opening may extend below the floor through the bottom of the body skirt. If such an opening is used, reinforcements are to be installed at the front and rear of the floor opening to support the floor and give the same strength as other floor openings.
(3) The opening, with doors open, is to be of sufficient width and depth to allow the passage of wheelchairs/mobile seating devices and mobility aids. The minimum clear opening is to be fifty-six inches in height
(4) A drip molding is to be installed above the opening to effectively divert water from the opening. Door posts and headers for the special service entrance are to be reinforced sufficiently to provide support and strength equivalent to the areas of the side of the bus not used for service doors. A head bumper pad is to be installed above the special service entrance and/or on the lift frame.
(H) Special service entrance doors shall meet minimum requirements. Minimum special service entrance door requirements include:
(1) A single door or double door may be used.
(2) All doors are to open outwardly. The special service entrance doors are to have a positive fastening device/s to hold doors in the open position and door bumpers to prevent door-to-body contact.
(3) All doors are to be weather-sealed. Buses with double doors are to be so constructed that a flange on the forward door overlaps the edge of the rear door when closed.
(4) When manually operated dual doors are provided, the rear door is to have at least a one-point fastening device to the header. The forward mounted door is to have at least three-point fastening devices. One is to be to the header, one to the floor line of the body, and the other is to be into the rear door. These locking devices are to afford maximum safety when the doors are in the closed position.
(5) The door and hinge mechanism is to be of a strength that is greater than, or equivalent to, the emergency door exit. Door materials, panels and structural strength are to be equivalent to the conventional service and emergency doors. Color, lettering and other exterior features are to match adjacent sections of the body.
(6) Each door is to have a window compatible within one inch of the lower line of adjacent sash. The window is to be installed to provide a dustproof/watertight fit.
(7) The special service entrance is to be equipped with a device that will actuate a visible signal located in the driver's compartment when the door or doors are not securely closed and the ignition is in on position.
(I) Lift area lighting.
Adequate lighting of the lift area (both inside and outside) shall be provided. The light(s) used to illuminate the interior and exterior of the lift area shall be activated when the lift door is open.
(J) Weight distribution.
On buses equipped with a power lift, the battery box and fuel tank may be located by the manufacturer to provide equal weight distribution to compensate for the weight of the power lift mechanism.
(K) Alternator and power supply.
A circuit breaker shall be installed between the power source and the lift motor. It shall be located as close to the power source as possible but not within the passenger/driver compartment.
(L) Alternator shall have a minimum power output of two-hundred forty amps. "Type A" buses must be the largest alternator output available from the original equipment manufacturer.
(M) Power lift shall meet minimum requirements. Minimum power lift requirements include:
The lift and installation are to comply with the requirements set forth in FVMSS 571.403 (platform lift systems for motor vehicles) and FMVSS 571.404 (platform lift installations in motor vehicles).
(1) Design
(a) The lifting mechanism and platform are to be able to lift a minimum payload of eight hundred pounds.
(b) Lifts installed in all school buses is to be fully automatic, including folding and unfolding of the platform.
(2) Controls are to be provided that enable the operator to activate the lift mechanism from either inside or outside of the bus.
(3) School buses delivered to Ohio owners after the effective date of this rule are to have the lift installed by the body manufacturer or authorized agent. The installation is to be certified and the documentation provided by the installer. It is be the responsibility of the installer to ensure the levelness of the vehicle after installation. The location of the lift is not to adversely affect the legal axle loading, the maneuverability, structural, or the safe operation of the vehicle in which it is installed.
(4) When the special service entrance is installed adjacent to the stepwell or has a seat or wheelchair position directly in front of or behind the special service entrance, a barrier panel is to be installed. The barrier panel is to prevent the possibility of a body limb from becoming entangled in the lift mechanism. The barrier panel may be flush to the outside wall of the bus or at a dimension that will prohibit a passenger from coming in contact with the lift mechanism. The panel may be constructed of aluminum or polycarbonate. The end of the barrier panel exposed to the passenger compartment is to be secured to a padded stanchion extending from the floor to the ceiling. The stanchion is to be attached to the roof bow or a reinforced panel in the ceiling. If the barrier panel is used in conjunction with a padded stanchion and modesty panel, the barrier is to extend approximately six inches above the lift platform and extend beyond the stationary frame or the most inner part of the lift exposed to the passenger compartment. If the barrier panel is a separate installation, the barrier is to be constructed of the same materials and extend from the floor to approximately six inches above the lift platform and extend beyond the stationary frame or the most inner part of the lift exposed to the passenger compartment. The barrier panel is to be in compliance with FMVSS 571.302 and FMVSS 571.222.
Last updated July 1, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Supplemental Information