1 Scope

1.1 Inclusions

This Standard specifies the chassis and body requirements and safety equipment requirements for school buses. It is a manufacturing standard intended to apply to original equipment supplied by the bus manufacturer.

Note: The main purpose of this Standard is to provide the safest possible vehicle for students using school buses. It needs to be stressed, however, that standards are not substitutes for thorough, ongoing, and comprehensive safety training of students and drivers.

1.2 Application

This Standard applies to the following types of vehicles:

a)    Type A1, A2, B, C, and D school buses;

b)   Type A1, A2, B, C, and D accessible school buses; and

c)    multifunction school activity buses (MFSABs).

Note: It is intended that this Standard will apply to those vehicles manufactured on and after November 1, 2022. It is anticipated that the authority having jurisdiction in each Province or Territory will apply this Standard to vehicles manufactured on and after that date.

1.3 Terminology

In this Standard, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.

1.4 Units of measurement

The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in parentheses are for information and comparison only.