Selecting and Equipping School Buses for CSRS. Chapter

Similar documents
Car Seats, Belts and Buses:

Safety Harnesses and School Buses

Contents. 1. What types of car restraints are available? Buying a car child seat- checklist Tips for fitting car seats 6

Buckle Up! A Lesson on Car Seat Safety Playgroup #11

A Parent s Guide to Car Seats

What Research Has Show:

PERSONAL SAFETY child passenger safety

Car Safety for Children with Down Syndrome

Section 15. transportation of children in vehicles. Regulation 51. of Children in Vehicles. 15. Transportation

A Parent s Guide to Car Seats

INFANT AND CHILD CAR SAFETY

CHILD DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION & TIP SHEET: INSTALLING AND USING A CAR SEAT

Secure Them for Life. Child safety seats. From infant seats to seat belts, everything you need to know to ensure your child s safety.

US and Canada Child Safety Seat Law Guide

US and Canada Child Safety Seat Law Guide

Booster Seat. OWNER'S MANUAL Model Graco

Securing your precious cargo

CHILD BOOSTER SEAT. Instructions for Installation & Use Series No. 4050/A/2013 IMPORTANT: KEEP THIS BOOK IN THE PLACE PROVIDED ON THE CHILD RESTRAINT

Combination Child Seat

Virginia's Child Passenger Safety Laws

Car Safety Seats A Guide for Families

READ THIS MANUAL. Child Restraint/Booster Seat Owner s Manual

SEAT BELT Installation Manual

Child in Car Safety Leaflet 1/8/07 8:54 am Page 1 Child In Car Safety

Smart Seat ALL-IN-ONE CARSEAT

Car Seat/ Booster Seat

Convertible Booster Seat

School Bus Types There are seven vehicle types that can be manufactured to federal motor vehicle safety standards for

Just-Like-Mine! Doll or Stuffed Toy. Car Seat. Instruction Manual. These instructions are for the following Joovy Style # s: 002, 003

VEHICLE EQUIPMENT INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING: USA Instructions for use EN. Weight limits in rear-facing mode: 5-45 lbs ( kg)

Precious Cargo In The City Car Seat Safety & Safely Transporting Children in the City presented by BRITAX

TABLE OF CONTENTS. Securing Child in Carrier Child Requirements...24 Changing Harness Height...25

TABLE OF CONTENTS. Securing Child in Carrier Child Requirements...24 Changing Harness Height...25

Seatbelt Solutions

2005 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Manual M

REARWARD- & FORWARD-FACING USER MANUAL ECE R GROUP WEIGHT AGE 0+/ kg 6m-4y

Car Safety for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Infant Safety Seat/Carrier

2005 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual M

Tel: skjp.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS FLEX-LOC INFANT CAR SEAT OWNER'S MANUAL

2007 Pontiac G5 Owner Manual M

2006 Cadillac STS/STS-V Owner Manual M

Instruction Manual Avoid injury or death - Read and understand this manual!

Child Car Restraints

2006 Pontiac G6 Owner Manual M

3 INTRODUCTION INDEX. Instructions for Installation & Use - Series No. 8100/A/ Instructions for Installation & Use - Series No.

Rear-facing Only 4-35 lbs. Infant Car Seat and Base

2005 Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual M

Head Start Bus Monitor Training

CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE PARENTING

Alpha Omega Elite/Luxe Deluxe 3-In-1 Owner s Manual

CRASH PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN IN AMBULANCES Recommendations and Procedures* Marilyn J. Bull, M.D., Kathleen Weber, Judith Talty, Miriam Manary

Replacement Parts List

Instruction Manual. Avoid injury or death - Read and understand this manual! Use rear-facing only!

2006 Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual M

This product and its components are subject to change without notice Britax Child Safety, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

Product Overview. Restraint systems. Flooring systems. Seating systems. Solar systems

2009 Chevrolet Aveo Owner Manual M

Car Seat Shopping Guide for Children With Special Needs

UNDERSTANDING YOUR VEHICLE S. What every driver and passenger should know

Pilot. Special Needs Booster. User Guide PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Caboose Too Rear Seat Instruction Manual 0090X & 0091X Series

Complete Voyager/Vista Belt-Positioning Booster Instruction Manual

The 2003 GMC Savana Owner Manual m

Read all instructions BEFORE USING this child restraint. KEEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE USE.

NATIONAL TRANSPORT AND SAFETY AUTHORITY

The 2003 GMC Safari Owner Manual

instruction manual MODEL CF03 IMPORTANT: KEEP THIS INSTRUCTION BOOKLET IN THE PLACE PROVIDED ON THE CHILD RESTRAINT

UPLIFT Height Adjustable Standing Desk (T-Frame) DIRECTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY AND USE - - ALSO - - Watch our assembly video

Car Seats and Car Beds Safety for Preemies and Small Newborns

Child Passenger Safety. WRHA Injury Prevention Program Public Health and Parent Child Coalitions Meeting April 9, 2015

CYBEX GmbH Riedinger Str Bayreuth Germany.

Alpha Omega Elite/Luxe Deluxe 3-In-1 Owner s Manual

Child Restraints questions and answers


Owner s Manual Read and keep this manual. Patents World Wide

Read all instructions BEFORE USING this child restraint. KEEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE USE.

CPS Updates and Car Seat Treats. Anne Franchak Safe Kids Pennsylvania Director

STEADYfast Stabilizer Installation Notes Fifth Wheel and Travel Trailers 11/23/13

Transcription:

Chapter 2 What is compatibility? Compatibility between a vehicle and a CSRS means that the CSRS can be properly installed in the vechicle (considering all aspects, such as anchorage method, CSRS angle and size, etc.). Incompatibility means that something prevents the proper installation of the CSRS. Sometimes incompatibility cannot be overcome, but in other cases the problem can be solved with an appropriate modification of the vehicle or selection of a different CSRS. CSRS types are defined in Chapter 3 and Appendix B. Selecting and Equipping School Buses for CSRS 2013 SBSH Sample Pages Thank you for checking out these sample pages of The School Bus Safety Handbook. What you are viewing is part of a chapter written to help administrators prepare buses for use with CSRS. Roughly half the pages for this chapter are included in this sample. Other sample pages on sections covering use of CSRS and wheelchairs are also available. We hope these pages give you a good idea of the useful details that can be found in the full handbook. An order form is available at www.saferidenews. com. For quantity discounts, contact Nancy Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards As all school transportation administrators know, there are dozens of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSSs) that apply to school buses and contribute to making them the safest vehicles on the road. The most important of these standards that are specific to, or have aspects related to, CSRS are: FMVSS 208 and 209 seat belt assemblies, locations, and anchorage FMVSS 210 seating and seat belt anchorage strength FMVSS 213 child safety restraint systems FMVSS 222 seat spacing, compartmentalization FMVSS 225 LATCH lower and tether anchors The weight of the school bus determines whether some of these standards apply (see page 10). More details can be found in Appendix A. Bus Features That Affect Compatibility With CSRS The various and often complex features of school bus design relative to CSRS use can be boiled down to three important concepts that affect compatibility (see sidebar). Each of these will be explored in this chapter: Space considerations: Between rows, seat width, aisle width Bus seating areas have limited space (by design), and a child riding in a CSRS often uses more of the space than one who isn t. Some CSRS are bulky, which contributes to problems. Also, the installation methods required for some CSRS can limit how the bus seating in the row behind the CSRS may be used for other occupants. Seat strength considerations: Reinforced versus nonreinforced The framework of bus seating must be sufficiently strong to anchor a CSRS in a crash. Use of some CSRS requires seating that meets the reinforcement standards of FMVSS 210, but use of others does not. Anchorage considerations: Methods for installing a CSRS CSRS models use one or more of these anchorage methods for installation on school buses.: Lap belt Lap-shoulder belt Lower anchors Tether anchor Built-in CSRS Cam wrap (add-on equipment) Each is part of the school bus, with the exception of cam wraps, which are part of the CSRS. (Note: In Canada, the cam wrap option is limited to only harnesses that are custom made for the child, which makes it far less available there than in the U.S.) Sometimes, anchor options can be retrofitted onto existing buses. School Bus Safety Handbook Choosing and Using CSRS 9

2013 SBSH Sample Pages Thank you for checking out these sample pages of The School Bus Safety Handbook. What you are viewing is part of a chapter written to help administrators prepare buses for use with CSRS. Other sample pages on sections covering use of CSRS and wheelchairs are also available. We hope these pages give you a good idea of the useful details that can be found in the full handbook. An order form is available at www.saferidenews.com. For quantity discounts, contact Nancy How small is small? Not all smaller buses are rated equal to or under 10,000 pounds (4,536 kg). The best way to determine the gross vehicle weight rating of a small bus is to look at the certification label that the vehicle manufacturer puts in the vehicle. Labels may be specified in pounds or kilograms or both units. School Transportation Vehicles School buses come in different shapes, sizes, and types, but the following weight categories are what matter the most for installation of CSRS, because federal standards vary based on these weights. (Note: Separate state, municipality, or district laws may apply, however.) Large school buses (more than10,000 pounds GVWR) School buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds comprise the vast majority of buses used by school districts. Installing a CSRS in these large buses can be challenging because: NHTSA does not require large buses to have seat belts or LATCH anchors. Only FMVSS 222 compartmentalization requirements apply, so seating often is not reinforced to meet FMVSS 210. Seat belts and LATCH cannot be factory installed on unreinforced seating, nor can it be retrofitted later. In addition, unless otherwise specified, seating rows are typically spaced to maximize the total number of rows. This means they are closer together than the maximum allowed by the standard (24 inches from the point of reference, described on page 12). Although this approach maximizes capacity, it can be short-sighted if it prevents the bus from having enough space to install types of CSRS that certain riders require. Administrators anticipating the CSRS needs of students can voluntarily spec large-bus orders with anchor options and ample space. For instance, lap belts or lap-shoulder belts are available as an option on buses of any size, as are LATCH system anchors. Either the whole bus or certain rows can be spaced to the maximum 24 inches allowed by FMVSS 222 to better accommodate CSRS. And, by choosing to equip a bus with only reinforced seating, the option remains to add lap belts at a future date. These concepts are further discussed in this chapter. Small school buses (GVWR 10,000 pounds or less) In the 1970s, NHTSA testing determined that buses that weighed 10,000 pounds or less could not protect children of any size adequately by using only the compartmentalization approach of larger buses (as described on page 11). It therefore mandated that these buses include lap or lap-shoulder belts for all seats. Since available technology made it more difficult to opt for lap-shoulder belts at that time, lap belts have been installed on these buses for over three decades. Subsequent research by NHTSA and other agencies determined that lap-shoulder belts provide protection for school-age riders that is far superior to that provided by lap-only belts. This research, plus the design of seating systems with built-in lap-shoulder belts, led NHTSA to upgrade FMVSS 222 to require all new small buses to have lap-shoulder belts in all positions, effective October 21, 2011. In addition, small school buses made since 2002 are required to have at least two pairs of lower LATCH anchors built into seating. However, tether anchors (a part of the LATCH system in personal vehicles) are not required on school bus seats (except those in Canada). Small school buses, which make up only a small fraction of the nation s school bus fleet, have been commonly used to transport children who must ride in CSRS. However, the trend in many school transportation systems is to transport children of all ages/sizes/needs on the larger buses, whenever possible. 10 School Bus Safety Handbook Choosing and Using CSRS

2013 SBSH Sample Pages Thank you for checking out these sample pages of The School Bus Safety Handbook. What you are viewing is part of a chapter written to help administrators prepare buses for use with CSRS. Other sample pages on sections covering use of CSRS and wheelchairs are also available. We hope these pages give you a good idea of the useful details that can be found in the full handbook. An order form is available at www.saferidenews.com. For quantity discounts, contact Nancy Large vans are not safe for transporting school children. See link to NHTSA s warning in Appendix C. Seatback height Tall seatbacks help to compartmentalize occupants by keeping them from being thrown over the seat in a crash. Until October 2009, FMVSS 222 required that seatbacks be at least 20 inches higher than the seating reference point (SRP) (picture, next page), or about 24 inches above the lower cushion. As of October 21, 2009, taller seatbacks, 24 inches above the SRP, or approximately 28 inches above the lower cushion, are required by FMVSS 222 on new school buses. A few states required higher seatbacks even earlier. Other vehicles used by school systems Multifunction school activity buses (MFSABs) A variation on the school bus, MFSABs can be used to transport students, but not to and from school. They are not suitable for home-toschool routing because they are exempt from school bus requirements that relate to traffic control, such as stop arms and warning lights, necessary to load or unload students on the street. They are subject to the other federal standards required of school buses, as well as state regulations, so they may be used for school activity trips and as an allowable alternative vehicle (AAV) for Head Start programs. Some MFSABs fall into the small school bus category by weight, while others are considered large. Since occupant protection standards apply to MFSABs, CSRS use on these buses is influenced by the same weight-based regulations that apply to all school buses, as described on page 10. 10- to 15-passenger vans NHTSA warns against the use of large vans for preschool, childcare, or school use due to their increased risk of rolling over, especially when fully loaded. It prohibits new large vans from being sold or leased for routine transport of students in grade 12 and below to and from schools and schoolrelated activites unless the van meets all FMVSS related to school buses. Large vans do not meet school bus requirements that help protect school bus passengers, such as compartmentalization, emergency exits, and bus-stop warning lights. Some states ban their use for any school purpose. (NHTSA offers many resources; see Appendix C.) If a program decides to use large vans for approved purposes to transport passengers of any age, it is important to follow these rules for van safety: All passengers must be properly buckled up. The driver should have special training and have experience handling this type of vehicle. It is especially critical that tires have adequate tread and be inflated properly. At first glance, it might seem logical to use large vans for children who need CSRS because of the presence of seat belts and, in newer models, LATCH anchors. New models also may have electronic stability control to help reduce the risk of rolling over. However, use of these vehicles for students is unwise and, in some places, illegal. Compartmentalization School bus seating has limited space by design Compartmentalization is an approach to bus occupant protection that combines limited space for occupant movement in a crash with well-padded surfaces to absorb crash forces. For this to work, seating must have: Narrow row-spacing (between rows). High, well-padded seatbacks. Flexible seatbacks that absorb energy when a passenger is thrown forward during a crash. The next sections will describe how school buses can be equipped to anticipate the need to install and use CSRS while meeting the specifications of compartmentalization. School Bus Safety Handbook Choosing and Using CSRS 11

FMVSS 222 requirements 24 SRP 24 Spacing between school bus seats, as measured from the seating reference point (SRP), can be at most 24 inches. Seatback height, measured from the same SRP, must be at least 24 inches, as of October 2009. Rear-facing CSRS need space Tight row spacing means this rear-facing CSRS is too tall to fit at the correct recline angle on this bus seat. A smaller CSRS could be tried, or it may be impossible to install any rear-facing CSRS here. (Most CSRS 2013 manufacturers SBSH Sample require at Pages Thank least 80 you percent for checking of the out these CSRS sample footprint pages to of touch The the School vehicle seat cushion.) Bus Safety Handbook. What you are viewing is part of a chapter written to help administrators prepare buses for use with CSRS. Other sample pages on sections covering use of CSRS and wheelchairs are also available. We hope these pages give you a good This idea rear-facing of the CSRS useful fits details that can appropriately be found on in a seat the full with handbook. maximum An order spacing. form One is available way to describe seating with maximum at www.saferidenews.com. For allowed spacing is to say it has quantity maximum discounts, knee spacing. contact Nancy Ensuring Adequate Space for CSRS To accommodate CSRS and the needs of all other passengers, front-toback spacing, seating width, and aisle width are important considerations. These are covered in the NHTSA publication Guideline for the Safe Transportation of Pre-school Age Children in School Buses (see Appendix C). Seat spacing between rows Per FMVSS 222, the maximum allowable spacing between rows of school bus seats is 24 inches, measured from the seating reference point, or SRP (pictured left), to the back of the seat ahead. Through testing, NHTSA has found that this is the maximum spacing that will provide the benefits of compartmentalization. NHTSA recommends that new buses intended for use with preschoolers be ordered with maximum allowable spacing so that there is adequate room for a CSRS. Track seating that allows spacing to be adjusted as needed is an option to consider. However, most school buses have less than the maximum allowable seat spacing. Unless maximum allowable spacing is specified, many bus orders will default to maximum row capacity to maximize overall capacity, thus limiting the types of CSRS that can be used. Even with maximum allowable spacing, installation of rear-facing CSRS is limited to shorter CSRS models; at lessthan-maximum spacing, it is sometimes impossible to transport a child who must ride rear facing because no models will fit. (See comparison, pictured center and lower left.) Less than maximum seat spacing can be an issue for forward-facing conventional CSRS as well, especially medical CSRS for children with special needs, as there can be little space for a child s legs. On buses with rows that are closer than the maximum allowed, CSRS options are often limited to those that are compact, such as built-in CSRS, school-bus-only CSRS, and safety vests. Each of these allow the child to sit back close to the seatback, but they are limited to situations in which the child can ride forward facing. Determining whether a school bus has maximum seat spacing The 24-inch maximum allowed between seats is described in FMVSS 222 as being from a point that relates to a crash dummy s hip joint (seating reference point, or SRP), so it cannot be measured in a straightforward way. The best way to confirm any bus feature is to contact the manufacturer and provide the bus s vehicle identification number. However, for a rough check of seating space, use a measuring tape to measure the distance between the front of one seatback cushion to the back of the seatback ahead, measuring horizontally from about two inches above the lower cushions. Push the end of the tape into the back of the seat ahead until it hits the foam pad underneath the vinyl. If the seats are at the 24-inch maximum allowed, this measurement will be approximately 28 inches. Bus seating width NHTSA guidelines allow for installation of multiple occupants on a bus seat, provided, the combined width of CSRS and/or other passengers on a single seat does not exceed the width of the seat (NHTSA, 1999). According to NHTSA, generally two CSRS will fit on a 39- or 45-inch bus seat, while only one CSRS will fit on a bus seat that is less than 39 inches. Aisle width A narrow aisle can make carrying a CSRS onto the bus difficult and hinder evacuation. Typical aisle width is 12 inches; wider would be better for CSRS use, whenever possible. When considering aisle width, be aware that it can vary depending on where it is measured; seat cushion level is usually narrowest, whereas standing hip height is often wider due to seatback tapering. 12 School Bus Safety Handbook Choosing and Using CSRS

Example of non-reinforced seating, without crossbars or predrilled holes for seat belt installation. Predrilled bolt holes Example of one type of reinforcement bar. (Other designs exist, so appearance may vary.) Note: Bolt holes must be drilled by the seating manufacturer. Do not drill aftermarket holes into seating frames of any kind. For a checklist of specifications for new buses, see page 21. Ensuring Adequate Seating Strength for CSRS Bus seating with factory-installed seat belts or LATCH anchors (and seating built to allow these to be retrofitted later) must meet the strength requirements of FMVSS 210. This standard ensures that the seat frame is strong enough for seat belts and LATCH anchors to function properly in a crash. Therefore, all seats can be placed in one of two categories: Nonreinforced seating: Although this type meets all other applicable seating standards, it lacks a reinforced framework that can withstand the forces a seat belt or LATCH anchors would apply in a crash. Busmakers know that seat belts cannot be installed on these seats; it is extremely important that all school bus personnel, especially mechanics and other service technicians, are aware that this type should never be retrofitted with seat belts of any kind. Options for CSRS on this type of seating are limited to school-bus-specific models that utilize a cam wrap for installation and that specifically allow use on nonreinforced seating (see page 17 and tables 3-3 and 3-4). Reinforced (210) seating: Reinforced seating provides the most flexibility in selecting CSRS because there are more anchorage options. This type meets the strength requirements of FMVSS 210, making it suitable to have seat belts and/or LATCH anchors. All small buses (10,000 pounds or less GVWR) must have 210 seats due to the seat belt requirements of FMVSS 208. For larger buses, 210 seats may be ordered, either with seat belt systems and/or LATCH anchors installed or to plan ahead for their addition at a later date. (The latter are commonly called seat-belt-ready seats). Determining whether school bus seating is reinforced Because it is extremely important to be confident that seating meets FMVSS 210 strength requirements before retrofitting with seat belts, this should be confirmed by consulting the bus s ordering documents or by contacting the manufacturer with the vehicle identification number (VIN). Some seat manufacturers put a label on seating that indicates that it meets FMVSS 210, but this is not required. The diagram to the left shows a typical design of a 210 seat frame, with a metal reinforcement bar that runs diagonally from the front to back leg. There are also factory-drilled bolt holes appropriate for attaching suitable lap belt hardware. 2013 SBSH Sample Pages School buses last a long time, and so even Thank if there you is for not checking an immediate out need to install CSRS, that situation can change. Therefore, it is best to consider these sample pages of The School the long-term value of reinforced seating at purchase. It is difficult and costly Bus Safety Handbook. What you to replace nonreinforced seats with reinforced ones. The expertise of the local are viewing is part of a chapter bus distributor is needed to assure that new seats are installed properly so the written to help administrators prepare buses for use with CSRS. bus remains in compliance with the applicable FMVSS standards to which it was originally certified. So even if the seating doesn t include seat belts or LATCH when purchased, it is a good idea to order Other reinforced sample pages seating on sections covering seating, use of which CSRS afforb- and from the outset. Many seating manufacturers offer convertible ably offers the flexibility to start with one type wheelchairs of seatback are and also easily available. replace it later with a seatback that has anchorage options We if hope needs these change. pages give you a good idea of the useful details Ensuring Adequate Anchor Options for CSRS that can be found in the full handbook. All CSRS must be either built into or securely An order attached form to is the available bus seating by means of an anchorage system. at www.saferidenews.com. Understanding the CSRS For needs of the student population will help administrators determine the anchorages that are needed in their bus fleets. The various anchor options are de- quantity discounts, contact Nancy scribe in the following sections. School Bus Safety Handbook Choosing and Using CSRS 13

Lap-Shoulder Belts Lap-shoulder belts built into seating 2013 SBSH Sample Pages Lap-shoulder belts can anchor: Conventional CSRS (rear- and forward-facing) Medical CSRS (tether anchor also required) Vests (one model) HSM Solutions (C.E. White), Freedman, SafeGuard, and SynTec are the companies that make bus seating with lap-shoulder belts, like this seat shown with two equipped seating positions. Lap-shoulder belts offer school-age pupils additional protection beyond that provided by compartmentalization alone Thank or lap belts. you for They checking can also out be used for installation of many CSRS (see box, left). these sample pages of The School Many lap-shoulder belt seating options Bus are Safety now available Handbook. (see What Table you 2-3). Since October 2011, lap-shoulder belts have are been viewing required is on part all of seating a chapter in new buses with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less. written They to are help optional administrators large buses, although required by a few states, municipalities, prepare and buses districts. for use with CSRS. The issue of seat belts on school buses Roughly has been half a the topic chapter of debate is in-focluded benefits in this are sample offset by concerns many years. Added safety and behavioral regarding cost, potential loss of capacity (and the resultant displacement to less-safe forms of transit), and opportunities Other for vandalism. sample pages Many on sections covering and the use introduction of CSRS and of of these concerns have been lessened through experience innovative seating designs that do not limit wheelchairs capacity. are also available. However, the debate as to whether seat We belts hope are needed these pages for school-age give you children in addition to compartmentalization a good is not idea within of the the useful scope details of this handbook. Seat belt usefulness for riders who that cannot be found be properly in the full protected handbook. anchor An a order CSRS, form is the is focus. available by compartmentalization alone, such as to at www.saferidenews.com. For Locking a lap-shoulder belt quantity discounts, contact Nancy Lap-shoulder belts on school bus seats function by means of emergency locking retractors that lock in a crash. This type of belt system is fine for older passengers, but does not stay tight enough during normal driving to properly hold a conventional or medical CSRS. If either of these CSRS must be installed, one of the methods described below must be present to lock the belt. Adding LATCH lower anchors to this seating provides an easier alternative for some situations (see page 16). Since October 2011, lap-shoulder belts built into bus seating must be able to lock for purposes of installing a CSRS, per FMVSS 208. One of the following methods are standard now, but were not the norm before 2011: A locking latchplate. Seat belts of this design stay tight once slack is removed by pulling up on the shoulder part of the belt. This method is both easy and safe, and most bus seating makers now use this type. A switchable retractor. Seat belts of this design have a retractor (spool) that can be switched to make the belt stay tight around a CSRS. When installing, the webbing is first fully pulled out of the retractor, then tighted. Though allowed by NHTSA, this type is not usually used on school buses. See sidebar for important warning about entanglement. WARNING: Switchable retractors on lap-shoulder belts In rare but serious incidents, children in cars with switchable retractors have become entangled in shoulder belts that were unintentionally switched into the locked mode. In some cases, strangulation or near-strangulation has occurred because the retractor Most lap-shoulder belts made prior to October 2011 do not have a continuously tightened around CSRS locking mechanisms (described above). These must lock using one the neck and could not be released. (See Appendix A for of these methods, if used or CSRS installation: retractor descriptions.) Using a CSRS with a lock-off. If the appropriate CSRS has a feature Though NHTSA has called a lock-off (a clamp built into the CSRS that holds the belt), this is determined that lap-shoulder a convenient method to keep the belt tight. However, not all CSRS have belts on school buses must be lock-offs, and currently CSRS for special needs do not have them. able to lock for CSRS installation, using switchable retractors in a Using a locking clip. This item, which comes with conventional CSRS school bus setting to meet this for use in personal vehicles, must be threaded onto the seat belt at the requirement is inadvisable due latchplate to lock the lap part at a fixed length. Even the most experienced CSRS installers find it difficult to do this properly on a school bus. to this risk of entanglement. Instead, consider specifying Therefore, this method is too time consuming to use in most school bus locking latchplates on the seat belt, since these also meet settings and should be considered only as a last resort. (See page 49.) lockability requirements, but with See Table 2-3 for details on seat belt features by seating manufacturer. far less risk of entanglement. 14 School Bus Safety Handbook Choosing and Using CSRS

Lap-Only Belts Lap belts can anchor: Conventional CSRS (rear- and forward-facing) Medical CSRS (tether anchor also required) Vests (certain models) Safety Harnesses (certain models) Two seat belts installed with very short buckle ends placed toward the aisle a convenient arrangement for CSRS. Lap-only belts Note: See page 18 for additional information on lap belts that are retrofitted. Small school buses that weigh 10,000 pounds GVWR or less were required to have either lap- or lap-shoulder belts until October 2011, and nearly all were equipped with lap-only belts. Some states, municipalities, and districts have required lap belts on buses of all sizes for many years, and some purchasers have had them installed in larger buses voluntarily. For school-age students, the addition of a lap belt is intended to provide further protection in crash scenarios when compartmentalization is inadequate. However, the superiority of lap-shoulder belts over lap-only belts for this purpose is undisputed. Lap belt features that are key to CSRS installation Lap belts can be used to anchor many types of CSRS (see box, left). Although all seat belt assemblies must meet requirements of FMVSS 209 (for strength, durability, etc.), standards allow for variations in design. Bus purchasers should carefully consider these points when ordering: Spacing of lap belts. The two halves of a lap belt assembly should be anchored at a width apart that will accommodate either a passenger or attachment of a CSRS. For installation of a CSRS, 11 inches apart is ideal. However, 13 15 inches apart is better for most passengers. (NHSTA specifies 13- to 15-inch spacing for lap-shoulder belts, and this can be used as a guideline for lap-only belts used for passengers, too, though no maximum is specified for maximum lap-belt anchorage width in the standards.) When ordering:the spacing for the two halves of lap-only belts is set by the bus manufacturer for each model of seating it offers. Therefore, check this aspect of seating particulars when ordering, and select seating with lap-belt anchorage spacing that is 11 to 15 inches apart to ensure it is suitable for both passengers and installation of CSRS. Buckle location. The buckle (the part with the release button) must be easy to reach when installing a CSRS and during emergency evacuation. When ordering: Specify that the buckle part of each seat belt assembly be located toward the aisle of the bus, not the window (picture, top left). The short buckle end (lower picture) is much more compatible with conventional CSRS installation than the longer one above. A locking latchplate on a lap belt works well to install CSRS Buckle webbing length. The buckle part of a lap belt assembly should be very short, not extending more than 1 to 2 inches from the seat bight (pictures, left). Buckles on longer webbing interfere with installation of a forward-facing CSRS because, once the belt is buckled and tightened, the buckle hardware positions inside the CSRS belt path. This makes it harder to tighten the belt properly, very difficult to release the buckle, and, with some 2013 CSRS SBSH models, Sample uncomfortable Pages for the child. When Thank ordering: you for checking Since October out these 2011, sample FMVSS pages 222 of has The required School factory- Bus Safety Handbook. What you are viewing is part of a chapter written to help administrators prepare buses for use with CSRS. Roughly half the chapter is included in this sample. Other sample pages on sections covering use of CSRS and wheelchairs are also available. We hope these pages give you a good idea of the useful details that can be found in the full handbook. An order form is available at www.saferidenews.com. For quantity discounts, contact Nancy School Bus Safety Handbook Choosing and Using CSRS 15

Table 2-3. Bus Seating Options/Features Available, as of June 2013 Note: Some school bus manufacturers make their own basic seating, but purchase seating with integrated belts or built-in CSRS, as needed, from one or more of these seating manufacturers. Others outsource all seating to one or more of these companies. SEATING OPTIONS LATCH lower anchors* Freedman Seating Company Cannot be retrofitted onto existing seating. Tether anchors* Located at base of seatback. Cannot be retrofitted onto existing seating. Add-on schoolbus-only CSRS (with max. weight) Built-in CSRS (with max. weight) Lap-only belt: Locking mechanism Lap-shoulder belt: Retractor and belt-tightening hardware type Use of seat belt from row behind as a tether anchor for CSRS Convertible bus seatback system option No Yes (Two versions, 22 51 lbs. and 22 78 lbs.) Various options include locking latchplate, travelling retractor (at latchplate), and fixed retractor (under seat). Switchable retractor; locking mechanism is activated when shoulder belt is pulled all the way out of retractor. (See page 14 for entanglement warning.) Not recommended No HSM Solutions, C.E. White on existing FMVSS 210 seating. Located at base of seatback. on existing FMVSS 210 seating. Yes 20 90 lbs. Yes (85 lbs. since 2009; 60 lbs. pre- 2009) Automatic locking retractor (in bight) or manually locking latchplate. Since 2011: Emergency locking retractor with locking latchplate for CSRS installation. Pre-2011: Emergency locking retractor; locking clip or lock-off needed for CSRS installation. Not recommended SafeGuard on existing FMVSS 210 seating. Standard since 2011 on frame leg (aisle) and on attachment bracket (window); retrofittable (on side of frame) on older 210 seating. Yes Three sizes available, max. 105 lbs. Yes (85 lbs.; earlier models to 65 lbs.) Manually locking latchplate. Since 2011: Emergency locking retractor with cinching latchplate for CSRS installation. Pre-2011: Emergency locking retractor; locking clip or lock-off needed for CSRS installation. SynTec Seating Solutions on SynTec s existing S3C seating. Located at base of seatback. on SynTec s existing S3C seating. 16 School Bus Safety Handbook Choosing and Using CSRS No Yes (85 lbs.) Manually locking latchplate. Emergency locking retractor with a cinching latchplate for CSRS installation. Not Not 2013 recommended SBSH Sample recommended Pages Notes Also, aftermarket lower anchor brackets for reinforced seating are available from E-Z-ON Products of Florida for use with its CSRS. Also, aftermarket tether anchor brackets (for reinforced seating or for floor mounting) are available from E-Z-ON Products of Florida for use with its CSRS. BESI, Inc., is another maker of this type of CSRS Collins Durastraint s builtin CSRS has been discontinued. (50 or 61 lbs.) The standard for lapshoulder lockability changed in October 2011. Since then, lapshoulder belts on buses have been required to have a way to lock when used to install a CSRS. Companies that made lap-shoulder belt seating prior to this change in regulation phased in lockability in the months before the deadline. When possible, seating manufacturers recommend retrofitting a tether anchor instead. Thank you for checking out these sample pages of The School Bus Safety Handbook. What you are viewing is part of a chapter written to help administrators prepare back buses configurations for use with ing CSRS. allows modules Roughly seatback half the configu- chapter seating is included include seatbacks in Yes, various seat- Yes, XChange seat- Yes, various Options for convertible this sample. are interchangeable with Convert- within seatback changeable with lap-only belts, lap-shoul- to be converted rations are inter- or module inserts with Other sample pages on sections covering use of CSRS and wheelchairs are ible Seat option. frame; S3C Convertible der belts, no belts, or also available. BTI seating (on Seating System built-in CSRS. We hope these pages give IC you Bus a Co. good buses) idea option. of the useful details LATCH that anchors can be are allows the full found in the full handbook. An optional for each configuration. seatback order to form be is available at www.saferidenews.com. For quantity discounts, contact converted. Nancy * Note: All seating manufacturers refer to the CSRS instructions for maximum user weight for LATCH lower and tether anchors.