Section 442.275  Service Entrance and Door

a)         The service entrance shall be located on the right side near the front, in unobstructed and convenient view of the driver.  The service entrance shall have a minimum vertical opening of 1.7 m (67") and a minimum horizontal opening of 610 mm (24").

b)         The service entrance steps shall be designed so that the first step shall not be more than 13½" off the ground.  If necessary, a step of adequate width and length shall be installed to meet this requirement. Provision shall be made to prevent road splash from the wheel from accumulating on the step if installed outside the body.

c)         The service door shall be either manually or power operated by the seated driver.  When in the closed and secured position, the door operating mechanism shall prevent accidental opening but shall afford prompt release and opening by the driver.  No exposed parts of a door operating mechanism shall come together so as to shear or crush finger(s).  The vertical closing edge(s) of a service door shall be padded to lessen chance of injury.

d)         A power operated door shall be equipped for emergency manual operation in case of power failure.  Instructions for emergency operation of a power operated door shall be affixed permanently on the interior of the door in letters at least 12 mm (.5") high.

e)         A single-section service door shall be hinged at the front of the service entrance.

f)         Glazed panels shall be installed in the service door to afford the driver a view of small children outside the door, traffic signs, and intersecting roadways.  The bottom of each lower glass panel shall not be more than 10 inches from the top surface of the bottom step.  The top of each upper glass panel shall not be more than 3 inches from the top of the door.

g)         Service Door Lock (Optional).  If ordered by the purchaser, a lock may be installed on or at the service door.  Any type service door locking system installed in the bus shall conform to at least one of the following requirements.

1)         Requirement 1:  A locking system shall not be capable of preventing the driver from easily and quickly opening the service door; or

2)         Requirement 2:  A locking system that is capable of preventing the driver from easily and quickly opening the service door shall include an audible and visible alarm to alert the driver when the engine is running and the service door is locked.  No alarm disconnect, "squelch control", or other alarm defeating or attenuating device shall be installed; or

3)         Requirement 3:  A locking system shall not be capable of preventing the driver from easily and quickly opening the service door except when, and only when, a person outside the bus uses a key that is not capable of locking more than one of at least 1000 of the door manufacturer's key locking systems.

h)         A grab handle of steel, as long as practicable, shall be solidly attached to the left of any person entering the school bus.  Forward handrails are prohibited, except when required by 92 Ill. Adm. Code 444 (Minimum Safety Standards for Construction of School Buses used in Special Education Transportation).  An optional grab handle can also be located on the right side of the entranceway.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 18305, effective November 14, 2008)