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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 54 Pa.B. 5598 (August 31, 2024).

67 Pa. Code § 171.69. Seats and crash barriers.

§ 171.69. Seats and crash barriers.

 The requirements for seats and crash barriers are as follows:

   (1)  Seats shall have a minimum seating depth of 15 inches.

   (2)  A seating space at least 13 inches wide shall be provided for each passenger.

   (3)  Each seat, seat back cushion and crash barrier shall be covered with a material having at least a 42-ounce finished weight, 54 inches width, and finished vinyl coating of 1.06 broken twill, or other material with equal tensile strength, tear strength, seam strength, adhesion strength, resistance to abrasion, resistance to cold and flex separation. Seat materials shall comply with FMVSS No. 302. See Appendix A.

   (4)  Seats not designed to meet FMVSS No. 222—See Appendix A—are not permitted. Specially equipped school buses, flip seats which comply with FMVSS No. 217—See Appendix A—and school bus seats designed with an integrated child restraint seat which complies with FMVSS No. 213—See Appendix A—are exempt from this paragraph. Child safety seats which comply with FMVSS No. 213 are also exempt from this paragraph if they are used and secured at all times as designated by the manufacturer.

   (5)  Except as set forth in paragraphs (6)—(11), the backs of all seats of similar size shall be of the same width at the top, of the same height above the floor, and shall slant at the same angle with the floor. A school bus seat designed with an integrated child restraint seat, which complies with FMVSS No. 213, shall have a crash barrier or have a seat back of similar size or height in front of it.

   (6)  Each school bus passenger seat shall have a minimum seat back height of 24 inches measured from the top of the seat cushion.

   (7)  The horizontal distance between passenger seats may not be more than 28 inches measured from the front of the seat back cushion forward to the back of the restraining barrier.

   (8)  Seats shall be forward-facing.

   (9)  Seats shall be installed in a manner to prevent the seats from disengaging from the seat frame under extraordinary operating conditions. Seats may not have springs protruding and may not have tears greater than 1 inch.

   (10)  Seats and anchorages shall comply with FMVSS No. 222. See Appendix A.

   (11)  A padded barrier shall be placed in front of all forward-facing passenger seats that do not have another seat in front of them, as required by FMVSS No. 222. See Appendix A.

Authority

   The provisions of this §  171.69 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § §  4103, 4551—4553 and 6103.

Source

   The provisions of this §  171.69 adopted August 19, 1983, effective August 20, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2561; readopted December 4, 1987, effective December 5, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5052; amended September 13, 1996, effective September 14, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 4411; amended May 20, 2005, effective May 21, 2005, 35 Pa.B. 3039. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (219641) to (219642).


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