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V Les Oldridge, T.Eng (CEI), MIMI, AM IRTE
Minibuses: check the new rules before ordering
HE Minibus (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) sgulations 1977, lay down the specifications for minibuses mid with permits granted by the traffic commissioners or her designated bodies under powers given to them by the hini • us Act 1977, discussed in the previous article in this rie..
It ill be remembered that in that article I discussed the gul lions which are in force at the present and now I shall deal 1th ose which become effective later.
Fo vehicles first used before January 27, 1978, these regulams ill come into effect on January 27, 1983. For vehicles first ;ed fter that date, the regulations will come into force on January 7, 1 81.
Th regulations are similar to those dealing with the technical qui ments for psv and the standard work bus or dual-purpose hicl will not comply with the regulations without some modifi rtio . Undoubtedly there will be several different makes on the ark :t specially adapted to meet the requirements of the regula
)ns, and organisations buying a vehicle for use under a permit caul. be well advised to ensure that the vehicle they purchase now ilic'mply with the regulations in 1981.
Re ulation 5 deals with stability and requires that a vehicle, fully uipied and loaded with weights placed in the correct position to ,pres nt the driver and a full complement of passengers, will not rert rn when tilted on either side to an angle of 35 degrees from te h rizontal. For this purpose the weight of a passenger is to be
iken s 63.5 kilograms (140 lbs). Any stop used to prevent the :hid slipping sideways when tilted during the test must not (ceeu two-thirds of the distance between the surface on which the 3hici is standing and the rim of the wheel.
Re ulation 6 states that the suspension system fitted to a iinib s must be such that there is no excessive body sway. It must
e co structed so that if a spring, torsion bar or other resilient )rnp nent fails, the driver is unlikely to lose directional control of eve ice.
Tra smission brakes are not permitted unless: th brake is operated by a hand lever without the intervention of hy raulic, electric or pneumatic device; th re is no universal joint between the brake and the wheels abjec to the braking effort; th failure of any part through or by means of which the force ecess ry to apply the brake is transmitted could cause a wheel to ecom detached; and I) all he wheels of the vehicle are fitted with brakes all of which re op rated by one means of operation.
ine of he braking systems must be foot operated.
The teering must be so constructed that no overlock is possible nd so hat the wheels, under no circumstances, can foul any part of veh-cle.
Fuel tanks must be outside the passenger and driver's com parttent. uel tanks, pipes, fuel pumps, carburettors, etc, must be so laced •r shielded so that no fuel overflowing or leaking can fall or ccum late on any woodwork or any part of the vehicle where it lay be ignited. Filling points must be outside the vehicle.
A d vice must be provided so that the supply of fuel to the arbure tor or fuel injection nipples can be readily cut of. In this onnec ion the following requirements must be compiled with 1) In t e case of an engine not fitted with a fuel injection system (i) t e means of cutting off the petrol supply must be readily accessible from the outside of the vehicle.
(ii) i must be plainly visible from outside the vehicle with the 'off ' position clearly marked. 3) In the case of an engine fitted with a fuel injection system
(i) th position of the means of turning off the fuel supply must be clea ly marked on the outside of the vehicle, and (ii) the means of operation must be readily accessible from the outside of the vehicle and clearly indicated.
Exha _1st pipe outlets must be either at the rear or off-side of the vehicle. Exhaust pipes must be so fitted or shielded so as to be unlikely to cause a fire.
Nuts on all moving parts of a minibus and those subject to severe vibration, which are connected by bolts or studs and nuts, must be fastened with lock-nuts or by nuts and efficient spring or lock-nut washers or by castellated nuts and split pins or by some other efficient device to prevent -them from coming loose. •
Electrical equipment must be constructed and installed so as to guard adequately against the risk of electric shock or outbreaks of fire.
Minibuses must be provided with an exit, which may also be an entrance, on the near-side of the vehicle and with an emergency exit either on the off-side or on the rear face of the vehicle. If the fuel tank is not behind the rear wheels, an exit and entrance which comply with the regulations concerning emergency exits, on the rear face of the vehicle will suffice. (I dealt with emergency exits in the previous article). Exits must be at least 1.7 metres (about 5ft 7in) high and 530 millimetres (about 21in) wide, Only the driver's entrance is permitted to be on the off-side. A grab handle to assist passengers to board and alight must be fitted to every exit and entrance except emergency exits. There must be unobstructed access from every seat to all exits. This rule does not apply to the driver's seat or to a seat beside the driver if there is unobstructed access to that seat from a door other than the driver's door.
Rigid specifications are laid down concerning doors to ensure that they do not fly open and that they can be opened easily from the outside by a person of normal height. The way in which a door can be opened must be clearly indicated. No seat must be fitted to a door.
404mm (about 15in) of seat must be provided for each passenger. Where a seat is placed so that a passenger seated on it is liable to be thrown through an exit, entrance or steps, an adequate screen must be placed to afford adequate protection against such an occurrence.
Drivers must be protected against the weather, have sufficient room and, where necessary, means must be provided to prevent artificial light from the interior of the vehicle incommoding him. Where access to the driver's seat is obtained from the off-side of the bus, the opening provided must be at least 455rnm (18in) wide except where this width cannot be provided because of a wheel arch. A step must be provided for the driver if the lowest point of his door is more than 690rnm (about 27in) from the ground.
Where the driver is provided with a separate and enclosed compartment and access to the driver's seat is obtained from the offside of the vehicle, then an emergency exit measuring 530 by 455mm (21 by 18in approximately) must be provided. Luggage racks must be designed and constructed so that if luggage falls from them, it does not interfere with the driver's control of the vehicle.
Adequate ventilation and internal lighting sufficient to illuminate the exits must be provided. Transverse windows, if not of safety glass, must be protected against the likelihood of breakage in the event of passengers being thrown against them.
Vehicles which have been issued with a type approval certificate or a certificate of conformity will be exempt from the requirements of these regulations.