Overview School buses are a daily mode of transportation for children and youth across the country. Provincial regulations, legislation, and standards help to make school bus transportation safe. The tenth edition of CSA D250 is one such contributor. In 2008, CSA Group published D270 Multi-Functional Activity Buses, which was later amalgamated with D250, recognizing that in Canada the majority of these buses are used to transport children and youth for school related activities. Special requirements of multi-functional activity buses are outlined in Clause 8 of D250, now referred to as ‘multi-functional school activity buses’. 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. D250 is a manufacturing standard intended to apply to original equipment supplied by the bus manufacture and is applies to vehicles manufactured on or after November 1, 2016. The manufacturing date of the vehicle is considered to be the date on the federal compliance label. Highlights of D250
Clearly specifies the chassis and body requirements and safety equipment requirements for school buses
Covers design for wheelchair accessibility and requirements of handrails, as well as updated requirements for lifts and seating in accessible school buses
Specifies testing requirements for side intrusion school bus construction materials
Addition of provisions for vehicles powered with alternative fuel systems
Inclusion of added provisions for vehicles powered by alternative fuel systems
Outlines modified weight ranges for various school bus types (harmonization with the U.S. classification scheme)
Describes improvements to requirements for emergency equipment, emergency lighting, and emergency exits
Overview
School buses are a daily mode of transportation for children and youth across the country. Provincial regulations, legislation, and standards help to make school bus transportation safe. The tenth edition of CSA D250 is one such contributor.
In 2008, CSA Group published D270 Multi-Functional Activity Buses, which was later amalgamated with D250, recognizing that in Canada the majority of these buses are used to transport children and youth for school related activities. Special requirements of multi-functional activity buses are outlined in Clause 8 of D250, now referred to as ‘multi-functional school activity buses’.
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. D250 is a manufacturing standard intended to apply to original equipment supplied by the bus manufacture and is applies to vehicles manufactured on or after November 1, 2016. The manufacturing date of the vehicle is considered to be the date on the federal compliance label.
Highlights of D250
- Clearly specifies the chassis and body requirements and safety equipment requirements for school buses
- Covers design for wheelchair accessibility and requirements of handrails, as well as updated requirements for lifts and seating in accessible school buses
- Specifies testing requirements for side intrusion school bus construction materials
- Addition of provisions for vehicles powered with alternative fuel systems
- Inclusion of added provisions for vehicles powered by alternative fuel systems
- Outlines modified weight ranges for various school bus types (harmonization with the U.S. classification scheme)
- Describes improvements to requirements for emergency equipment, emergency lighting, and emergency exits
