Section 575IAC1-9-33. Floor

   (a) The floor must be made of commercial quality 14-gauge galvanized steel or other material with equivalent strength.

  (b) Plywood must be used on top of a steel floor. The plywood must be a minimum of one-half (1/2) inch thick and must equal or exceed properties of exterior-type plywood C-D Grade as specified in standards issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The floor must be level, except in the wheel housing, the toe-board, the driver's compartment, and the fill-pipe cover areas.

  (c) The floor under the seats, including on top of the wheel housings, in the driver's compartment, and on the toe-board, must have fire-resistant covering that has a minimum thickness of one-eighth (1/8) of an inch.

  (d) The floor covering in the aisle, including the platform area, must be fire-resistant, rubber or equivalent, nonskid, wear-resistant, and ribbed with a minimum thickness of three-sixteenths (3/16) of an inch measured from the tops of the ribs. Floor covering must meet federal specifications.

  (e) The floor covering must be water-resistant and permanently bonded to the floor with a waterproof adhesive. All seams must be sealed with waterproof sealer.

  (f) The floor of each school bus, MFSAB, or special purpose bus must be marked with a yellow or white, two (2) to four (4) inch wide insert, located behind the driver's seat and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bus. A sign at the front of the bus must indicate that occupancy forward of the insert is prohibited. (State School Bus Committee; 575 IAC 1-9-33; filed Aug 15, 2014, 10:20 a.m.: 20140910-IR-575130244FRA)