Section 575IAC1-9-70. Steps

   (a) On all buses, the first step at the entrance door must be not less than ten (10) inches and not more than sixteen (16) inches from the ground when measured from the top surface of the step to the ground, based on standard chassis specifications. An auxiliary step may be provided to compensate for the increase in ground-to-first-step clearance. The auxiliary step is not required to be enclosed.

  (b) Step risers must not exceed a height of ten (10) inches except when plywood is used on a steel floor or step. The riser height may be increased by the thickness of the plywood.

  (c) Steps must be enclosed to prevent accumulation of ice and snow.

  (d) Steps must not protrude beyond the side body line.

  (e) At least thirty (30) inch long grab handles must be placed in an unobstructed location inside the doorway.

  (f) All steps, including the floor line platform area, must be covered with an elastomer floor covering, or equivalent, having a minimum overall thickness of three-sixteenths (3/16) of an inch.

  (g) The step covering must be permanently bonded to a durable backing material that is resistant to corrosion.

  (h) Steps, including the floor line platform area, must have a one and one-half (1 1/2) inch nosing that contrasts in color by at least seventy percent (70%) measured in accordance with the contrasting color specification in 36 CFR, Part 1192, ADA, Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles.

  (i) Step treads must have the following characteristics:

(1) Step tread material abrasion resistance weight loss must not exceed four-tenths of one percent (0.40%), as tested under ASTM D-4060, Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by the Taber Abraser, (CS-17 Wheel, 1,000 gram, 1,000 cycle).

(2) Step treads must not break, crack, or check after ozone exposure (seven (7) days at fifty (50) phm at forty (40) degrees Celsius) and Weatherometer exposure (ASTM D-750, Standard Test Method for Rubber Deterioration in Carbon-Arc Weathering Apparatus, seven (7) days).

(3) Step treads must have a calculated burn rate of one-hundredth (0.01) or less using the test methods, procedures, and formulas listed in FMVSS No. 302, Flammability of Interior Materials.

(State School Bus Committee; 575 IAC 1-9-70; filed Aug 15, 2014, 10:20 a.m.: 20140910-IR-575130244FRA)