This rule applies to all public schools and county transportation systems that own or lease school buses and those private contractors that lease school buses or contract with a public school or county transportation system to transport students in school buses. At a minimum, a school bus:

1. (1) which is designed to accommodate 16 or more passengers, including the driver, shall maintain all lighting and warning device equipment requirements as set forth in the General Services Commission handbook, Texas School Bus Specifications, which was current during the year of the school bus' manufacture; or

2. (2) which is used to transport students to or from school, not including school related activities, and is designed to accommodate more than 10 passengers and less than 16 passengers, including the driver, must meet the following requirements, in addition to all applicable federal and state statutes and regulations in effect on the date of manufacture:

   1. (A) Lamps and Signals. Each bus shall be furnished with the lamps as listed in clauses (i)-(v) of this subparagraph. See School Bus Manufacturer's Institute (SBMI) Standard Number 001:

      1. (i) Alternately Flashing Signal Lamps. Each school bus shall be equipped with four red warning signal lamps, working in an automatic non-sequential integrated system. The signal lamps shall conform to the design, installation, location, and operating requirements as stated in Paragraph S4.1.4. of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) Number 108.

         1. (I) Each school bus shall be equipped with a system of four red signal lamps designed to conform to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J887, "School Bus Red Signal Lamps," July 1964.

         2. (II) Red lamps shall be installed in accordance with SAE Standard J887, except that:

            (-a-) The system shall be wired so that the red signal lamps automatically activate when the bus entrance door is opened.

            (-b-) The lamps shall be wired independently and not wired through the ignition switch. This will allow removal of the ignition key without affecting operation of the alternately flashing four warning signal lamps.

         3. (III) Band. Each red lamp shall have a minimum 3-inch black band around the lamp. The color of this band shall be black enamel (Color Number 17038, Black Enamel of Federal Standard 595a). If it is not possible to provide a 3-inch band around the lamps, the manufacturer will then provide a band as wide as possible. Any visor or hood used to shade the lights and improve visibility will not interfere with the intensity and photometric performance of the warning lights (see SBMI Standard Number 001).
         4. (IV) Mounting. If exterior panels are cut to provide an opening for installation of flush-mounted signal lamps, the lamps must have a closed cell sponge flange gasket with a minimum thickness of 3/16-inch. The gasket shall be the full width of the flange on the lamp. Proper installation of the lamps shall be made in order to prevent seepage of moisture into the opening. Mounting of lamps for vehicles designed to transport more than 10 and less than 16 passengers (including the driver) shall be accomplished with lights or strobes securely mounted to the roof of the vehicle as widely spaced laterally as practicable which are sealed from water infiltration and do not interfere with the operation of any access door.
         5. (V) Operating Instructions. Complete instructions for the detailed operation of the warning signal lamp system shall be furnished with each school bus.
      2. (ii) Backup Lamps. The color, requirements, and mounting of backup lamps shall be in accordance with FMVSS Number 108, except two backup lamps are required by Texas specifications.
      3. (iii) Interior, Stepwell and Service Door Lamps. A minimum of two interior dome lamps shall be installed to properly and adequately illuminate the entire aisle and emergency passageway. The stepwell or service door entrance shall be illuminated by a separate lamp activated by opening the service door. The stepwell or service door entrance lamp shall have a metal bezel. The fixtures shall have white or clear plastic lenses attached to metal receptacles. The lamps shall be designated for a 12-volt electrical system and shall have installed a minimum 15 candlepower lamp bulb. The fixtures shall be mounted so as to provide adequate illumination of the passenger and driver's compartment, spacing of the lamp fixtures shall be the option of the bus body manufacturer.
      4. (iv) Operating Units and Flashers. The operating units and flashers for turn signals and vehicular hazard warning signals shall meet the requirements of FMVSS Number 108.
      5. (v) Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Lamps. The quantities, colors, requirements, and mountings of turn signal/hazard warning lamps shall be in accordance with FMVSS Number 108.

   2. (B) Warning Devices Including Colors and Lettering. Each bus shall be equipped with:

      1. (i) Triangular Warning Devices. Each school bus shall be equipped with three triangular warning devices meeting the requirements of FMVSS Number 125. The devices shall be packed three per metal or heavy duty plastic box, or they may be individually packed in metal or heavy duty plastic boxes with the three boxes contained within a carrier. Warning devices shall be securely mounted in the driver's compartment. Triangular warning devices furnished shall be approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
      2. (ii) Color. A first quality black enamel (Color Number 17038 of Federal Standard Number 595a) or decals shall be used for lettering and trim. The properties of the black enamel shall be equal to those of the finish coat enamel. Pressure-sensitive tape or decals are acceptable for trim or lettering (e.g., EMERGENCY DOOR, EMERGENCY EXIT, SCHOOL NAME LETTERING, etc. signs) provided they are made from Faison R 200, 3M Series 180, or approved equal material. Exit signs and lettering shall be in compliance with FMVSS Number 217.
      3. (iii) Body Exterior Color. The exterior of the complete bus except as provided herein, shall be finished in school bus yellow (Color Number 13432 of Federal Standard Number 595a). The bus shall have two horizontal contrast lines approximately four inches wide which simulate the rub rails of a standard bus. The color of the contrast lines shall be from a first quality black enamel (Color Number 17038 of Federal Standard Number 595a). The contrast lines shall be positioned just below the window line, and between eight and twelve inches above the lowest portion of the body panel. The hood may be coated with non-reflective school bus yellow paint. The school bus roof may be painted white. The white paint on the roof shall extend from the back of the front cap to the front of the rear cap and from a point on each side of the bus which is no lower than the top of the windows and no higher than the start of the roof curvature. The white paint shall be the same quality as the paint on the remainder of the school bus.
      4. (iv) School Bus Lettering. The school bus bodies shall have the words "SCHOOL BUS" in neat, clearly defined block letters on the front, rear, and on both sides of the bus body using decals or with black paint (Color Number 17038 of Federal Standard Number 595a). The letters shall be 8 inches high and shall have 1 inch wide strokes, respectively. The words "SCHOOL BUS" shall be at the same level on each side of the bus (i.e., same height above bottom of skirt). Body shall bear the words "SCHOOL BUS" in black letters at least 8 inches high on both the front and rear of body or on signs mounted between the flashing red lights and securely mounted to the roof. Lettering shall be placed as high as possible without impairment of its visibility. Lettering shall conform to "Series B" of Standard Alphabets for signs. "SCHOOL BUS" lettering shall have a reflective background, or as an option, may be illuminated by backlighting.
      5. (v) Emergency Exit Lettering. The emergency exits shall be marked "EMERGENCY DOOR" or "EMERGENCY EXIT" both on the outside and/or on the inside in compliance with FMVSS 217. All applicable requirements of FMVSS 217 relating to instructions, outlining, and markings shall be met.

   3. (C) Accessories. Required on all buses:

      1. (i) Backup Alarm. An automatic, audible backup warning alarm meeting the requirements of Type C, 97 db (A), SAE J994b (except for 12 volt system) shall be installed behind the rear axle.

      2. (ii) Stop Arm. A school bus stop arm meeting SAE J1133 and the following requirements shall be provided:

         1. (I) Design. The sign shall be octagon-shaped, constructed of zinc-coated steel or aluminum. It shall have a minimum 1/2-inch wide white border and the word "STOP" in white letters at least 6 inches high against a red background on both sides. The letters, border and background shall be of reflective materials meeting Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) FP-85. Double-faced red, alternately flashing lamps, one each at the top and bottom (visible from each side of the structure) shall be connected to, and flash with the required school bus red flashing signal lamp circuit when the arm is extended. The arm mechanism may be activated by air pressure, electricity, or by vacuum.
         2. (II) Mounting. The stop arm shall be installed on the left side of the school bus near the front cowl section.

   4. (D) Accessories. Optional accessories on buses include:

      1. (i) Reflective Material. Buses equipped with reflective material shall meet the following requirements. The material shall be automotive engineering grade or better, shall meet the initial reflectance values in DOT FHWA FP-85 and shall retain at least 50% of those values for a minimum of six years. Reflective materials and markings shall be installed in the following locations:

         1. (I) Front and/or rear bumper may be marked diagonally 45 degrees down to centerline of pavement with 2-inch plus or minus 1/4-inch wide stripes of non-contrasting reflective material.
         2. (II) Rear of school bus body shall be marked with strips of reflective National School Bus Yellow (NSBY) material to outline the perimeter of the back of the school bus, using material which conforms with the requirements of FMVSS 571.131. The perimeter marking of rear emergency exits per FMVSS 217 and/or the use of reflective "school bus" signs partially accomplish the objective of this requirement. To complete the perimeter marking the back of the bus, strips of at least 1-3/4 inch reflective NSBY material shall be applied horizontally above the rear windows and above the rear bumper extending from the rear emergency exit perimeter marking outward to the left and right rear corners of the bus; and vertical strips shall be applied at the corners connecting these horizontal strips.
         3. (III) "SCHOOL BUS" signs, if not lighted design, shall be marked with reflective National School Bus Yellow material comprising background for lettering of the front and/or rear "SCHOOL BUS" signs.
         4. (IV) Sides of bus body shall be marked with reflective National School Bus Yellow Material at least 1-3/4 inches in width, extending the length of the bus body and located (vertically) as close as practicable to the beltline.

      2. (ii) Strobe Light. Buses equipped with a white flashing strobe light shall meet the following requirements:

         1. (I) Design. The lamp shall have a single clear lens emitting light flashing 360 degrees around a vertical axis. The light source shall be a minimum of 50 candlepower and flash 80-120 times per minute. The base of the lamp shall be metal or approved equal and installed by a method which seals out dust and moisture. A manual switch is required for operation and a pilot light to indicate when the light is in operation shall be included. Wiring shall be installed inside the bus walls.
         2. (II) Mounting. The strobe light shall be permanently installed near the centerline on the school bus roof and not more than one-third of the body length forward of the rear edge of the bus roof. It shall not extend above the roof more than 6-1/2 inches.

Source Note:The provisions of this §14.52 adopted to be effective October 7, 1996, 21 TexReg 9246.