Preface
This is the fourth edition of CSA Standard D250, School Buses superseding the third edition published in 1982. It is written in SI (metric) units (the equivalent Imperial units are given in brackets).
CSA Standard D250 was first published in 1971 at the request of the provincial authorities, made through the Canadian Conference of Motor Transport Administrators. That Standard applied to large school buses with a seating capacity of 24 or more passengers. It was revised in 1975 and designated CSA Standard D250.1, Large School Buses.
It was the intention to prepare another standard on small school buses with a seating capacity of 20 to 23 passengers, to cover the van type of bus. However, it became obvious during their development that the requirements for the small bus would for the most part duplicate those for the large bus, and it was therefore decided to prepare one Standard covering all sizes.
The third edition of CSA Standard D250, School Buses, superseded the second edition published in 1975 as 0250.1, and covered school buses with a seating capacity of 1O or more passengers. It included the van, intermediate, and conventional (formerly referred to as body—on—chassis) types, as well as the transit type of school bus.
This fourth edition incorporates amendments to Clauses 2.4, 3.6.3, 3.19', 4.22.1 .3, 4.25.2, 4.25.3.2, and 4.41.2.1 and errata to Clauses 3.16.2, 4.3.1, 4.14.1 (m), and 4.4.2.5.
This Standard makes reference to the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) contained in Federal Regulations. The applicability of some CMVSS requirements is dependent on the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the school bus. Some CMVSS requirements apply to buses with a GVWR of 4 500 kg (10 000 lbs) and under, while some apply to buses with a GVWR of over 4 500 kg (10 000 lbs).
This Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on School Buses under the jurisdiction of the Standards Steering Committee on Automotive Safety and was formally approved by these Committees.
Scope
1.1
This Standard specifies the chassis and body requirements for school buses.
1.2
For the purpose of this Standard, school buses are categorized as follows:
(a) A Type l school bus is a conversion or body constructed upon a van type compact truck or a front section vehicle, has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of4 500 kg (10 000 lb) or less, and is designed for carrying more than 10 persons.
(b) A Type II school bus is a conversion or body constructed and installed upon a van, a front section vehicle chassis, or a stripped vehicle chassis, has a GVWR of more than 4 500 kg (10 000 lb), and is designed for carrying more than 10 persons. Most of the engine is beneath or behind the windshield, or both, and beside the driver’s seat. The entrance door is behind the front wheels.
(c) A Type III school bus is a body installed upon a flat-back cowl chassis, has a GVWR of more than 4 500 kg (10 000 lb), and is designed for carrying more than 10 persons. The entire engine is in front of the windshield and the entrance door is behind the front wheels.
(d) A Type IV school bus is a body installed upon a chassis with the engine mounted in the front, midship, or rear, has a GVWR of more than 4 500 kg (10 000 lb), and is designed for carrying more than 10 persons. The engine may be
(i) behind the windshield and beside the driver’s seat;
(ii) at the back of the bus behind the rear wheels; or
(iii) midship between the front and rear axles.
The entrance door is ahead of the front axle.