Section 443.APPENDIX L   Illinois Minimum Standards for School Bus – Van Type Conversions 1-16 Passengers Purchased Prior to September 1974

a)         The service door shall be located to the right of the operator and may be manually controlled from the operator's seat by an over center control.

b)         The emergency doors shall be located in the center of the rear end or on the right-hand side of the school bus.  The door shall be equipped with fastening devices for opening from the inside and the outside body, which may be quickly released, but is designed to offer protection against accidental release.

c)         No seat or other object shall be placed in the bus which restricts passageway to the emergency door to less than twelve inches.

d)         The minimum clearance of all aisles, including between the seats and leading to the emergency door shall be twelve inches.

e)         The ceiling and walls shall be insulated with fireproof material to deaden sound and reduce vibration to a minimum.

f)         The interior of the school bus shall be free of all unnecessary projections likely to cause injury.  This inner lining on ceilings and walls shall be fiberboard or metal.

g)         All glass in the windshield, windows, and doors shall be of approved safety glass.  All exposed edges of glass shall be banded.  The glass in the windshield shall be heat-absorbent laminated plate.

h)         123 inch wheelbase.

i)          G.V.W.R. 7600 pounds.

j)          3300 lbs. front axle.

k)         5050 lbs. rear axle.

l)          1475 lbs. front springs.

m)        2200 lbs. rear springs.

n)         8:00 x 16.5, 8 ply rating tires.

o)         8 hole disc 16.5" x 6.00".

p)         High output primary heater.

q)         Rear heater recirculating type.

r)          Two moveable glass vents or windows.  One located on the right side and one on the left side of the driver's areas.  These are optional.

s)         240 cu. in. minimum engine.

t)          55 amp alternator.

u)         70 amp battery.

v)         Two 5" x 10" (minimum) outside rear view mirrors (West Coast Type), and two 3" convex mirrors (buses purchased prior to September, 1974, may have the 3" "stick on type" convex mirrors, provided they do not reduce the visual field of the mirror below 50 square inches).

w)        Inside rear view mirror.

x)         A convex crossover mirror 7 1/2" in diameter, mounted on left front to give the seated driver a view of the roadway immediately in front of the front bumper.

y)         Seating plan must allow 13 inches of seating space for each of 16 or fewer passengers, exclusive of the driver. All seats must face forward with a minimum of 12" aisle down the center or down the right side.  No jump or portable seats allowed.

z)         Manually or mechanically operated "Stop" signal arm. Hexagon shaped semaphore mandatory on all vehicles purchased after December 31, 1975.

aa)       One rub rail applied to each side operator's door and service door.  Rub rail may be omitted on operator's door if "Stop" signal arm is mounted on it.

bb)       Floor must be covered with a non-skid type material.

cc)       Roof mounted "School Bus" sign with flashing lights, acceptable until December 31, 1976.  An eight light flashing system is then mandatory.

dd)      Color of bus shall be National School Bus Chrome Yellow.

ee)       All required lettering shall be in black.  Emergency door lettering shall be two inches.  Bus Number, School Name, District or Contractor's name on both sides of vehicle shall be four inches.  "School Bus" shall be eight inches.

ff)        Vehicles may not be altered or converted to carry more than 16 passengers.