Emergency door requirements

(a) All emergency doors shall comply with FMVSS 217 applicable to that type of exit regardless of whether or not that exit is required by FMVSS 217. (b) There shall be a head bumper pad installed on the inside at the top of each emergency door. The pad shall extend across the opening of the door, and shall be designed and positioned to protect the heads of passengers using such door. The passage to the rear emergency door shall be free of obstructions. (c) The upper and lower portion of the rear emergency door shall be equipped with approved safety glazing, the exposed area of which shall be not less than four hundred (400) square inches in the upper portion and not less than three hundred fifty (350) square inches in the lower portion on Type A-2, B, C and D vehicles. The left side emergency door shall be equipped with safety glazing in the upper portion, and the lower portion shall be of at least the same gauge metal as the body outer panels. (d) The outside handle shall be non-detachable and mounted vertically. Any handle requiring special tools, other than a screwdriver, for attachment will be considered non-detachable. The following requirements shall also apply: 1. Each emergency door shall be equipped with a latch that shall extend into or overlap the doorframe no less than three-quarters (3/4) inch. If a vertical slide bar latch system is used, it must simultaneously engage latch plates in both the floor and overhead opening side of the door(s). 2. Type A-1 buses. Each emergency door shall be equipped with a fastening device that may be quickly released but so designed to offer protection against accidental release. Split or bi-parting type emergency doors shall be modified as necessary to prevent jamming when both doors are pushed at the same time after releasing the primary latch. 3. Lettering meeting the requirements of FMVSS-217 shall appear on both the inside and outside of the emergency door. It shall include latch operating instructions on the inside and an arrow on the outside. The words "Emergency Door" or "Emergency Exit" shall appear on both the inside and outside, either at the top of or directly above the emergency door. In the absence of adequate space, such lettering may appear at the top of the glass. (e) The engine starting system shall not operate if any emergency door is locked from either inside or outside of the bus. The term locked does not include normal door latching for which instructions are provided in accordance with FMVSS-217.