Interpretation ID: aiam3165
Ward Industries
Inc.
P.O. Box 849
Highway 65 South
Conway
AR 72032;
Dear Mr. Ryan: This responds to your October 8, 1979, letter asking whether your ne bus design will comply with Standard No. 217, *Bus Window Retention and Release*. The window exit that you plan to install in the bus would slide open rather than push out and would be operated by a squeeze-type force application that is parallel to the horizontal centerline of the bus.; Standard No. 217 requires buses to be equipped with emergency exit that comply with a variety of requirements. In the case of window exits, the force application for opening them depends upon the location of the release mechanism. For example, the required force application in the high force access region, according to the standard (S5.3.2), is straight and perpendicular to the exit surface.; In applying the above requirement to your vehicle, it appears that you bus would not comply with the standard. From the pictures that you enclosed with your letter, it appears that your release mechanism falls in the high force access region. If so, the force application for opening the exit is in the incorrect direction as specified by the standard. Further, your bus would use window exits that slide open rather than push out. Although, sliding emergency exits are not prohibited by the standard, they must comply with all of the standard's requirements. Also, they must be capable of complying when the non-exit half of the window is either open or closed. The agency prefers the use of push-out emergency exits, because they are less likely to 'bind up' during a side impact than sliding emergency exits.; The standard was written in its present form to provide uniformity o emergency exits in buses. A uniform exit system can help prevent confusion during accidents and facilitate emergency exit of vehicles. The vehicle that you plan to build would be unlike other buses now in operation with respect to emergency exits. The NHTSA does not think that this would be desirable or in the interest of safety.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Chief Counsel