9.11 Boarding Aids

9.11 BOARDING AIDS (1) Controls for boarding aids shall be clearly marked as such. The extended or lowered position of the boarding aid shall be indicated to the driver by an indicator.

(2) In the case of failure of a safety device, lifting devices, ramps and kneeling systems must not be operable unless it is possible to operate them safely by hand. The nature and location of the emergency control shall be clearly indicated. In the case of failure of the power supply, lifting devices, ramps and kneeling systems must be operable by hand.

9.11.001 KNEELING SYSTEMS (1) All controls that activate the lowering or raising of part of or the entire body relative to the roadway shall be clearly marked and be under the driver’s direct control.

(2) The lowering or raising operation shall be capable of being stopped and the movement immediately reversed with the aid of a control located both within the driver’s reach when he is seated in the cab and in the vicinity of any other devices for operating the kneeling system.

(3) Where a kneeling system is fitted, the vehicle must

(a) not be capable of travelling at a speed of more than 5 km/h, if the body is in a position lower than the normal driving height,

(b) not be capable of being raised or lowered, if the access door cannot be activated for one reason or another.

9.11.002 LIFTS FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS (1) Lifts may only be capable of functioning when the vehicle is stationary. If the platform is raised or lowered, a device preventing the wheelchair from rolling off shall automatically cut in.

(2) The lift platform shall be at least 800 mm wide and at least 1200 mm long and shall be capable of operating when loaded with 300 kg.

The device shall otherwise meet the provisions of point 9.07.007.

9.11.003 RAMPS FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS (1) Mechanically operated ramps may only be capable of operating when the vehicle is stationary.

(2) Ramps shall be at least 800 mm wide. The gradient of the ramp, when laid out or manually folded out to a kerb with a height of 150 mm, shall not exceed 12%. When measuring the ramp gradient, the body may be lowered with the aid of the kneeling system.

9.11.021 PASSENGER VEHICLE M1 The provisions of points 9.11.001, 9.11.002 and 9.11.003 shall not apply to passenger vehicles M1.

10.01.004 WHEELCHAIR FIXTURES (1) Vehicles used for the carriage of wheelchair users shall be fitted with fixtures for securing the wheelchair. (2) Wheelchair fixtures shall be firmly secured to the vehicle. In addition, the regulations concerning the installation of seats shall apply mutatis mutandis. (3) Wheelchairs shall be firmly secured to the vehicle’s wheelchair fixtures.

10.01.005 SPACE FOR WHEELCHAIRS (1) In the case of each wheelchair user for which the passage space is intended, a special wheelchair place at least 750 mm wide and 1300 mm long shall be set aside. The longitudinal axis of the wheelchair space shall be parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and the floor of the wheelchair space shall have a non-skid covering.

(2) Folding seats may generally be fitted in a wheelchair area, but such seats must, when folded and not used, not touch the wheelchair space.

(3) A vehicle may be fitted with detachable seats fitted in the wheelchair area provided that they can be readily removed.

10.01.006 DOORS FOR WHEELCHAIRS

(1) A door for wheelchairs shall be at least 1400 mm high and shall have a width of at least 900 mm, which can be reduced by 100 mm, if measurement is carried out level with the hand supports. (2) Devices for opening doors for wheelchairs shall be located no more than 1300 mm above the ground or the floor, whether located in or outside the vehicle.

10.01.021 PASSENGER VEHICLES M1 (1) Passenger vehicles M1 shall be fitted with headrests on the front seats. (2) Front-facing seats, with the exception of folding seats, shall, in relation to their strength characteristics and securing, etc., comply with the structural provisions of a) ECE regulations no. 17-06 or b) Annex II to Council Directive 74/408/EEC as amended by Directive 96/37/EC. Originally fitted seats may, however, be designed and installed in accordance with American standard FMVSS 207. Seats that are specially constructed for the disabled shall, however, only meet the provisions of point 10.01.002 (1).

(3) Wheelchair fixtures shall comply with the structural provisions of ISO standard 10542 or American standard SAE J2249 and be clearly and durably marked with the phrase “ISO” or “SAE”.

(4) The provisions of points 10.01.005 and 10.01.006 shall not apply to passenger vehicles M1.

10.01.022 PASSENGER VEHICLES M2 (1) No seat may be installed further forward than the driver’s seat unless the seat is located in such a way that a direct view towards the front and to the sides is required from the driver’s seat. (2) If a seat is installed in such a way that the passenger may be flung forward through the vehicle in the event of hard braking or collision, protective clamps or bars shall be installed in front of the seat, unless the seat is fitted with a safety belt. (3) The seats shall be arranged and installed in such a way that the passengers can exit the vehicle without difficulty. (4) Seats that close off access to access doors shall be arranged in such a way that a) the seat can be folded away, and b) the seat can be reliably secured in the folded position. There shall be clear operating instructions. (5) Seats that block off access to emergency doors shall be arranged in such a way that a) the seat can be folded aside and remain upright in this position, b) the seat can be simply removed without using tools, or c) the back of the seat can be put down if the vehicle is designed for the carriage of no more than 13 people. There shall be clear operating instructions. (6) Front-facing seats, with the exception of folding seats, shall, in relation to their strength characteristics and securing, etc., comply with the structural provisions of a) ECE Regulations no. 80-01 or b) Annex III to Council Directive 74/408/EEC as amended by Directive 96/37/EC. Seats that are specially constructed for the disabled shall, however, only meet the provisions of point 10.01.002 (1). (7) Materials whose flame speed a) is no more than 250 mm/minute, measured in accordance with international standard ISO 3795-1976, b) complies with the provisions of Directive 95/28/EC, or c) complies with the provisions of American standard FMVSS 302 shall be used in the cab’s internal fittings. (8) Materials with a greater flame speed may, however, be used: a) in floor coverings and seat coverings and upholstery provided that the total area of such materials is less than 300 cm 2, and that the total volume is less than 100 cm3, b) in other internal fittings provided that the total area of such materials is less than 300 cm2, measured in any area of no more than 625 cm2, and that the total volume is less than 100 cm3. (9) The provisions of point (6) shall not apply to passenger vehicles M2 in which the permitted number of standing places accounts for 20% or more of the maximum permitted number of passengers and which are approved solely for scheduled services.

(10) Wheelchair fixtures shall comply with the structural provisions of Annex VII to EC Directive 2001/85/EC.

In the case of passenger vehicles M2 in which the permitted number of standing places accounts for 20% or more of the maximum permitted number of passengers, and which are approved solely for scheduled services, there shall be no requirements concerning wheelchair fixtures if the wheelchair is placed so that its back faces a wall or a back rest that can withstand a forward load of 250 daN.

10.02.002 SAFETY BELTS FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS (1) Vehicles used for the carriage of wheelchair users shall be fitted with safety belts at the berth for wheelchairs, if safety belts are required for the vehicles in connection with equivalent ordinary seats. The belt shall be of the type required for the vehicle in connection with equivalent ordinary seats. Fixed belts may, however, be used where automatic belts cannot be appropriately fitted. (2) Safety belts shall be approved and marked in accordance with the requirements of section 10.02.001 (1). Safety belts designed in accordance with American standard FMVSS 209 may, however, be used even where the belt is not an original fitting. (3) Belt mountings shall be located in such a way that the safety belt can be fitted appropriately over the wheelchair user’s body.

10.02.021 PASSENGER VEHICLES M1 (1) Passenger vehicles M1 shall, on all front-facing and rear-facing seats with the exception of folding seats, be fitted with safety belts in such a way that: a) on the driver’s seat: Three-point belt with a double-acting inertial retractor (is marked “Ar4m”, where “m” indicates that the retractor is double-acting), b) on the outermost front passenger seat: Three-point belt with a double-acting inertial retractor, c) on other front passenger seats: Three-point belt, where appropriate lap belt. Lap belts shall be sufficient if the passenger’s head cannot come into contact with the windscreen as defined in greater detail in Annex II to Council Directive 74/60/EEC, d) on outermost front-facing rear seats: Three-point belt, where appropriate lap belt. Lap belts shall be sufficient if there is a passage between a seat and the nearest side wall that must make it possible to give passengers access to other parts of the vehicle. A gap between a seat and the nearest side wall is considered to be a passage if the distance between the side wall, with all doors closed, and a vertical longitudinal plane through the centre line of the seat in question is more than 500 mm, e) on other front-facing rear seats and also on rear-facing seats: lap belt or three-point belt. (2) Passenger vehicles M1 shall, in the case of all front-facing and rear- facing seats, with the exception of folding seats, be fitted with belt mountings that comply with the structural provisions of a) ECE regulations no. 14-04 or b) Council Directive 76/115/EEC, as amended by Directive 96/38/EC. Originally fitted belt mountings may, however, be designed in accordance with American standard FMVSS 210.

Belt mountings for seats specially constructed for the disabled shall, however, comply with the provisions of point 10.02.001 (6).

(3) Belt mountings at berths for wheelchairs shall comply with the structural provisions of ISO standard 10542 or American standard SAE J2249 and be clearly and durably marked with the phrase “ISO” or “SAE”. 10.02.022 PASSENGER VEHICLES M2 (1) Passenger vehicles M2 with a permitted total weight of no more than 3,500 kg shall on all front-facing and rear-facing seats, with the exception of folding seats, be fitted with safety belts in such a way that: a) on front-facing seats: Three-point belt with a double-acting inertial retractor (is marked “Ar4m”, where “m” indicates that the retractor is double-acting), or three-point belt with double-acting inertial retractor with an increased response threshold (is marked “Ar4Nm”, where “N” indicates that the retractor has an increased response threshold), b) on rear-facing seats: Lap belt with automatic retractor or double- acting inertial retractor (is marked “Br3”, “Br4m” or “Br4Nm”), or three-point belt with double-acting inertial retractor.

(2) Passenger vehicles M2 with a permitted total weight of more than 3,500 kg shall on all front-facing and rear-facing seats, with the exception of folding seats, be fitted with safety belts in such a way that: a) on front-facing seats: Three-point belt with double-acting inertial retractor (is marked “Ar4m” or “Ar4Nm”); lap belt with automatic retractor or double-acting inertial retractor (is marked “Br3”, “Br4m” or “Br4Nm”) may, however, be used if - immediately in front of the seat in question there is a front-facing seat or other vehicle components that meet the requirements governing ductility set out in Annex III Directive 74/408/EEC, as amended by Directive 96/37/EC, or - the person’s head cannot come into contact with any of the vehicle’s components as defined in further detail in Annex 1, point 1.23. of Directive 77/541/EEC, as amended by Directive 96/36/EC. b) on rear-facing seats: Lap belt with automatic retractor or double- acting inertial retractor, or three-point belt with double-acting inertial retractor.

(3) Passenger vehicles M2 shall on all front-facing and rear-facing seats, with the exception of folding seats, be fitted with belt mountings that comply with the structural provisions of a) ECE regulations no. 14-04 or b) Council Directive 76/115/EEC, as amended by Directive 96/38/EC. Originally fitted belt mountings may, however, be designed in accordance with American standard FMVSS 210.

Belt mountings for seats that are specially constructed for the disabled shall, however, only meet the provisions of point 10.02.001 (6).

(4) Belt mountings for the driver’s seat shall comply with the structural provisions of Annex VII to EC Directive 2001/85/EC. (5) The provisions of points (1), (2), (3) and (4) shall not apply to passenger vehicles M2 in which the permitted number of standing places accounts for 20% or more of the maximum permitted number of passengers and that are approved solely for scheduled services.