[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR393.61]

[Page 1075-1076]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
        CHAPTER III--FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION,
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 393--PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart D--Glazing and Window Construction
 
Sec. 393.61  Window construction.

    (a) Windows in trucks and truck tractors. Every truck and truck 
tractor, except vehicles engaged in armored car service, shall have, in 
addition to the area provided by the windshield, at least one window on 
each side of the

[[Page 1076]]

driver's compartment, which window shall have sufficient area to contain 
either an ellipse having a major axis of 18 inches and a minor axis of 
13 inches or an opening containing 200 square inches formed by a 
rectangle 13 inches by 17\3/4\ inches with corner arcs of 6-inch maximum 
radius. The major axis of the ellipse and the long axis of the rectangle 
shall not make an angle of more than 45 degrees with the surface on 
which the unladen vehicle stands; however, if the cab is designed with a 
folding door or doors or with clear openings where doors or windows are 
customarily located, then no windows shall be required in such 
locations.
    (b) Bus windows. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3) of this 
section a bus manufactured before September 1, 1973, having a seating 
capacity of more than eight persons shall have, in addition to the area 
provided by the windshield, adequate means of escape for passengers 
through windows. The adequacy of such means shall be determined in 
accordance with the following standards: For each seated passenger space 
provided, inclusive of the driver there shall be at least 67 square 
inches of glazing if such glazing is not contained in a push-out window; 
or at least 67 square inches of free opening resulting from opening of a 
push-out type window. No area shall be included in this minimum 
prescribed area unless it will provide an unobstructed opening 
sufficient to contain an ellipse having a major axis of 18 inches and a 
minor axis of 13 inches or an opening containing 200 square inches 
formed by a rectangle 13 inches by 17\3/4\ inches with corner arcs of 6-
inch maximum radius. The major axis of the elipse and the long axis of 
the rectangle shall make an angle of not more than 45[deg] with the 
surface on which the unladen vehicle stands. The area shall be measured 
either by removal of the glazing if not of the push-out type or of the 
movable sash if of the push-out type, and it shall be either glazed with 
laminated safety glass or comply with paragraph (c) of this section. No 
less than 40 percent of such prescribed glazing or opening shall be on 
one side of any bus.
    (2) A bus, including a school bus, manufactured on and after 
September 1, 1973, having a seating capacity of more than 10 persons 
shall have emergency exits in conformity with Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standard No. 217, part 571 of this title.
    (3) A bus manufactured before September 1, 1973, may conform to 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217, part 571 of this title, 
in lieu of conforming to paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (c) Push-out window requirements. (1) Except as provided in 
paragraph (c)(3) of this section, every glazed opening in a bus 
manufactured before September 1, 1973, and having a seating capacity of 
more than eight persons, used to satisfy the requirements of paragraph 
(b)(1) of this section, if not glazed with laminated safety glass, shall 
have a frame or sash so designed, constructed, and maintained that it 
will yield outwardly to provide the required free opening when subjected 
to the drop test specified in Test 25 of the American Standard Safety 
Code referred to in Sec. 393.60. The height of drop required to open 
such push-out windows shall not exceed the height of drop required to 
break the glass in the same window when glazed with the type of 
laminated glass specified in Test 25 of the Code. The sash for such 
windows shall be constructed of such material and be of such design and 
construction as to be continuously capable of complying with the above 
requirement.
    (2) On a bus manufactured on and after September 1, 1973, having a 
seating capacity of more than 10 persons, each push-out window shall 
conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217, (Sec. 571.217) 
of this title.
    (3) A bus manufactured before September 1, 1973, may conform to 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217 (Sec. 571.217) of this 
title, in lieu of conforming to paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

[33 FR 19735, Dec. 25, 1968, as amended at 37 FR 11677, June 10, 1972]