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S.I. No. 556/2020 - European Union (Road Vehicles: Type-Approval and Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020

Type Statutory Instrument
Publication 2020-12-01
Last updated 2024-05-17
State In force superseded text
Text As published
Source Irish Statute Book
articles 21

This is the act as published. Later amendments are not folded into the text below: each one is a separate act in this repository and an entry in this law's history.

1 amending act · 2024-05-17, S.I. No. 201/2024 - European Union (Road Vehicles: Type - Approval and Market Surveillanc…

Reform history JSON API
2.

(1) A regulated public service vehicle shall be fitted with not less than one wheelchair space.

Forward-facing wheelchairs

3.

(1) Any wheelchair space fitted to a regulated public service vehicle shall comply with the following requirements:

vertically from the floor of the wheelchair space; and,

vertically from the floor of the wheelchair space.

References to M2 and M3 vehicles are references to vehicles of those categories as defined in Annex II (A) to the 1970 Directive.

which-

Rearward-facing wheelchairs

4.

(1) Any wheelchair space fitted to a regulated public service vehicle shall comply with the following requirements:

to the rear of the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally;

100mm and not more than 120mm from the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally and not less than 830mm and not more than 870mm from the floor of the

wheelchair space measured vertically; and,

vehicle towards the front of the vehicle to the centre of the padded surface of the backrest at a height of not less than 600mm and not more than 800mm measured vertically from

the floor of the wheelchair space. The backrest shall not deflect more than 100mm or suffer permanent deformation or damage.

1500mm, which shall comply with the following requirements-

the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally.

not less than 540mm from the front end of the wheelchair space measured horizontally and at a height of not less than 600mm and not more than 800mm measured vertically from

the floor of the wheelchair space.

Boarding lifts and ramps

5.

(1) A regulated public service vehicle shall be fitted with not less than one boarding lift or one boarding ramp or shall carry not less than one portable ramp.

(b)Unless a boarding lift platform is in the lowered position and resting on a surface from which a wheelchair user will board, the following shall apply-

vertically above the surface of the lift platform shall operate automatically as the lift is raised above the lowered position, except that when in the raised position

for a wheelchair user to move from the lift platform to the floor of the vehicle, the device shall permit unobstructed access to the floor of the vehicle;

unlikely to cause injury while the lift is in motion.

vertically from the surface of the lift platform, or

throughout the range of the vertical travel; and,

accessible to each wheelchair user;

must be capable of being reversed.

Entrances and exits

6.

(1) Any entrance or exit which is intended to provide access for a wheelchair user shall have a clear unobstructed width of not less than 800mm.

Gangways

7.

Any gangway between a wheelchair space and an entrance or exit intended to provide access for a wheelchair user:

facing direction, and to be moved (in either direction) from the gangway into the wheelchair space in the appropriate direction for travel;

Signs and markings

8.

(1) A regulated public service vehicle shall have a sign conforming with diagram B in Part II of this Schedule, or a sign of equivalent meaning conforming to the dimensions in that diagram, which is:

Communication devices

9.

(1) A communication device shall be fitted to a regulated public

service vehicle in the following positions:

it is fitted with a kneeling system) to the centre of the device.

activated, may (on being operated subsequently) provide a visual signal to the driver until the opening of at least one of the exits;

would be within the field of vision of the passengers seated on a majority of the seats on that deck or in that section.

Lighting

10.

(1) Lighting shall be fitted to illuminate the interior and exterior of a regulated public service vehicle sufficient to allow a wheelchair user to board and alight from the vehicle in safety.

adversely the driver’s vision.

Diagram A - Wheelchair Dimensions

Diagram B - Wheelchair Sign

CHAPTER II GENERAL ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SINGLEDECK AND DOUBLE-DECK BUSES (Class I)

Definitions

1.

In this Schedule:

“contrast” means a contrast in the amount of light which is reflected by the surfaces of the parts of a regulated public service vehicle or its equipment which is required by these Regulations to contrast;

“cushion” means that part of a seat on which a person using the seat sits, whether padded or not;

“deep” in relation to a step, means the distance from the outer edge of the nosing of the step tread to the riser of the step tread;

“doorway area” means that area which is within one metre of any entrance or exit measured horizontally from any point along the external edge of the door aperture;

“exit” means an exit from a regulated public service vehicle but does not include an exit which is provided for use only in case of emergency;

“external step” means the last step or platform from an entrance or an exit which leads directly from the vehicle to the ground;

“gangway” means the space provided for obtaining access from any entrance to the passengers’ seats or from any such seat to an exit other than an emergency exit, but does not include a staircase or any space in front of a seat or row of seats which is required only for the use of passengers occupying the seat or row of seats;

“km/h” means kilometre(s) per hour;

“kneeling system” means a system which enables the bodywork of a regulated public service vehicle to be lowered relative to its normal height of travel;

“mm” means millimetre(s);

“N” means newton(s);

“normal height of travel” means the height specified by the vehicle’s manufacturer for normal vehicle travel;

“priority entrance” means an entrance (not being an entrance fitted to the off-side of the vehicle) providing access to the priority floor area in accordance with paragraph 2(2)(b);

“priority exit” means an exit (not being an exit fitted to the off-side of the vehicle) providing access from the priority floor area in accordance with paragraph 2(2)(b);

“priority floor area” means a single continuous area of floor space comprising not less than 35% of the total floor area of a regulated public service vehicle;

“priority seat” means a seat designated as such in accordance with paragraph 3;

“seat” means a seat intended for use by passengers and, accordingly, does not include the driver’s seat or any other seat intended for use solely by a crew member; and

“total floor area” means the total floor area of a regulated [public] service vehicle, or in the case of a double-deck bus the total floor area of the vehicle’s lower deck, excluding the driver’s cab, wheel boxes, stepwells, internal staircases and any space designated for the storage

of luggage.

Floor and gangways

2.

(1) All floors within the total floor area of a regulated public service vehicle shall be slip-resistant.

normal condition of travel.

Priority seats

3.

(1) A regulated public service vehicle shall have not less than 4 seats designated by signs complying with sub-paragraph (3) as priority seats for use by disabled persons.

access may be gained past the seat;

of the seat and along an imaginary line passing vertically from the centreline of the seating position to the floor;

of the cushion;

the cushion; and,

clear space of not less than 230mm measured in the longitudinal plane of the priority seat, of not less than 420mm measured in the transverse plane of the priority

seat (such distance being equally spaced either side of the centreline of the seating position) and of a height not less than the height of the back of the priority seat;

clear space of not less than 230mm measured in the longitudinal plane of the priority seat, of not less than 300mm measured in the transverse plane of the priority

seat (such distance being equally spaced either side of the centreline of the seating position) and of a height not less than the height of the priority seat cushion; and,

distances measured in the longitudinal plane of the priority seat referred to in (i) and (ii) above shall not be less than 300mm.

Steps

4.

(1) Steps for use by passengers on a regulated public service vehicle shall (subject to sub-paragraph (6)) comply with the following requirements:

height; and,

folded or retracted.

to a passenger.

Handrails and handholds

5.

(1) A handrail shall (subject to sub-paragraph (2)) be fitted in the following positions in a regulated public service vehicle:

of the vehicle, at intervals of not more than 1050mm measured in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; or,

less than 1200mm and not more than 1500mm measured vertically from the floor of the vehicle.

vertically from the floor of the vehicle or, where it is not practical to comply with those requirements, the handrail need not be continuous provided any gap does not exceed 1050mm and a vertical handrail is provided on at least one side of the gap extending from a height of at least 1200mm to a height of not less than 1500mm measured vertically from the floor of the vehicle; and,

a horizontal handrail or, at intervals of not more than 300mm, a series of handholds shall be provided across the gap.

Communication devices

6.

(1) A communication device shall be fitted in the following positions

in a regulated public service vehicle:

device.

Kneeling Systems

7.

(1) Where a regulated public service vehicle is fitted with a kneeling system, the vehicle and system shall comply with the following requirements:

driver of the vehicle;

CHAPTER III ROUTE AND DESTINATION DISPLAYS

1.

In this section:

“character” means capital letters or numbers of a specified height and lower-case letters of a size relative to that of a capital letter for a given typeface;

“destination” means a word or words to describe the route or final destination; and

“route number” means any combination of numbers or letters which designate a bus or coach route.

2.

(1) A regulated public service vehicle shall be fitted with a route number display and a destination display in the following positions:

Part 2 Technical Requirements for National Small Series Type-Approval for Category N Vehicles

(small series limit: for N1, N2 or N3 is 250 vehicles per type per year)

To enable representative testing the vehicle will be delivered in a presentable state and capable of being laden to maximum authorised weight.

A representative of the manufacturer must be present to enable access to all parts of the vehicle, to assist in explanation of features of that vehicle, and to cooperate in any testing.

Where a type of system has been altered at the subsequent stage of completion of the vehicle, to the extent that the system has to be retested for type-approval purposes, that retesting shall be limited to only those parts of the system that have been altered or affected by the changes.

Table 3: Alternative Requirements for Category N1 Vehicles

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