Correct as at 26th April 2024. It may be superseded at any time.
Extract taken: from Vehicle Inspection Portal > VIRMs > Entry certification > Inspection and certification > Vehicle interior > PSV seating (light and heavy PSVs)
7-2 PSV seating (light and heavy PSVs)
Note An unmodified vehicle is not required to comply with Reasons for rejection 1–4 or Summary of legislation 1–3, of section 7-2 provided that it complies with either:
|
Reasons for rejection
Mandatory requirements
1. A seat dimension or spacing does not comply with the requirements of Table 7-2-1.
2. A seat is able to be adjusted, by sliding it backwards, so it enchroaches into the required seat space or foot room.
3. On a PSV, the shoulder width of a passenger seat to the left of the driver’s seat:
a) encroaches to within 250mm of a longitudinal vertical plane through the centre of the steering wheel, or
b) encroaches to within 500mm of the internal surface of the right-hand door, if any (Figure 7-2-1).
4. A vehicle part, such as the wheel housing, drive-shaft tunnel, or similar equipment, protrudes into the foot room area in a manner that is likely to hinder emergency evacuation of the PSV.
In addition to UN/ECE compliance:
5. On a PSV intended to carry wheelchairs, the height from floor to ceiling in positions where wheelchairs will be restrained is less than 1480mm.
6. On a PSV intended to carry wheelchairs, the wheelchair or wheelchair-occupant restraint anchor points are positioned within the foot room requirements of Table 7-2-1.
7. Energy-absorbing material is not fitted to:
a) the top of an exposed partition less than 1.2m high in front of a seat, or
b) the top of a seat (except for a dedicated handhold integrated into the seat frame or a seatbelt fastening point).
8. A handhold on a seat has a cross section smaller than 15 × 25mm.
9. A vehicle does not comply with the requirements relating to mandatory requirements or mandatory and permitted equipment set out in:
Condition and performance
10. A vehicle does not comply with a requirement relating to condition or performance set out in:
Table 7-2-1. Minimum seating dimensions and spacings (mm)
Height above seats (Figure 7-2-2) | Shoulder-room width | Seat spacing | Foot room (Figure 7-2-9) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
All PSVs except dedicated primary-school and intermediate-school buses | ||||
9 seats or less | No requirement | No requirement | For seats facing same direction: 650 (Figure 7-2-4, Figure 7-2-5), or 660 (Figure 7-2-6), or 760 (Figure 7-2-7) For seats facing each other: 1300 (Figure 7-2-8) (1200 for outdoor-access vehicles) (Figure 7-2-8) | 300 wide, and 300 deep (unless compliant with UN/ECE 107) |
More than 9 seats | 850 for driver’s seat and any passenger seat located in-line with the driver’s seat 900 all other seats | 450 shoulder room (Figure 7-2-3) | ||
Dedicated primary-school and intermediate-school buses | ||||
9 seats or less | No requirement | No requirement | For seats facing same direction: 600 (Figure 7-2-4, Figure 7-2-5, Figure 7-2-6, Figure 7-2-7) For seats facing each other: 1200 (Figure 7-2-8) | 250 wide, and 250 deep (unless compliant with UN/ECE 107) |
More than 9 seats | 850 for driver’s seat and any passenger seat located in-line with the driver’s seat 900 all other seats | 300 shoulder room2 | ||
Figure 7-2-1. Driving position protection and encroachment limits
Figure 7-2-2. Vertical clearance
Height above seats is the vertical clearance above the seat cushion when measured 350mm in front of the backrest.
Figure 7-2-3. Shoulder room measurement
Shoulder room is measured 150mm in front of the backrest, above the seating surface, parallel to the seat width, at a height between 270mm and 650mm above the centre of the seat cushion. Shoulder room may encroach into the aisle provided that the encroachment is less than 40mm on each side of the aisle.
For seats next to the wall of the vehicle, the wall or window may encroach into the upper corner of the shoulder room if the encroachment is not larger than a triangular area which is 20mm wide at the upper edge and 100mm long at the side edge of the shoulder room.
Figure 7-2-4. Seat spacing for non-reclinable or reclinable forward- or rearward-facing seats facing in the same direction (650mm)
For non-reclinable forward- or rearward-facing seats facing in the same direction, seat spacing of 650mm is measured horizontally, immediately above the seat cushion, or 150mm above the seat cushion, between:
- the backrest of the seat and the rear of the seat, if any, immediately in front of it, or
- the backrest of the seat and the rear surface of the partitioning or protecting device, if any, in front of the seat.
Figure 7-2-5. Reclinable seat spacing measurement (650mm)
For reclinable forward- or rearward-facing seats which face in the same direction, the seat spacing of 650mm is measured either (Figure 7-2-4):
- with the seat in the upright position, and
- horizontally, immediately above the seat cushion, or 150mm above the seat cushion, and
- between the backrest of the seat and the rear surface of the partitioning or protecting device, if any, in front of the seat ,
OR
- with the rear seat in the upright position and the front seat reclined to its maximum angle or by 30 degrees from the vertical, whichever is the smaller angle, and
- horizontally at the height of the rearmost point of the front seat, and
- between the backrest of the rear seat and the rear of the front seat (Figure 7-2-5).
Figure 7-2-6. Reclinable seat spacing measurement (660mm)
For reclinable forward- or rearward-facing seats which face in the same direction, the seat spacing of 660mm is measured:
- horizontally, 610mm above the floor, and
- with the front seat reclined to the maximum angle and the rear seat in an upright position, and
- between the backrest of the rear seat and the rear of the front seat.
Figure 7-2-7. Reclinable seat spacing measurement (760mm)
For reclinable forward- or rearward-facing seats which face in the same direction, the seat spacing of 760mm is measured:
- with both the front seat and the rear seat backrests in an upright position, and
- horizontally at the height of the rearmost point of the front seat, and
- between the backrest of the rear seat and the rear of the front seat.
Figure 7-2-8. Seat spacing measurement (facing seats)
For seats that face each other, the seat spacing is measured horizontally, immediately above the seat cushion, or 150mm above the seat cushion, between the inside surfaces of the backrests.
Figure 7-2-9. Foot room measurement
For seats facing in the same direction, foot room is measured from a line on the floor, which is immediately below the front of the seat cushion. For seats facing each other, foot room is measured not more than 70mm behind the line immediately below the front of the seat cushion.
Summary of legislation
Applicable legislation
Mandatory requirements
1. Seat dimensions and spacings, measured with uncompressed seat padding, must comply with Table 7-2-1.
2. If there are passenger seating positions to the left of the driver’s seat, the seats and driving controls must be designed and located so that the shoulder width of the passenger seat does not encroach into the space required by the driver when driving. On a motor vehicle that entered service as a PSV on or after 1 September 1999 the space designed to be clear of encroachment must:
a) extend at least 250mm to the left of a longitudinal plane through the centre of the steering wheel, and
b) extend for a width of at least 500mm to the left of the internal surface of the right-hand door, if any, excluding the armrest.
3. If vehicle parts, such as the wheel housing, drive-shaft tunnel, or similar equipment, protrude into the foot room area, they must not encroach into the area in a manner that is likely to hinder emergency evacuation of the PSV.
In addition to UN/ECE compliance:
4. On a PSV intended to carry wheelchairs, the height from floor to ceiling in positions where wheelchairs will be restrained must be at least 1.48m.
5. Energy-absorbent material must be fitted to:
a) the tops of exposed partitions, which are less than 1.2m high, situated in front of seats, and
b) the tops of seats, except in a limited area:
i. at the upper corners of seat backs which are dedicated handholds and which are integrated parts of the seat frames, or
ii. to which the upper point of a lap-and diagonal seatbelt is fitted.
6. The minimum cross section dimension of handholds on seats may be 15mm if one other dimension is at least 25mm.
7. A vehicle must comply with the requirements relating to mandatory requirements, mandatory and permitted equipment set out in:
Condition and performance
8. A vehicle must comply with the requirements relating to condition and performance set out in:
Page amended 1 June 2019 (see amendment details).