[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR238.233]

[Page 567-568]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 238--PASSENGER EQUIPMENT SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
     Subpart C--Specific Requirements for Tier I Passenger Equipment
 
Sec. 238.233  Interior fittings and surfaces.

    (a) Each seat in a passenger car shall--
    (1) Be securely fastened to the car body so as to withstand an 
individually applied acceleration of 4g acting in the lateral direction 
and 4g acting in the upward vertical direction on the deadweight of the 
seat or seats, if held in tandem; and
    (2) Have an attachment to the car body of an ultimate strength 
capable of resisting simultaneously:
    (i) The longitudinal inertial force of 8g acting on the mass of the 
seat; and
    (ii) The load associated with the impact into the seatback of an 
unrestrained 95th-percentile adult male initially seated behind the 
seat, when the floor to which the seat is attached decelerates with a 
triangular crash pulse having a peak of 8g and a duration of 250 
milliseconds.
    (b) Overhead storage racks in a passenger car shall provide 
longitudinal and lateral restraint for stowed articles. Overhead storage 
racks shall be attached to the car body with sufficient strength to 
resist loads due to the following individually applied accelerations 
acting on the mass of the luggage stowed as determined by the railroad:
    (1) Longitudinal: 8g;
    (2) Vertical: 4g; and
    (3) Lateral: 4g.
    (c) Other interior fittings within a passenger car shall be attached 
to the car body with sufficient strength to withstand the following 
individually applied accelerations acting on the mass of the fitting:
    (1) Longitudinal: 8g;
    (2) Vertical: 4g; and
    (3) Lateral: 4g.
    (d) To the extent possible, all interior fittings in a passenger 
car, except seats, shall be recessed or flush-mounted.

[[Page 568]]

    (e) Sharp edges and corners in a locomotive cab and a passenger car 
shall be either avoided or padded to mitigate the consequences of an 
impact with such surfaces.
    (f) Each seat provided for a crewmember regularly assigned to occupy 
the cab of a locomotive and each floor-mounted seat in the cab shall be 
secured to the car body with an attachment having an ultimate strength 
capable of withstanding the loads due to the following individually 
applied accelerations acting on the combined mass of the seat and a 
95th-percentile adult male occupying it:
    (1) Longitudinal: 8g;
    (2) Lateral: 4g; and
    (3) Vertical: 4g.
    (g) If, for purposes of showing compliance with the requirements of 
this section, the strength of a seat attachment is to be demonstrated 
through sled testing, the seat structure and seat attachment to the sled 
that is used in such testing must be representative of the actual seat 
structure in, and seat attachment to, the rail vehicle subject to the 
requirements of this section. If the attachment strength of any other 
interior fitting is to be demonstrated through sled testing, for 
purposes of showing compliance with the requirements of this section, 
such testing shall be conducted in a similar manner.