[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 4]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR238.215]



[Page 671]

 

                        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. 238.215  Rollover strength.



    (a) Each passenger car shall be designed to rest on its side and be 

uniformly supported at the top (``roof rail''), the bottom cords (``side 

sill'') of the side frame, and, if bi-level, the intermediate floor 

rail. The allowable stress in the structural members of the occupied 

volumes for this condition shall be one-half yield or one-half the 

critical buckling stress, whichever is less. Local yielding to the outer 

skin of the passenger car is allowed provided that the resulting 

deformations in no way intrude upon the occupied volume of the car.

    (b) Each passenger car shall also be designed to rest on its roof so 

that any damage in occupied areas is limited to roof sheathing and 

framing. Other than roof sheathing and framing, the allowable stress in 

the structural members of the occupied volumes for this condition shall 

be one-half yield or one-half the critical buckling stress, whichever is 

less. Deformation to the roof sheathing and framing is allowed to the 

extent necessary to permit the vehicle to be supported directly on the 

top chords of the side frames and end frames.