[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: 49CFR238.233]



[Page 674-675]

 

                        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.



[[Page 675]]



    (d) To the extent possible, all interior fittings in a passenger 

car, except seats, shall be recessed or flush-mounted.

    (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.