By Stephane Babcock Mostly likely, the first students to feel the cool, refreshing air being dispensed The school bus is
probably one of the last links that is not air conditioned. Over the last five years, we have seen the requirement for air conditioning increase significantly.
Rick Lehnert,
President of Trans/Air Manufacturing Corp.
from an AC unit on a school bus were probably not on their way to school. According to a number of folks in the refrigerated air industry, the first
school buses equipped with air conditioning were mainly used for long trips associated with team sports. From there, the movement progressed to activity buses, handicapped or special needs transportation buses, and finally to mainstream bus operations in some of the much warmer climates, especially in districts that have instituted a year-round school schedule. Though, some Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) have long required the use of A/C during regular school bus service. “Over time, cars are all air conditioned, most homes are and a majority of
schools now have air conditioning,” said Rick Lehnert, president of Trans/Air Manufacturing Corp. “Te school bus is probably one of the last links that is not air conditioned. Over the last five years we have seen the requirement for air conditioning increase significantly.”
Meeting Safety, Cost Concern Initially, many school buses would run the air conditioning system sepa-
rately from the main vehicle engine, which was a safety concern and failed to meet FMVSS 301, which deals with system integrity. As air conditioning was generally an aftermarket product that was installed after the bus left the factory, the necessary modifications made any related problems the re- sponsibility of the air conditioning company and the system’s installer. Te decision to convert to a system that was driven by the vehicle’s engine re- duced maintenance costs and the overall purchase price. “Te only downside was that the low-speed cooling was better with an in- dependent engine; however, the safety, maintenance and doubling the price
36 School Transportation News Magazine April 2010
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