HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

National Heavy Vehicle Standards (Detainee Transport Vehicle) Exemption Notice 2018 (No.1)

  1. Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to exempt heavy vehicles built or modified for transporting detainees from certain prescribed heavy vehicle standards.

 

2.       Authorising Provision

This notice is made under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) as in force in each participating jurisdiction.

 

3.       Commencement

This notice commences on the date of its publication.

 

4.       Expiry

This notice expires five years after its publication.

 

5.       Title

This notice may be cited as the National Heavy Vehicle Standards (Detainee Transport Vehicle) Exemption Notice 2018.

 

6.       Definitions

 

(1)    Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.

 

(2)    In this notice—

Detainee means a person who is detained by, or is in the custody of, an agency or department of the Commonwealth Government, or an Australian State or Territory Government. This includes persons defined as detainees, prisoners and inmates under various Commonwealth, State and Territory laws. 

Detainee seating compartment means a compartment of a detainee transport vehicle that contains a seating position designed for the transport of a detainee.

Detainee transport vehicle means a heavy vehicle:

(a)    Designed and constructed for the purpose of transport of detainees; and

(b)    is operated or contracted by an agency or department of the Commonwealth Government, or an Australian State or Territory Government, that is authorised by law to detain and transport detainees.

 

7.       Application

 

This notice applies to a detainee transport vehicle operating in participating jurisdictions.

 

8.       Exemption – Prescribed vehicle standards for detainee seating compartments

 

(1)    This notice provides vehicle standards exemptions and conditions that apply only to the detainee seating compartments of a detainee transport vehicle.

 

(2)    All other seating positions in the Detainee transport vehicle that are not contained in a detainee seating compartment must comply with relevant vehicle standards.

 

(3)    Referring to Table 1, any detainee seating compartment of a detainee transport vehicle operating under this notice is exempt from the requirement in Column 2, of the Australian Design Rule in Column 1, providing it satisfies the requirement in Column 3.

Table 1: Exemptions from prescribed vehicle standards

Column 1

Australian Design Rule

Column 2

Applicable requirement

Column 3

Condition of exemption

ADR 3/03 – Seats and Seat Anchorages

All Sections – Seats and Seat Anchorage requirements

Additional seats provided for detainees are installed in the vehicle must, as far as practicable, meet the requirements of VSB6 section K.

ADR 4/04 – Seatbelts

All Sections – Seatbelt requirements

If fitted, seatbelts provided for detainees must be installed in accordance with the standards specified by the relevant Corrective Service.

ADR 5/05 – Anchorages for Seatbelts

All Sections – Seatbelt anchorage requirements

If fitted, seatbelts provided for detainees must be in accordance with the standards specified by the relevant Corrective Service.

ADR 8/01 – Safety Glazing Material

All Sections –Glazing Material requirements

Any glazing is shatter resistant and designed to reduce the danger of bodily injury.

ADR 42/04 – General Safety Requirements

Clause 19.2.1 – Omnibus ventilation

Each compartment is fitted with ducted air conditioning.

ADR 44/02 – Specific Purpose Vehicle Requirements

Clause 44.9 – Emergency exits for omnibuses

Emergency exits or service doors are provided for each passenger section and these exits are in accordance with the standards specified by the relevant Corrective Service.

ADR 58/00 – Requirements for Omnibuses Designed for Hire and Reward

Clause 58.4 – Aisle requirements

Clause 58.5.1 – Access from left hand side and hand grips

Clause 58.5.3 – Access from left hand side and minimum door width

Clause 58.5.4 – Access from right hand side of vehicle

Clause 58.7.2.3 – Maximum access step height to a single row of seats

Clause 58.10 – Fitting of grab handles

Clause 58.12 – Emergency exits

Clause 58.13.9 – Upholstered seats

Clause 58.15 – Interior doors

Clause 58.23.7.1 – Fitting of fuel filler less than 900mm from an access opening

Emergency exits are capable of being opened manually from the outside.

 

Each emergency exit must be at least 500mm x 550mm in size.

 

At least one emergency exit, accessible from the detainee section, must be provided on both sides or one side and rear of the vehicle.

 

 

ADR 68/00 – Occupant Impact Protection in Buses

Clause 5.4 – Seatbelt Assemblies

Clause 5.5 – Seatbelt Anchorages

Clause 5.6 – Provision for Child Restraints

If fitted, seatbelts for detainees must be installed in accordance with the standards specified by the relevant Corrective Service.

 

 

9.       Conditions – General

 

In addition to complying with the conditions relating to detainee seating compartments in s8 and s9 above, if a detainee transport vehicle is disposed of to anyone other than an agency or department of the Commonwealth Government, or an Australian State or Territory Government, the vehicle must be returned to a configuration that complies with all applicable ADRs.

 

 

Dated 3 December 2018

 

 

Geoff Casey

Executive Director Productivity and Safety

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator