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Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
( FMVSS) 403 Summary
Regulations for the lift manufacturer

A summary of FMVSS 403: Platform Lift Systems for Accessible Motor Vehicles, Platform Lift Installation on Motor Vehicles; Final Rule. Not fully inclusive of all wording and all regulations.

A "Private Use Lift" is used in a personal vehicle for that individual, a family member or a friend. All other uses are "Public Use Lifts".

Regarding Public Use Lifts & FMVSS 403: The lift manufacturer must produce only FMVSS compliant lifts for the use in the USA starting 4-1-05 . The lift must have a designation on it that it meets FMVSS-403. The designation is "DOT-Public Use Lift"

The lift must have a threshold warning device that is both audible and visible per the regulations. This warning will trigger when a portion of a person's body or a portion of a mobility aid are on the threshold area when the platform lowers more than one inch.

The threshold area must be 18" deep.

There are standards to limit the speed of the platform during its operating functions.

There are regulations on the attachment hardware for the lift.

There are standards for the size of the platform, gaps in the platform, and platform deflection, and also a minimum capacity of 600 lbs.

There are standards for the edge guards and the handrails.

The wheel chair retention device must meet the regulatory testing.

The inboard roll-stop also has regulations that have to be met and tested.

There are regulations for the hand held control that include lighted characters.

The lift must have an on/off switch and a back up operation.

There must be a cycle counter.

The regulations dictate the information required in the operators manual, and the maintenance manual must list the recommended maintenance as it correlates to the number of cycles on the lift cycle counter.

Interlocks:

The vehicle must not be able to move unless the lift is stowed.

The lift can not come out of the stowed position until it receives an interlock signal from the vehicle that the vehicle can not be moved.

The platform can not begin to stow with 50 or more pounds on the platform.

The platform can not move up or down unless the inner roll-stop is deployed.

Once the platform is more than 3" above the ground, the lift can not move up or down unless the wheel chair retention device is fully deployed.

Once the platform is more than 3" above the ground, the lift can not move up or down if the outer roll-stop is occupied by part of a person's body or by a mobility aid.

The lift can not move up or down if the inner roll-stop is occupied by part of a person's body or by a mobility aid.

All of the requirements have testing that has to be completed by the lift manufacturer. Other tests that NHTSA will conduct on the lifts to see if the lifts meet the law and the intent of the law have yet to be formulated by NHTSA.

FMVSS-404 (Regulations for other than the lift manufacturer).

For Public Use Lifts – Effective 7-1-05 .

FMVSS-404 sets the standards for the type of vehicles that require the compliant lifts.

The installer must follow the installation instructions from the lift manufacturer.

Compliance for the lighted lift platforms are the responsibility of the installer.

The lift must continue to comply with FMVSS-403 once it is installed. The installer must complete a checklist provided by the lift manufacturer that at least certifies that the threshold warning device is operating, the platform lights are operating, the lift interlocks are operating, and the vehicle interlocks are operating.

The lift owner's manual must be placed in the vehicle.

There must be operator's instructions permanently affixed as indicated by FMVSS.