National Transportation Safety Board Issues New School Bus Safety Recommendations

Fire Suppression Systems Now Recommended as Standard Safety Equipment On All New and In-Service School Busses in The U.S.

USSC Group a manufacturer of safety, survivability and technology products for the mass transit, school bus, military, and first responder markets, commends the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on their recent recommendation that all new and in-service school buses be equipped with automatic fire suppression systems. This NTSB decision is in response to a fatal December 2017 school bus fire in Oakland, Iowa that killed the driver and a 16-year-old student. During the June 18^th hearing, the NTSB walked through their findings and the root cause of the accident followed by recommendations to significantly improve school bus safety.

In their findings, the NTSB cited a recent U.S. Department of Transportation study (Volpe Report) documenting over 380 school bus fires reported every year, with the majority initiating in and around the engine compartment. The NTSB recommendation to install engine fire suppression systems was not only for new school buses, but also included that all in-service school buses be retrofitted and equipped with fire suppression systems. 

“I think all would agree that school buses are the safest form of transportation on the road today…but as the extensive investigation and recommendations by the NTSB highlighted, additional safety measures are commercially available to address the high instances of school bus engine fires,” stated Joseph Mirabile, President/CEO of USSC Group. “Our company continues to be focused on improving passenger safety and survivability in all the markets for which we serve…especially the 26 million students riding school buses everyday.”

USSC’s subsidiary, Fogmaker North America, is a leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly and self-contained water mist fire suppression systems for engine compartments and enclosed spaces. The company’s lifesaving fire suppression system has been installed as standard safety equipment on new and in-service school buses throughout North America.

“When it comes to the reality of a school bus fire, it’s not a matter of if…it’s a matter of when. And to confront this reality, numerous states, as well as private and public school bus providers, are now mandating engine fire suppression systems be installed throughout their fleets,” stated Kent Tyler, Executive Vice President at USSC Group. “Our patented Fogmaker technology is designed to not only automatically suppress these thermal events, but also provide additional time for occupants to safely evacuate the bus. And as a global leader in the fire suppression market, Fogmaker stands ready to support our partners in the school bus industry to further ensure the safety of their occupants and fleets.” 

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