This consolidation is unofficial and is for reference only. For the official version of the regulations, consult the original documents on file with the Registry of Regulations, or refer to the Royal Gazette Part II. Regulations are amended frequently. Please check the list of Regulations by Act to see if there are any recent amendments to these regulations filed with the Registry that are not yet included in this consolidation. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this electronic version, the Registry of Regulations assumes no responsibility for any discrepancies that may have resulted from reformatting. This electronic version is copyright © 2009, Province of Nova Scotia, all rights reserved. It is for your personal use and may not be copied for the purposes of resale in this or any other form.
Commercial Vehicle Maintenance Standards made under Sections 303 and 304 of the
Motor Vehicle Act
R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 293
O.I.C. 90-1337 (November 13, 1990), N.S. Reg. 296/90
as amended up to O.I.C. 2000-440 (August 30, 2000), N.S. Reg. 147/20001 These regulations may be cited as the Commercial Vehicle Maintenance Standards.
Definitions
2 In these regulations(a) "Act" means the Motor Vehicle Act;
(b) "carrier" means a person who owns, leases or is responsible for the operation of a commercial vehicle;
(c) "commercial vehicle" means
(i) a truck, truck-tractor, c-dolly, or trailer, or combination thereof exceeding a registered gross vehicle weight of 4500 kg, or
Subclause 2(c)(i) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(ii) a bus designed, constructed and used for the transportation of passengers with a designated seating capacity of more than ten, including the driver, but does not include a bus when being operated for personal use;
(d) "driver" means any person who drives a commercial vehicle subject to these regulations;
(e) "home terminal" means the place of business of a carrier where the commercial vehicle driver normally reports for work;
(f) "inspector" means motor vehicle inspector;
(g) "plate" means a valid license plate issued by the Department;
(h) "recreation vehicle" means a vehicle designed as mobile accommodation and used as transportation for personal and recreational purposes without compensation and includes but is not limited to a cabin trailer, a collapsible cabin trailer, a tent trailer and a camping trailer.
3 These regulations do not apply to a recreation vehicle.
Inspection, repair and maintenance
4 (1) Every carrier shall systematically inspect, repair and maintain or cause to be systematically inspected, repaired and maintained all commercial vehicles subject to its control and shall ensure that(a) parts and accessories are in safe and proper operating condition at all times and comply with the Commercial Vehicle Component Performance Standards set forth in Appendix "A" to these regulations; and
(b) replacement parts are
(i) designed for the particular application for which they are used,
(ii) properly installed, and
(iii) where practical, certified by a recognized standards testing organization.
(2) Every carrier shall maintain or cause to be maintained the following records for each commercial vehicle:
(a) an identification of the vehicle including company number if so marked, make, model, plate number, serial number, year and tire size and, if the vehicle is not owned by the motor carrier, the record shall identify the name of the person furnishing the said vehicle;
(b) a means to indicate the nature and due date of the various inspection and maintenance operations to be performed;
(c) a record of inspection, repairs and maintenance indicating date and nature thereof;
(d) a lubrication record; and
(e) a record of modifications involving axles or suspensions that affect a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating or gross axle weight rating.
(3) Every carrier shall retain all records required under this Section at the carrier’s principal place of business in Nova Scotia for a period of 2 years, and for records relating to a vehicle that has left the motor carrier’s control, for a period of 6 months after the vehicle has left the motor carrier’s control.
Subsection 4(3) replaced: O.I.C. 1999-491, N.S. Reg. 103/99.Lubrication
5 Every carrier shall ensure that each commercial vehicle subject to its control is(a) properly lubricated; and
(b) free of oil and grease leaks.
Inspection
6 (1) Every carrier shall ensure that the records referred to in subsection (2) of Section 4 are readily available for inspection upon request by an inspector.(2) The inspector may enter the location at which the commercial vehicle is either housed or maintained for the purpose of examining records which are required to be kept by these regulations.
(3) No person shall refuse to allow the inspector access to any records, books or documents required by these regulations or to produce them for inspection when requested to do so.
7 (1) On inspecting any building, place, container or commercial vehicle, an inspector may examine and make copies and extracts of any books, records, shipping documents or other documents or papers that he believes on reasonable and probable grounds contain any information relevant to the administration or enforcement of these regulations.
(2) A carrier or its representative requested to act pursuant to these regulations shall give an inspector all reasonable assistance within its power to enable an inspector to carry out the inspector's duties under these regulations.
(3) Where an inspector deems it necessary, the inspector may make any reasonable request for assistance from the carrier or its representative.
Penalties
8 (1) Any person who violates any of the provisions of subsection 4(1) of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a penalty of not less than three hundred dollars.
Subsection 8(1) erratum: O.I.C. 1999-491, N.S. Reg. 103/99.(2) Any person who violates any of the provisions set forth in Appendix "A" of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a penalty of not less than three hundred dollars.
Section 8(2) erratum: O.I.C. 92-296, N.S. Reg. 67/92.(3) Any person who violates any of the provisions of Section 7 of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a penalty of not less than five hundred dollars.
(4) Any person who violates any of the provisions of subsection 4(2) of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a penalty of not less than one thousand dollars.
Subsection 8(4) erratum: O.I.C. 1999-491, N.S. Reg. 103/99.(5) Any person who violates any of the provisions of these regulations in respect of which a penalty for the offence is not specifically provided shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars.
Other
9 These regulations do not preclude or exempt a carrier from compliance or performance of any other mandatory inspection required by the Act.Inconsistent provisions
10 In the event of any inconsistency between these regulations and any other regulations under the Act, these regulations shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.
Appendix "A" - Commercial Vehicle Component Performance Standards
General
1 Body, sheet metal and equipment(a) No bumper, fender or mudguard shall have been removed.
(b) Each bumper shall be securely mounted.
(c) Each mud flap, where applicable, shall be in position.
(d) No bumper, fender, molding or other part shall have a broken, bent or sharp edge that protrudes in such a way as to constitute a hazard to persons or vehicles.
(e) No hood latch shall be missing or fail to hold the hood closed and no safety catch, in the case of a front opening hood, shall be missing or inoperative.
(f) No tilt cab latch shall be missing or fail to hold the tilt cab latched and no safety catch shall be missing or inoperative.
(g) In the case of a bus, the floor and stepwell covering shall not be cracked, curled, loose or worn so as to present a tripping hazard.
(h) In the case of a bus, each stanchion, grab handle, guard rail and guard panel shall be securely mounted and no fastening part shall be missing.
(i) Where originally installed by the manufacturer, no energy-absorbing material shall be missing from stanchions and guard rails or from the tops or sides of seat backs.
(j) Every occupant seat shall be securely mounted and shall maintain its position and adjustment.
(k) Where required under the provisions of the commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada), no seat belt assembly or anchorage shall have been removed, rendered partly or wholly inoperative or modified so as to reduce their effectiveness.
(l) If fitted with a seat belt assembly or assemblies, each belt anchorage shall be secure, each buckle and retractor shall operate as intended, and no belt webbing shall be visibly damaged so as to reduce its effectiveness.
(m) If fitted, a driver's sun visor shall function as intended.
(n) In the case of a bus other than [a] passenger vehicle for the physically disabled or [a] bus used for the purpose of transporting prisoners or other persons held in custody, an emergency exit
(i) that is a door shall have a clear passageway thereto and be located at the rear of the vehicle and the release mechanism when actuated shall function from inside the vehicle as well as from outside the vehicle where fitted with outside release and the door shall open freely and close securely and the emergency door's audible or visible warning device, if originally fitted, shall function properly,
(ii) that is a hinged pushout window shall be visually inspected to ensure that it opens outward when the release mechanism is actuated and adequate direction for the emergency use thereof shall be displayed on or adjacent to the pushout window and the emergency warning device, if originally fitted, shall function properly, or
(iii) that is a roof hatch shall open outward when the release mechanism is actuated and a reasonable amount of manual force is applied and adequate direction for the emergency use thereof shall be displayed on or adjacent to the roof hatch;
(o) Each overhead package shelf, if fitted, shall be securely mounted and not have any broken, missing, excessively worn or excessively stretched package retaining components.
(p) In the case of [a] passenger vehicle for the physically disabled,
(i) if fitted with wheelchair securement devices, each device anchorage shall be secure, each component part shall operate as intended and no component part shall have damage apparent on visual inspection that would reduce its effectiveness,
(ii) if fitted with occupant restraint assemblies, each component part thereof shall operate as intended and no component part shall have damage apparent on visual inspection that would reduce its effectiveness,
(iii) if fitted with occupant restraint assemblies anchored to the vehicle, each restraint assembly anchorage shall be secured,
(iv) all devices used to secure passenger access or emergency exit doors in the open position shall operate as intended and shall have no damage apparent on visual inspection that would reduce their effectiveness,
(v) if fitted with an emergency exit door, the door shall have no fixed obstructions blocking the passage of persons or, in the case of a vehicle used for the transportation of persons in wheelchairs, blocking the passage of wheelchairs, and the door release mechanism shall function from inside and outside the vehicle,
(vi) if fitted with a ramp or power lift, the means of attachment of the ramp or power lift to the vehicle shall be secure with no fastening parts missing and when the ramp or power lift is in the stored position it shall be secured by means other than a support or lug in the door in such a manner as to pose no potential hazard to occupants of the vehicle,
(vii) no plate, cover or energy-absorbing material required to protect persons from sharp edges or corners shall be missing, worn or damaged so as to reduce its effectiveness.
(q) For 16.15 m trailers or 25 m combinations, the rear impact guards must be in the proper position and in good condition.
Clause 1(q) added: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.2 Occupant compartment door
(a) Each occupant compartment door shall open freely when its release mechanism is actuated and shall close securely and the flexible material on closing edges, where originally fitted, shall not be missing or excessively loose or torn.
(b) In the case of a vehicle having a separate exit door other than a door to be used only in an emergency,
(i) when the driver's door control is in the closed position and the exit door is fully closed, the door shall not open when a moderate amount of manual force is applied in an attempt to open it and the audible or visible warning device, if fitted, shall function properly,
(ii) when the driver's door control is in the position to open the exit door, the brake and accelerator interlock systems, if fitted, shall automatically apply the rear brakes and hold them in the applied position and the engine speed will be prevented from exceeding idle speed until the door control is moved to the closed position and the door has been closed, and
(iii) when the exit door is fitted with sensitive edges and the door is not fully closed, manual pressure applied to each sensitive edge shall cause the door to reopen, the audible or visual warning device, if fitted, shall function properly, the brake and accelerator interlock systems, if fitted, shall automatically apply the rear brakes and hold them in the applied position and the engine speed will be prevented from exceeding idle speed until the door control is moved to the closed position and the door has closed.
3 Exterior compartment door
(a) Each door shall be securely attached to the body.
(b) Each door shall function properly.
(c) Each door shall be equipped with a lock, latch or spring device that shall hold it closed.
4 Chassis frame, underbody and body mounts
(a) No chassis frame member or structural member of a unitized or monocoque body shall be visibly cracked or perforated by corrosion, or have loose or missing connecting fasteners that may degrade the safety of the vehicle or jeopardize its handling characteristics.
(b) The underbody, excluding the underbody of a separate cargo body, shall not be visibly perforated by rust or otherwise damaged or have any opening other than those intended by the manufacturer.
5 Drive shaft hanger brackets and guards
(a) No fasteners shall be missing, loose or damaged.
(b) No drive shaft guard or hanger bracket shall be insecure or missing.
6 Mirrors
(a) No mirror prescribed by or under the Act shall be missing.
(b) Each mirror shall be securely mounted and maintain a set adjustment.
(c) No mirror shall be cracked, broken or have any significant reduction in reflecting surface owing to deterioration of the silvering.
(d) In the case of a vehicle where there is no rear window or where the view through the rear window is restricted in such a way as not to afford the driver a clear view to the rear of the vehicle, the outside rearview mirrors shall not be missing.
Clause 6(d) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.7 Windshield and windows
(a) Where glass is used, there shall be no evidence of its being other than safety glass.
(b) Any manufacturer's marking
(i) on the windshield shall be AS1 and AS10,
(ii) on the side and rear windows at levels requisite for driving visibility shall be AS1, AS2, AS4, AS6, AS10 or AS11, and
(iii) on windows for standing passengers in interior partitions or in openings in the roof shall be AS1, AS2, AS3, AS4, AS5, AS6, AS7, AS10, AS11, AS12 or AS13.
(c) No material that obstructs the driver's view of the highway or of an intersecting highway shall be fitted in the windshield opening or in a side window opening to the left or right of the driver's seat.
(d) No material other than safety glass shall be used for a windshield.
(e) No safety glass in the windshield or in any side window to the left or right of the driver's seat shall be scratched, cracked, clouded or fogged so as to materially impair vision.
(f) No safety glass shall have exposed sharp edges or be missing in part.
(g) Banding on exposed edges of safety glass, if originally fitted, shall not be missing, loose or broken.
(h) There shall be no star, stone chip or crack in the area of the windshield swept by the driver's wiper blade that may interfere with the driver's vision.
(i) Any window to the left of the driver's seat that is suitable for the purpose of permitting a signal by means of the hand or arm shall open readily.
8 Fuel system
(a) No mounting or attachment shall be missing or insecure.
(b) No filler cap shall be missing or insecure or of an improper type for the tank with which it is used
Clause 8(b) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(c) No leakage shall occur at any point in the fuel system.
(d) Notwithstanding clauses (a), (b) and (c), all pressurized fuel systems shall meet Canadian Gas Association (CGA) Standards.
9 Exhaust system (including manifolds)
(a) No exhaust pipe, muffler or tail pipe shall be missing or insecurely mounted.
(b) No leakage shall occur at any point in the exhaust system except through drain holes provided by the manufacturer.
(c) No component thereof shall be so located as to cause charring or other heat damage to any wiring fuel line, brake line or combustible material of the vehicle.
(d) No component thereof shall pass through the occupant compartment.
(e) No component thereof shall be so located or unguarded that an individual may be burned thereby on entering or leaving the vehicle.
(f) No exhaust system shall be shortened or modified from original equipment so as to fail to direct the exhaust beyond the underbody of the occupant compartment or luggage compartment and in no case shall the distance between the outlet and periphery of the underbody past which it directs the exhaust exceed 15 cm.
10 Fifth wheel coupling device
(a) The fifth wheel shall be fastened securely to the vehicle.
(b) In the case of a fifth wheel secured to the vehicle frame by means of U-bolts, positive stops shall be provided to prevent it from shifting on the frame.
(c) The jaw closure mechanism and locking system shall be in good working order and shall not be broken, cracked or excessively worn.
(d) The slider mechanism, if fitted, shall lock securely and shall not show any signs of failure or excessive wear.
11 Trailer hitch, hitch mounting and connecting devices for safety cables and chains
(a) No trailer hitch or towing structure to which a trailer hitch is attached shall be insecurely mounted.
(b) No latch mechanism shall fail to close securely.
(c) No part shall be missing, cracked, broken, excessively bent, seized or excessively worn.
(d) No cast or forged hitch shall show any indication that repairs have been made by means of brazing or welding.
(e) No connecting devices provided at the rear of a vehicle for the attachment of a safety chain or cable shall be insecurely fastened, missing, cracked, broken or excessively worn.
Brakes
12 (1) Hydraulic, vacuum and air system components (including reservoirs, fittings, valves, supports, hose clamps, connections, air chambers, air cleaners, hoses and tubes)(a) With vacuum hydraulic or air boost systems fully charged there shall be no hydraulic or vacuum leak in the service brake system while the service brakes are fully applied or released.
(b) No hydraulic, air or vacuum hose or tube shall be abraded, restricted, crimped, cracked, broken, disconnected or be so located as to chafe against any part of the vehicle or have damaged or missing clamps or supports.
(c) The brake tubing shall not show any indication of leakage or heavy corrosion scaling.
(d) The hydraulic fluid level in any reservoir shall not be below the minimum level as specified by the manufacturer or, where no specification is given by the manufacturer, shall be no more than 12.7 mm below the lowest edge of each filler opening.
Clause 12(1)(d) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(e) The air cleaner of the vacuum system or air compressor shall not be clogged.
(2) Mechanical components
(a) Mechanical components of the service, parking and emergency brake systems shall not be misaligned, insecure, excessively worn, broken, binding, seized, missing, frayed or disconnected.
(3) Hydraulic system and related warning devices
(a) A hydraulic master cylinder push rod shall be properly adjusted.
(b) In the case of a vehicle equipped with dual circuit hydraulic brakes, the brake failure warning lamp shall be operative.
(c) With moderate foot force maintained on the service brake pedal for 60 seconds and, in the case of power-boosted brakes, with the engine running
Clause 12(3)(c) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(i) the total pedal travel shall not exceed 65% of the total available travel, and
Subclause 12(3)(c)(i) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(ii) on a vehicle equipped with dual circuit hydraulic brakes, the brake failure warning lamp shall not come on.
(d) With heavy foot force applied to the service brake pedal and, in case of power-boosted brakes, with the engine running
(i) the total pedal travel shall not exceed 65% of the total available travel, and
Subclause 12(3)(d)(i) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(ii) on a vehicle equipped with dual circuit hydraulic brakes, the brake failure warning lamp shall not come on.
(e) Notwithstanding clause (d), where a commercial vehicle is equipped with a HYDRA BOOST braking system, the foot force applied to the pedal shall not exceed 27.3 kg.
Clause 12(3)(e) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(4) Power-boosted hydraulic brakes
(a) In the case of a vehicle equipped with power-boosted hydraulic brakes, after the engine has been stopped and the vacuum, air or hydraulic boost has been depleted, holding moderate pressure on the service brake pedal and starting the engine shall result in the pedal moving towards the applied position.
(b) In the case of a vehicle equipped with hydraulically-boosted hydraulic brakes and electrically-driven hydraulic pump for the reserve power system, after the engine has been stopped and the hydraulic boost has been depleted, holding moderate pressure on the service brake pedal while moving the ignition switch to the "ON" position shall cause the pump to start and run the brake pedal to move toward the applied position.
(5) Air-boosted hydraulic brakes or full air brakes
(a) The compressor drive belt, if fitted, shall have correct tension and shall not be cut, frayed or excessively worn.
(b) The air pressure gauge shall be operative.
(c) With the engine running, each air reservoir drain valve shall be actuated and shall function properly.
(d) The governor cut-in and cut-out pressure shall not be lower or higher than those specified by the vehicle manufacturer or, if not specified by the manufacturer, 560 kPa gauge measure and 945 kPa gauge measure, respectively.
Clause 12(5)(d) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(e) With the air brake system fully charged and immediately after the engine is stopped, the compressed air reserve shall be sufficient to permit one full service brake application from a fully charged system without lowering reservoir pressure by more than 20%.
(f) With air brake system fully charged and the engine stopped, air pressure drop shall not exceed
(i) with the service brakes released, 13 kPa in one minute, and
Subclause 12(5)(f)(i) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(ii) with the service brakes fully applied, 20 kPa in one minute;
Subclause 12(5)(f)(ii) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(g) The low pressure warning device shall operate when system pressure is reduced to 382 kPa.
Clause 12(5)(g) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(6) Vacuum gauge and low vacuum warning device
(a) The vacuum gauge shall be operative.
(b) With engine stopped, the warning device shall operate before the vacuum reserve drops to less than 2 kPa or, if no vacuum gauge is fitted, there shall be at least one boosted brake application available after the warning device operates.
Clause 12(6)(b) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(7) Parking brake
(a) The brake, while set in the fully applied position and not held by foot or hand force or by hydraulic or air pressure, shall hold the vehicle stationary against the engine at a light throttle setting for a few seconds both in reverse gear and in low forward gear.
(b) The brake shall fully release when the release control is operated.
(8) Emergency brake system
(a) The brakes, while set in the fully applied position with the transmission in a low forward gear shall hold the vehicle stationary against the engine at a light throttle setting for a few seconds.
(b) There shall be reserve travel available beyond the full brake application position.
(c) The brakes shall fully release when the release control is operated.
(9) Service brakes
(a) The service brakes shall be properly adjusted.
Engine controls and steering
13 (1) Engine controls(a) The engine speed shall drop to idle when the accelerator pedal is released.
(b) Where the engine is equipped with an emergency stopping device the engine shall stop when the control is actuated while the engine is idling.
(2) Power-boosted steering
(a) The power steering drive belt shall not be missing, cut, frayed or excessively worn and shall have correct tension.
(b) The fluid in the power steering reservoir shall not be lower than the minimum level specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
(c) With the engine running
(i) the power steering shall operate as intended, and
(ii) the hydraulic system shall not show excessive play.
(3) Steering column and box
(a) The steering column and box or boxes shall not be loose in their mounting to the body frame.
(b) No bolt or nut shall be loose or missing from a mounting.
(c) Steering shaft couplings and spines shall not have excessive play.
(d) Upon visual inspection the steering column energy-absorbing section, if fitted, shall not appear damaged so as to reduce its effectiveness.
(4) Wheel alignment
(a) While all wheels are on the ground and the front wheels are in a straight-ahead position, they shall not be visibly out of alignment.
(5) Steering linkage
(a) While the front wheels are on the ground in the straight-ahead position and, in the case of a vehicle equipped with power-boosted steering, with the engine running, free movement of the steering wheel rim, with no movement of the front wheels, shall not exceed
(i) the limit designated by the vehicle manufacturer, or
(ii) in the case where the limit is not designated, 30 degrees, or
(ii) the maximum limits set forth in the following table:
Diameter Manual system Power system 41 cm
46 cm
51 cm
56 cm5 cm
6 cm
6 cm
7 cm11 cm
12 cm
13 cm
15 cm(b) While the front wheels are on the ground and, in the case of a vehicle equipped with power-boosted steering, with the engine running the front wheels shall turn from full right to full left and back again without interference or indication of roughness in the mechanism.
Original clause 13(5)(b) repealed and clause 13(5)(c) renumbered (b): O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(c) While the front wheels are off the ground and the vehicle is supported so that the steering linkage assumes its normal attitude, without movement of the opposite wheel, no front wheel shall have play about a vertical axis of
(i) six millimetres for a tire diameter designation of sixteen or less,
(ii) nine millimetres for a tire diameter designation that is larger than sixteen but not larger than eighteen, or
(iii) twelve millimetres for a tire diameter designation that is larger than eighteen
as measured at the extreme front or rear of the tire tread face.
Clause 13(5)(d) renumbered (c): O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(d) No part of the steering linkage system shall be damaged, repaired or modified so as to weaken the linkage system or affect the proper steering of the vehicle.
Clause 13(5)(e) renumbered (d): O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(e) No nut, bolt or cotter pin shall be loose, excessively worn or missing.
Clause 13(5)(f) renumbered (e): O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.Suspension
14 (1) GeneralWhile the wheels of the vehicle are off the ground so that the suspension joints are not under load,
(a) no non-load carrying ball joint shall show any perceptible play other than that specified by the manufacturer;
(b) no load-carrying ball joint shall have play in excess of that specified by the vehicle manufacturer;
(c) in the case of king pins, no front wheel shall have a rocking play about a horizontal axis in excess of
(i) six millimetres for a tire diameter designation of sixteen or less,
(ii) nine millimetres for a tire diameter designation that is larger than sixteen but not larger than eighteen, or
(iii) twelve millimetres for a tire diameter designation that is larger than eighteen,
as measured at the extreme top or bottom of the tire tread face;
(d) no control arm inner pivot shall have excessive play;
(e) no wheel or axle bearing shall give any indication of excessive wear or damage when the bearing is rotated;
(f) no wheel or axle bearing shall be maladjusted so as to result in excess play or binding;
(g) wear-indicating ball joints while under load with the wheels on the ground shall show no excessive wear;
(h) front and rear springs, shackles, U-bolts, centre bolts, radius rods, control arms, shock- absorbers, equalizers, stabilizers and their supports and attachments thereto shall not be loose, bent, cracked, broken, disconnected, perforated by corrosion or missing;
(i) the rear axle or axles and their wheels shall not be tracking improperly so as to adversely affect control of the vehicle.
(2) Air suspension system
(a) In the case of a vehicle equipped with full air brakes, when the engine is started with zero gauge air brake system, air shall not begin to flow into the suspension system before 450 kPa gauge is reached in the brake system.
Clause 14(2)(a) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(b) With air in the suspension system at normal operating pressure and the pusher or tag axle, if fitted, tested in both load and reduced load sharing modes, no air leakage shall occur.
(c) With air in the suspension system at normal operating pressure, the pusher or tag axle, if fitted, shall respond properly to its load sharing control switch or valve.
(d) With air in the suspension system at normal operating pressure, the vehicle body and chassis frame shall be supported clear of all axles and shall appear to be level.
(e) No suspension joints of a variable load sharing axle with independent suspension shall be worn beyond the manufacturer's specified safe limits.
Electrical components
15 (1) Horn(a) The horn shall not be loose on its mounting.
(b) The horn shall function properly.
(2) Windshield washer and wiper systems
(a) The windshield washer system shall function properly.
(b) Each wiper arm and blade assembly shall sweep the area intended by the vehicle manufacturer.
(c) No part of the windshield wiper system shall be missing, badly worn or deteriorated so as to impair its effectiveness.
(3) Heating and defrosting systems
(a) The heating system shall function as intended.
(b) The visible portions of the hoses and piping for the interior heaters routed within the occupant compartment shall not be abraded, cracked or leaking.
(c) The defrosting system shall deliver heated air to the windshield and, where fitted, to the side windows to the left and right of the driver's seat.
(4) Neutral safety starting switch
(a) The neutral safety starting switch shall not have been removed.
(b) The starter shall operate only with the gear selector or transmission in "P" [Park] or "N" [Neutral].
(5) Speedometer
(a) The speedometer shall be in good working order.
(6) Lamps and reflectors
(a) Each circuit shall light the filaments of all lamps on that circuit when the appropriate switch is in the "ON" position, and each indicator lamp shall operate correctly.
(b) The operation of any lighting circuit shall not interfere with the operation of any other circuit.
(c) Each lens and reflex reflector shall be correctly installed and shall not be discoloured or missing in whole or in part.
(d) Each lamp and reflector shall be securely mounted on the vehicle and none shall be missing.
(e) The turn signal lamps and the flasher unit shall operate properly.
(f) In the case of a bus or passenger vehicle for the physically disabled
(i) all interior lamps, including stepwell lamps, shall light when the appropriate switch is in the "ON" position, and
(ii) the lights provided to illuminate the loading equipment and step nosings shall light when the appropriate switch is in the "ON" position or when the doors are opened.
(g) No headlamp shall be coated with a coloured lacquer.
(h) No headlamp shall be modified by the attachment to the lamp or to the vehicle of any device that reduces the effective area of the lens or the brightness of the light.
(i) Each headlamp shutter or retracting headlamp shall operate over the full range of movement or shall be secured in the fully open position.
(j) All headlamps shall be properly aligned.
(7) Conspicuity markings
(a) Every trailer 2.05 m or wider, excluding trailers designed solely for living or office purposes, must be equipped with proper reflective material in accordance with Transport Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Act Technical Standard No. 108S5.7.
(b) Any trailer without proper reflective material must be retrofitted to comply with clause (a) in accordance with the following Schedule:
(i) trailers built on or after December 1, 1993, must be equipped by October 1, 2000,
(ii) trailers built before December 1, 1993, must be equipped by January 1, 2002.
Subsection 15(7) added: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.Tires and wheels
16 (1) Definitions(a) In this Section, "construction type" means a type of tire carcass such as bias ply, belted- bias and radial ply but does not include variations in tread pattern or in cord material such as rayon, polyester and nylon used in building a tire carcass.
(2) Tires
(a) All tire pressures shall be maintained to manufacturer's specifications, and
(i) subject to clause (b), no tire shall be worn to the extent that
(A) the tread wear indicators contact the road, or
(B) less than 1.6 mm of tread depth remains in any two adjacent major grooves at three equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the tire, and
Paragraph 16(2)(b)(i)(B) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(C) notwithstanding paragraph (B), except for dual tires of an urban transit bus, no commercial vehicle shall be equipped with tires that show indication of siping only, and in the case of an urban transit bus, the siping shall not be less than 1.6 mm in depth.
Paragraph 16(2)(b)(i)(C) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(b) No front tire shall be worn so that less than 3 mm of tread depth remains in any two adjacent major grooves at three equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the tire, nor shall any front tire show evidence of siping only.
(c) No tire shall have exposed cord.
(d) No tire shall have tread or sidewall cuts or snags deep enough to expose the cords.
(e) No tire shall have any abnormal visible bump, bulge, or knot.
(f) No tire shall have been regrooved or recut below the original new tire groove depth, other than tires specially designed for such recutting and marked as being tires so designed.
(g) No front tire shall have been altered by the addition of material to produce a new tread surface.
(h) No tire shall be of a smaller size than the vehicle manufacturer's specified minimum size or be sufficiently oversized as to contact any vehicle component which may affect the safe operation of the vehicle.
(i) Except for a vehicle fitted with dual rear tires, no mixture of construction types consisting of radial ply on the front and bias ply or belted-bias tires on the rear shall be fitted.
(j) No mixture consisting of sixty or fifty series tires on the front and other series tires on the rear shall be fitted.
(k) No combination of construction types or sizes, except where stated to be equivalent by tire industry standards, shall be fitted on an axle.
(l) Tires in a dual tire set shall not be in contact with each other or differ from each other in overall diameter by more than 12.7 mm.
Clause 16(2)(l) amended: O.I.C. 2000-440, N.S. Reg. 147/2000.(m) No vehicle shall be fitted with a tire that
(i) bears the wording "not for highway use", "farm use only", "competition circuit use only" or any other wording or lettering indicating that the tire was not designed for highway use, or
(ii) bears the letters "SL", "NHS" or "TG" after tire designation.
(3) Wheels
(a) No wheel stud, bolt, clamp, nut or log shall be loose, missing, damaged, broken, mismatched or have insufficient thread engagement.
(b) No disc wheel assembly shall have any visible crack, elongated bolt hole, indication of repair by welding or be so bent or damaged as to affect the safe operation of the vehicle.
(c) No wheel rim or lock ring shall be mismatched, bent, sprung, or otherwise damaged so as to affect the safe operation of the vehicle.
(d) No cast wheel shall show evidence of excessive wear in the clamp area.
(e) No wheel spoke shall be missing, loose or broken.
Number plates
17 No number plate on a commercial vehicle shall be missing, damaged, faded, discoloured or have paint removed so as to impair readability.