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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
DRIVER AND MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICES DIVISION
DIVISION 110
HORNS/SIRENS/SOUND DEVICES
735-110-0000
Definitions Relevant to Sirens
The following definitions shall apply regarding rules and standards for sirens for ambulances and emergency vehicles:
(1) "AAMVA" means the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, 1201 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 910, Washington D.C. 20036.
(2) "ANS" means a standard adopted by the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10018.
(3) "Ambulance" means any privately or publicly owned motor vehicle that is regularly provided or offered to be provided for the emergency transportation of persons suffering from illness, injury or disability.
(4) "CAC Title 13, Article 8" means recognized standards for sirens, compiled by the State of California. (Effective 10/31/81)
(5) "Electromechanical Siren" means a siren with a stator and rotor driven by an electric motor.
(6) "Electronic Siren" means a siren with an oscillator, amplifier and speaker.
(7) "Emergency Vehicle" means a vehicle that is equipped with lights and sirens as required under ORS 815.230, 816.310, 820.350, and 820.370 and that is any of the following:
(a) Operated by public police, fire or airport security agencies;
(b) Designated as an emergency vehicle by a federal agency; or
(c) Designated as an emergency vehicle in writing by the Manager of Transportation Safety.
(8) "Hi-Lo" means a nonsiren sound, as defined in this rule.
(9) "Manual" means a siren control that allows the operator to produce a wailing sound by alternately applying and releasing a momentary contact switch.
(10) "Mechanical Siren" means a siren with a stator and rotor driven by a mechanical connection to a moving part of the vehicle or engine.
(11) "Nonsiren Sound" means an audible device, such as a vehicle theft alarm, that produces:
(a) An unvarying sound;
(b) A varying sound that cycles at a rate faster than 400 cycles per minute; or
(c) A discontinuous sound that repeats at rates lower than 90 cycles per minute or higher than 400 cycles per minute.
(12) "SAE" means a standard or recommended practice of the Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, Pennsylvania 15096.
(13) "Siren" means a warning device that produces the audible sound readily identified with emergency vehicles.
(14) "Transportation Safety" means the Transportation Safety Division of the Department of Transportation.
(15) "Wail" means a siren sound that is a slow, continuous automatic cycling of increasing and decreasing frequencies and sound levels.
(16) "Yelp" means a siren sound producing a rapid continuous automatic cycling of increasing and decreasing frequencies and sound levels.
[Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]
Stat. Auth.: ORS 184.616, ORS 815.030 & ORS 820.370
Stats. Implemented: ORS 815.030, ORS 815.225 - ORS 815.230 & ORS 820.350 - ORS 820.370
Hist.: MV 63, f. 10-14-75, ef. 11-11-75; MV 10-1987, f. & ef. 9-1-87; Administrative Renumbering 3-1988, Renumbered from 735-080-0055
735-110-0010
Siren Standards
(1) Siren rules shall apply to sirens as required on authorized emergency vehicles in accordance with ORS 801.260, 815.230, 820.370, and 820.380.
(2) Sirens that meet requirements of standards in CAC Title 13, Article 8, with included ANS and SAE items shall be acceptable for use on ambulances and emergency vehicles.
(3) Sirens may contain the "nonsiren" "Hi-Lo" function, however, this function shall not be used instead of other siren functions or warning sounds.
(4) Ambulances regulated by the Health Services are also subject to siren requirements of that agency. This includes, but is not limited to, the federal specification for the "Star-of-Life Ambulance," KKK-A-1822B, Part 3.14.6, dated June 1, 1985.
[Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]
Stat. Auth.: ORS 184.616, ORS 815.030 & ORS 820.370
Stats. Implemented: ORS 815.030, ORS 815.225 - ORS 815.230 & ORS 820.350 - ORS 820.370
Hist.: MV 63, f. 10-14-75, ef. 11-11-75; MV 10-1987, f. & ef. 9-1-87; Administrative Renumbering 3-1988, Renumbered from 735-080-0050
735-110-0020
Approval of Sirens
(1) Sirens that meet requirements of standards in CAC Title 13, Article 8, with included ANS and SAE items are acceptable for use on ambulances and emergency vehicles.
(2) Manufacturer methods for verifying siren approval by the Transportation Safety shall be:
(a) A Notice of Equipment Compliance issued by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). This shall constitute Transportation Safety approval, provided:
(A) The siren is tested to comply with standards adopted by Transportation Safety; and
(B) The Notice of Equipment Compliance is on file with Transportation Safety.
(b) A certificate of approval issued by Transportation Safety.
(3) To request issuance of a certificate of approval by Transportation Safety, a manufacturer shall submit:
(a) A written request; and
(b) A test report from a testing laboratory that shows the siren complies with standards adopted by Transportation Safety.
(4) Testing to Transportation Safety standards shall not preclude testing to more stringent standards.
(5) A certificate of approval issued by Transportation Safety shall show an expiration date. This shall be five years from the date of issuance, except when approval is for a shorter, limited term.
(6) A new test report and a request for renewal of Transportation Safety's approval certificate shall be submitted if continued sale of the siren is desired. The report and request must be submitted at least one month and not more than six months prior to the expiration date.
(7) The manufacturer shall notify Transportation Safety of any changes in identification markings, or of modifications or changes in design, mechanical construction or function that may affect the performance of an approved siren. Tests or testing results of the modified device may be required at the discretion of Transportation Safety.
(8) Even though an AAMVA compliance notice or a Transportation Safety approval certificate has expired, a siren owner may:
(a) Continue to use a siren installed on a vehicle prior to the expiration date;
(b) Transfer a siren between owned vehicles; or
(c) Sell the siren for use on another emergency vehicle.
[Publications: The publication(s) referred to or incorporated by reference in this rule are available from the agency.]
Stat. Auth.: ORS 184.616, ORS 815.010, ORS 815.030 & ORS 820.370
Stats. Implemented: ORS 815.030, ORS 815.225 - ORS 815.230 & ORS 820.350 - ORS 820.370
Hist.: MV 63, f. 10-14-75, ef. 11-11-75; MV 10-1987, f. & ef. 9-1-87; Administrative Renumbering 3-1988, Renumbered from 735-165-0020
735-110-0030
Identification Markings For Sirens
(1) Sirens and components shall be marked as specified in Part 1023 of CAC Title 13, Article 8.
(2) Markings shall include the manufacturer's or vendor's name, initials or lettered trademark, and a model designation.
(3) Markings shall be permanently imprinted into, upon, or attached, in letters and numbers at least 1/8 inch in height.
(4) Markings, with the exception of those on a speaker driver or on speakers within warning lamp housings, shall be in a location so as to be legible when the siren is installed on a vehicle.
(5) Markings shall be on:
(a) Each siren; and
(b) Each major component of an electronic siren, including the speaker, speaker driver, amplifier, and control panel (if separate from the amplifier).
(6) Speaker drivers for electronic sirens shall also be marked to include the rms wattage.
(7) Electronic siren controls shall be marked to indicate each siren function by the words "Manual", "Wail", and "Yelp" spelled out or abbreviated. The marking "Hi-Lo" may remain on the control panel, even though this function may have been removed, made inoperable or is not used.
[Publications: The publication(s) referred to or incorporated by reference in this rule are available from the agency.]
Stat. Auth.: ORS 184.616, ORS 815.030, ORS 815.230 & ORS 820.370
Stats. Implemented: ORS 815.030, ORS 815.225 - ORS 815.230 & ORS 820.350 - ORS 820.370
Hist.: MV 63, f. 10-14-75, ef. 11-11-75; MV 10-1987, f. & ef. 9-1-87; Administrative Renumbering 3-1988, Renumbered from 735-080-0065
735-110-0040
Siren Test Procedures and Performance Requirements
Siren testing procedures and performance requirements shall be to the specifications of CAC Title 13, Article 8, including:
(1) Test Data;
(2) Identification Markings;
(3) Instrumentation for Testing;
(4) Testing Sites;
(5) Microphone and Personnel Stations (locations);
(6) Siren Test Procedures; and
(7) Performance Requirements, with the exception that sirens may contain the "Hi-Lo" function, but not for use in lieu of other siren functions or warning sounds.
[Publications: The publication(s) referred to or incorporated by reference in this rule are available from the agency.]
Stat. Auth.: ORS 184.616, 815.030, ORS 815.230 & ORS 820.370
Stats. Implemented: ORS 815.030, ORS 815.225 - ORS 815.230 & ORS 820.350 - ORS 820.370
Hist.: MV 10-1987, f. & ef. 9-1-87; Administrative Renumbering 3-1988, Renumbered from 735-165-0040
735-110-0050
Siren Mounting
(1) Installation of sirens and speakers on authorized emergency vehicles shall be as follows:
(a) Class A electromechanical and mechanical sirens shall be mounted outside of the vehicle or, between the grille and radiator, or under the hood;
(b) Class B electromechanical and mechanical sirens shall be mounted outside of the vehicle, or between the grille and the radiator;
(c) Class A and B electronic sirens shall be mounted outside of the vehicle or with the horn opening facing forward ahead of the radiator with a relatively open path for the sound to project forward. The horn axis shall be parallel to the vehicle centerline;
(d) Dual speakers for electronic sirens shall be connected in phase and mounted so that the speaker axis is parallel to the vehicle centerline or angled outward not more than ten degrees to the sides;
(e) Electronic siren speakers may be mounted facing forward behind a speaker grille in a lightbar.
(2) Ambulances regulated by the Health Services are also subject to requirements of that agency. This includes the requirements for a Siren-Public Address System, Part 3.14.6 of KKK-A-1822B, the federal specifications for the "Star-of-Life Ambulance."
(3) Mechanical motorcycle sirens that do not operate when the vehicle is stationary shall not be installed on motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 1981.
[Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]
Stat. Auth.: ORS 184.616, ORS 815.030, ORS 815.230, ORS 815.370 & ORS 820.380
Stats. Implemented: ORS 815.030, 815.225 - 815.230 & 820.350 -820.370
Hist.: MV 63, f. 10-14-75, ef. 11-11-75; MV 10-1987, f. & ef. 9-1-87; Administrative Renumbering 3-1988, Renumbered from 735-080-0080
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