REV.

SURFACE ® J887
AUG2004

VEHICLE Issued 1964-07

STANDARD Revised 2004-08

Superseding J887 MAY1996

School Bus Warning Lamps

1. Scope

This SAE Standard provides test procedures, requirements, and guidelines for red and yellow school bus
warning lamps.

2. References

2.1 Applicable Publications

The following publications form a part of this specification to the extent specified herein. Unless otherwise
specified, the latest issue of SAE publications shall apply.

2.1.1 SAE PUBLICATIONS

Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.

SAE J575—Test Methods and Equipment for Lighting Devices and Components for Use on Vehicles
Less Than 2032 mm in Overall Width
SAE J576—Plastic Materials for Use in Optical Parts Such as Lenses and Reflectors of Motor Vehicle
Lighting Devices
SAE J578—Color Specification
SAE J759—Lighting Identification Code
SAE J1690—Flashers
SAE J1889—LED Lighting Devices
SAE J2139—Tests for Lighting Devices and Components Used on Vehicles 2032 mm or More in Overall
Width

2.1.2 ASTM PUBLICATIONS

Available from ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1187.

ASTM E 308-85—Standard Method for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System

SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is
entirely voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”
SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.
Copyright © 2004 SAE International
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE.
TO PLACE A DOCUMENT ORDER: Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and Canada)
Tel: 724-776-4970 (outside USA)
Fax: 724-776-0790
Email: [email protected]
SAE WEB ADDRESS: http://www.sae.org
 SAE J887 Revised AUG2004

3. Definitions

3.1 School Bus Red Warning Lamps

School bus red warning lamps are lights alternately flashing at 1 to 2 Hz per lamp, mounted horizontally
both front and rear, intended to inform other users of the highway that such vehicle is stopped on highway
to take on or discharge school children.

3.2 School Bus Yellow Warning Lamps

School bus yellow warning lamps are lights alternately flashing at 1 to 2 Hz per lamp, mounted
horizontally both front and rear, intended to inform other users of the highway that such vehicle is about
to stop to take on or discharge school children.

4. Lighting Identification Code

Lamps conforming to this document may be identified with the code W2 in accordance with SAE J759.

5. Tests

5.1 SAE J575 and SAE J2139 is part of this document. The following tests are applicable with the
modifications as indicated:

5.1.1 VIBRATION TEST

5.1.2 MOISTURE TEST

5.1.3 DUST TEST

5.1.4 CORROSION TEST

5.1.5 PHOTOMETRY TEST

5.1.5.1 All photometric measurements shall be made with the front face of the lamp at a distance of at
least 3 m from the photometer. The lamp axis shall be taken as the horizontal line through the
light source parallel to what would be the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, if the lamp were
mounted in its normal position on the vehicle.

5.1.5.2 The school bus warning lamp shall be operated at design voltage. Design voltage shall be
12.8 V for nominal 12 V electrical systems, 25.6 V for nominal 24 V electrical systems and 38.4
V for 36 V electrical systems.

5.1.5.3 LED lamps shall be tested according to SAE J1889 Photometry Test section.

5.1.5.4 An optional alternate measure of photometric performance can be made using flash energy if
the lamp is incapable of being operated in a steady state mode.

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 SAE J887 Revised AUG2004

5.1.5.4.1 The device shall be allowed to operate until output is stable prior to making photometric
measurements.

5.1.5.4.2 Photometric flash energy measurements (candela seconds) shall be taken as the average of
at least ten consecutive flash cycles. There shall be an off time before each flash of at least
50% of the total flash cycle time.

5.1.6 WARPAGE

Test on devices with plastic components.

5.2 SAE J578

Color Specification is a part of this document.

5.3 SAE J576

Plastic materials for use in optical parts such as lenses and reflex reflectors of motor vehicle lighting
devices is a part of this document.

6. Requirements

6.1 Performance Requirements

A device, when tested in accordance with the test procedures specified in Section 5, shall meet the
following requirements.

6.1.1 VIBRATION

SAE J575 or SAE J2139.

6.1.2 MOISTURE

SAE J575 or SAE J2139.

6.1.3 DUST

SAE J575 or SAE J2139.

6.1.4 CORROSION

SAE J575 or SAE J2139.

6.1.5 PHOTOMETRY

SAE J575 or SAE J1889 or SAE J2139.

6.1.5.1 The lamp under test shall meet the photometric performance requirements contained in Table
1 and its footnotes. The summation of the luminous intensity measurements at the specified
test points in a zone shall be at least the value shown.

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 SAE J887 Revised AUG2004

TABLE 1—PHOTOMETRIC PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

SCHOOL BUS WARNING LAMPS
Minimum Minimum
Luminous Intensity Zone Total Luminous
Test Test
(Candela) Intensity (Candela)
Point Point
Zone Degree Degree Red Yellow Red Yellow
H 30L 30 75
5D 30L 30 75
1 5U 20L 150 375 590 1475
H 20L 180 450
5D 20L 200 500

10U 5L 20 50
2 10U V 50 125 90 225
10U 5R 20 50

5U 10L 300 750

5U 5L 300 750
3 5U V 300 750 1500 3750
5U 5R 300 750
5U 10R 300 750

H 10L 400 1000

H 5L 500 1250
4 H V 600 1500 2400 6000
H 5R 500 1250
H 10R 400 1000

5D 10L 300 750

5D 5L 450 1125
5 5D V 450 1125 1950 4875
5D 5R 450 1125
5D 10R 300 750

10D 5L 40 100
6 10D V 40 100 120 300
10D 5R 40 100

5U 20R 150 375

H 20R 180 450
7 5D 20R 200 500 590 1475
H 30R 30 75
5D 30R 30 75
NOTE 1—The measured values at each individual test point shall not be less than 60% of the required minimum value shown for that
individual test point location.
NOTE 2—The sum of the luminous intensity measurements at each test point within a zone shall not be less than the Zone Total
Luminous Intensity shown.
NOTE 3—An adjustment in lamp aim from design position may be made, provided that such adjustment does not exceed 3 degrees.
All zones shall comply after final re-aim.

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 SAE J887 Revised AUG2004

6.1.5.2 Alternate Method

The lamp under test shall meet the photometric performance requirements contained in Table 2 and its
footnotes. The summation of the flash energy measurements at the specified test points in a zone shall
be at least the value shown. Additionally, the instantaneous intensity of each flash must exceed at least
60% of the values given in table 2 for a duration of at least 50 msec.

6.1.6 WARPAGE

SAE J575 or SAE J2139.

6.2 Color

The lamp shall comply with the red or yellow requirements specified in SAE J578.

6.3 Plastic Materials

SAE J576.

6.4 Design Requirements

6.4.1 The functional lighted lens area of a school bus warning lamp shall not be less than 120 cm2.

7. Guidelines

The mounting and use of school bus warning lamps are specified by various legal agencies. The
following guidelines, if followed, will enhance performance of the system and uniformity in use throughout
the various jurisdictional agencies. They are not part of the test provisions, specifications, requirements,
or procedures.

7.1 The yellow lamps should be automatically deactivated and the red lamps activated when the
vehicle is stopped to take on or discharge school children.

7.2 For circuit interrupted incandescent filament devices, see SAE J1690. The “on” period of the flasher
should be long enough to permit a bulb filament to approach full brightness.

7.3 There should be a visible or an audible means of giving a clear and unmistakable indication to the
driver when the warning lamps are activated.

7.4 Front and rear warning lamps should be spaced as far apart laterally as practical with the yellow
lamps mounted inboard of the red lamps. In no case should the spacing between the inboard lamps
be less than 1000 mm, as measured from the nearest edge of the lens.

7.5 The warning lamps should be mounted on the same horizontal centerline as high as practical at the
front above the windshield and on the same horizontal centerline as high as practical at the rear so
that the lower edge of the lenses is not lower than the top line of the side window openings.

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 SAE J887 Revised AUG2004

TABLE 2—PHOTOMETRIC PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS (ALTERNATE METHOD)

SCHOOL BUS WARNING LAMPS

Minimum Minimum
Total Zonal Flash Energy Zone Total Flash Energy
Test Test
(Candela Seconds) (Candela Seconds)
Point Point
Zone Degree Degree Red Yellow Red Yellow
H 30L 7 18
5D 30L 7 18
1 5U 20L 36 89 141 351
H 20L 43 107
5D 20L 48 119

10U 5L 5 12
2 10U V 12 30 22 54
10U 5R 5 12

5U 10L 72 178
5U 5L 72 178
3 5U V 72 178 360 890
5U 5R 72 178
5U 10R 72 178

H 10L 95 238
H 5L 119 297
4 H V 143 356 571 1426
H 5R 119 297
H 10R 95 238

5D 10L 72 178
5D 5L 107 267
5 5D V 107 267 465 1157
5D 5R 107 267
5D 10R 72 178

10D 5L 10 24
6 10D V 10 24 30 72
10D 5R 10 24

5U 20R 36 89
H 20R 43 107
7 5D 20R 48 119 141 351
H 30R 7 18
5D 30R 7 18
NOTE 1—The measured values at each individual test point shall not be less than 60% of the required minimum value shown for that
individual test point location.
NOTE 2—The sum of the flash energy measurements at each test point within a zone shall not be less than the Zone Total Flash
Energy shown.
NOTE 3—An adjustment in lamp aim from design position may be made, provided that such adjustment does not exceed 3 degrees.
All zones shall comply after final re-aim.

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 SAE J887 Revised AUG2004

7.6 The visibility of the front warning lamps to the front, and of the rear warning lamps to the rear,
should be unobstructed by any part of the vehicle from 10 degrees above to 10 degrees below
horizontal and from 30degrees to the right to 30 degrees to the left of the centerline of the lamps.

7.7 To improve the effectiveness of the signal, the area of the vehicle immediately surrounding the
warning lamp extending outward approximately 70 mm should be painted black.

8. Test Equipment Guidelines

The following guidelines apply to photometric test equipment and are not part of the technical
requirements for the lamps:

8.1 A pulse integrating photometer or other accepted means of measuring pulsed light signals should
have the following:

a. Response Time—1 ms or less.

b. Sensor Response—Sensor should be corrected to that of the 1931 C.I.E. standard observer
(2 degrees) photopic response curve. Sensor should be calibrated for the color of the light being
measured.
c. Range Linearity—Linearity of the sensor and photometer system should be verified over the range of
the luminous intensities being tested. Linearity deviation should not exceed 2.5% from the calibration
level to the extreme luminous intensity values measured.

8.2 The regulated DC power supply should have the following minimum requirement:

a. Line regulations: ±0.1%

b. Load regulation: ±0.1%
c. Ripple voltage: ±1.4%
d. Stability: ±0.1% during test

9. Notes

9.1 Marginal Indicia

The change bar (l) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating areas where
technical revisions have been made to the previous issue of the report. An (R) symbol to the left of the
document title indicates a complete revision of the report.

PREPARED BY THE SAE EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICES STANDARDS COMMITTEE OF THE

SAE LIGHTING COORDINATING COMMITTEE

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 SAE J887 Revised AUG2004

Rationale

The purpose of this revision to J887 is to update the specification to reflect current technology school bus
warning lamps. The major revisions include the removal of sealed beam lamps as “stand-alone” warning
lamps and the addition of LED warning lamps. In addition, the design voltage range was changed to
include 36 volt systems. Finally, the graphical descriptions of the zonal boundaries and photometric
guidelines were removed (Figures 1 and 2).

Relationship of SAE Standard to ISO Standard

Not applicable.

Application

This SAE Standard provides test procedures, requirements, and guidelines for red and yellow school bus
warning lamps.

Reference Section

SAE J575—Test Methods and Equipment for Lighting Devices and Components for Use on Vehicles
Less Than 2032 mm in Overall Width

SAE J576—Plastic Materials for Use in Optical Parts Such as Lenses and Reflectors of Motor Vehicle
Lighting Devices

SAE J578—Color Specification

SAE J759—Lighting Identification Code

SAE J1690—Flashers

SAE J1889—LED Lighting Devices

SAE J2139—Tests for Lighting Devices and Components Used on Vehicles 2032 mm or More in Overall
Width

ASTM E 308-85—Standard Method for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System

Developed by the SAE Emergency Warning Devices Standards Committee

Sponsored by the SAE Lighting Coordinating Committee