Heavy vehicles converted into motor homes for commercial use

Before converting a heavy vehicle into a motor home, read the steps to follow on the Modified Vehicle webpage.

You must follow all of these steps to obtain the certification necessary to register your heavy vehicle as a motor home.

General Requirements to Meet

Transforming the length of the vehicle may involve the following modifications:

• modifying the wheelbase
• adding, removing or replacing axles
• lengthening the frame

If this is the case, an engineer’s report must be presented to:

• certify that the original manufacturer’s instructions were followed
• establish new capacity values (GAWRGross axle weight rating. and GVWRGross Vehicle Weight Rating.)
• verify the compliance of the application and release time (timing test) of the air brake system, if the system was modified.

Driver’s Compartment

The driver's compartment must be readily accessible from the vehicle’s living space through an opening that is as large as possible, and no smaller than 1.2 m (47.2 inches) high by 0.610 m (24 inches) wide.

With regard to expedition vehicles, if the vehicle’s structure does not allow for an opening of this size, you must ensure that it is as large as possible without being any smaller than 0.432 m (17 inches) high by 0.610 m (24 inches) wide.

If a system allows the opening to close, the opening must be openable on each side without using any tools. In addition, the system used must not feature any locking mechanism.

If an opening must be made at the back of the cabin of the modified vehicle, the seat belt anchors around it must be checked.

Interior Finish and Insulation

The materials used for the interior finish must have a flame spread index of 200 or less and a smoke-developed index of 300 or less. These indexes are indicated on the materials’ data sheets.

With regard to the insulation, it is recommended that you use non-combustible materials, such as mineral insulating materials.

Emergency Exits

All motor homes must have at least:

• a main emergency exit on a wall, which must be a door
• a secondary emergency exit on another wall or on the roof, which may be a door, window or hatch, if it is located on the roof

Each exit must be clearly identified. It must be possible to exit the vehicle without a tool or key through an opening of at least 0.610 m (24 inches) by 0.432 m (17 inches).

In addition, each space designed for sleeping must allow access to two emergency exits situated in opposite directions.

Each seat that may be used when the vehicle is in motion must be the original seat or be certified by a company recognized by Transport Canada or approved by an engineer. Each seat must also be equipped with a seat belt. If a seat is not equipped with a seat belt (armchair or bench, for example), passengers may not use these seats when the vehicle is in motion.

During the inspection, the SAAQ will require information regarding the purchase, source, and installation of the vehicle’s seats and seat belts.

General Requirements Regarding the Installation of Passenger Seats

Adding seats is allowed only when the heavy vehicle is converted into a motor home. The total number of seats must not exceed 9, including the driver’s seat.

• Seats added facing the front or the back in a used vehicle: all seats must be equipped with a three-point seat belt and a headrest. Other types of seat belts will only be accepted if they were initially installed by the manufacturer.

• Seats facing the side (installed lengthwise): seats may be added only if the vehicle already has 4 seats facing the front or the back. Two-point seat belts can be installed on this type of seat.

• A seat added to the right front side of a vehicle in which this seat and other safety features are available in the original model (e.g. Ford Transit): the modified vehicle must be equipped with these same safety features (air bag, seat belt, seat belt indicator, etc.).

• You may not install a seat belt on a seat that is not designed for it.

• Seats and seat belts must be new, or in a condition that is as good as new if they are used. Seat belts with pretensioners must be new.

• Seats without seat belts, even if they are the original seats (e.g. bus seats), must be removed. Two bus seats, if they are facing a table, may be kept, even without seat belts. However, no passengers may use these seats when the vehicle is in motion.

• A table facing a seat with a seat belt must be foldable or removable. The table must be folded or removed when the vehicle is in motion and one of the seats facing it is occupied.

• Seats with seat belts must not be placed in front of rigid components, unless those components are 1.1 m (43.3 inches) away from the seat backrest.

• No seats may be installed in a place that may obstruct a staircase or in a place that was originally used for the transportation of merchandise (e.g. cargo space, cube truck space, shipping container, etc.).

Certification Based on Vehicle Type

In a New Vehicle

The installation of a seat or bench must be done by a company registered with Transport Canada that is authorized to affix the National Safety Mark (NSM) and that can apply the standards set out in the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR) under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (L.C. 1993, c. 16). A vehicle is considered new until it is sold to its first user. If the vehicle was purchased new in order to be modified, it will be considered new until the certification of the added seats.

In a Used Vehicle

An engineer belonging to the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec or a company that is authorized to affix the NSM must attest that the addition of any seats equipped with seat belts does not affect the vehicle’s compliance with MVSR standards. A document including the following information must be submitted along with the approval documents of the modified vehicle:

• the name of the engineer or business that verified the installation
• the nature of the modification (anchorage system, reinforcements, etc.)
• the make and model of the seats and seat belts
• the month and year the modification was done the new number of seats
• the new number of seats

A vehicle that does not meet all the requirements of a motor home may still be converted for leisure purposes. Even if you do not wish to have your heavy vehicle recognized as a motor home, it is recommended that you meet the standards of a fully converted vehicle. However, you may not add any seats equipped with seat belts.

In addition, the requirements for each category of registration must be met. For example, if a modified bus or minibus still has at least 10 seats (including the driver’s seat) or devices to secure wheelchairs against movement, it remains registered as a bus or minibus. If a bus or minibus has been modified and now has 9 or fewer seats, it must be registered under a different category of vehicle and meet the requirements of the new category before being put into operation. For this type of vehicle, each seat that may be used while the vehicle is in motion must be equipped with the seat belt originally provided by the manufacturer, among other requirements.

Mechanical Inspection

Regardless of the net weight of the vehicle, if its GVWRGross Vehicle Weight Rating. is 4,500 kg or more, the vehicle must undergo a mechanical inspection every year so long as it is not recognized by the SAAQ as a motor home. It must also be registered with the Commission des transports du Québec if it is not registered to an individual for commercial use. Buses and minibuses must undergo mechanical inspections every 6 months. We recommend you contact your road vehicle inspection agent to confirm that he or she will inspect your modified vehicle.