OOSC, Part II, Item 2. Coupling Devices, a.(3)(a) Ineffective Latching Fasteners

This request for action/clarification is in respect to the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC). In particular, referring to Part II, Section 2.a.(3)(a) - Sliders and the amount of ineffective latching fasteners required to place the vehicle out-of-service (OOS).

If the interpretation of the above named section is that the slider requires greater than 25 percent of latching fasteners on either side for the vehicle to be OOS, i.e. if there are 4 fasteners in total (2 per side) and on one side only one is latched correctly, then the vehicle is OOS as the one ineffective fastener equates to 50 percent of the one side, the OOSC is not worded appropriately. The OOSC actually states greater than 25% PER SIDE meaning there has to be that amount on each side before the vehicle can be placed OOS and in this example the vehicle would not be OOS as one of 4 fasteners is only 25 percent.

Determine the correct interpretation of this section. If the correct interpretation is to be more than 25 percent of the fasteners PER side (meaning > 25 percent on each side), than the wording should be changed to \"more than 25 percent of the latching fasteners on each side are ineffective.\" If it is meant to be interpreted as: greater than 25 percent on EITHER side (meaning more than 25 percent of the total on either side, it should be worded the same as 2.a.(2)a) of this section where it states 20 percent of fasteners missing on either side. I suggest the wording be amended to \"more than 25 percent of latching fasteners on either side are ineffective.\" This mirrors the wording elsewhere in this section of the criteria.