1970L0221 — EN — 28.04.1981 — 003.001 — 1
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►B COUNCILDIRECTIVE
of20March1970
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to liquid fuel tanks and
►C1 rearunderrunprotection ◄formotorvehiclesandtheir trailers
(70/221/EEC)
(OJ L 76, 6.4.1970, p. 23)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Directive 79/490/EEC of 18 April 1979 L 128 22 26.5.1979
►M2amended by Commission Directive 81/333/EEC of 13 April 1981 L 131 4 18.5.1981
Amended by:
►A1Act of Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern IrelandL 73 14 27.3.1972
Corrected by:
►C1Corrigendum, OJ L 65, 15.3.1979, p. 42 (70/221/EEC)
▼B
COUNCILDIRECTIVE
of20March1970
on the approximationof the lawsofthe Member States relating to
liquidfueltanksand ►C1 rear underrunprotection ◄formotor
vehiclesandtheirtrailers
(70/221/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community and in particular Article 100 thereof;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament(1);
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee(2);
Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy
pursuant to national laws relate, inter alia to their liquid fuel tanks and
►C1rear underrun protection ◄;
Whereas those requirements differ from one Member State to another;
whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the samerequirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules, inorder, in particular, to allow the EEC type approval procedure whichwas the subject of the Council Directive(
3) of 6 February 1970 on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type
approval of motor vehicles and their trailers to be applied in respectof eachtype of veh icle;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
For the purposes of this Directive, ‘vehicle’ means any motor vehicle
intended for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having at leastfour wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 kilometres per
hour, and its trailers, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails,
agricultural tractors and machinery and public works vehicles.
Article 2
1. No Member State may, on grounds relating to its liquid fuel
tanks, refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national type-approval fora vehicle if such vehicle satisfies the requirements set out in the Annex
concerning liquid fuel tanks.
2. No Member State may, on grounds relating to rear underrun
protection, refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national type-approvalfor a vehicle if such vehicle satisfies the requirements set out in the
Annex concerning rear underrun protection or if suchveh icle is fitted
with a rear underrun protective device which has been granted type-approval as a technical unit within the meaning of Article 9a of Direc-tive 70/156/EEC and installed in accordance withth e requirements ofitem II.5 of the Annex.
3. No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or
national type-approval for a rear underrun protective device if suchdevice, considered as a technical unit within the meaning of Article9a of Directive 70/156/EEC, satisfies the relevant requirements set outin the Annex.1970L0221 — EN — 28.04.1981 — 003.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 160, 18.12.1969, p. 7.
(2) OJ No C 48, 16.4.1969, p. 16.
(3) OJ No L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1.▼M1
▼M1
Article 2a
1. No Member State may, on grounds relating to its liquid fuel
tanks, refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, entry into service or use
of a vehicle if such a vehicle satisfies the requirements set out in the
Annex concerning liquid fuel tanks.
2. No Member State may, on grounds relating to its rear underrun
protection, refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, entry into serviceor use of a vehicle if such a vehicle satisfies the requirements set outin the Annex concerning rear underrun protection or if the vehicle isfitted with a rear underrun protective device which has been granted
type-approval as a technical unit within the meaning of Article 9a of
Directive 70/156/EEC and installed in accordance withth e require-ments set out in item II.5 of the Annex.
3. No Member State may prohibit the placing on the market of any
rear underrun protective device considered as a technical unit withinthe meaning of Article 9a of Directive 70/156/EEC if it conforms to a
type which has been granted type-approval within the meaning of
Article 2 (3).
Article 2b
A Member State which carries out type-approval shall take the
measures necessary to ensure that it is informed of any modificationto a part or characteristic referred to in items II.2.1 and II.2.2 of theAnnex. The competent authorities of that Member State shall determinewhether fresh tests should be carried out on the modified type and afresh report drawn up. Where such tests reveal that the requirements
of this Directive have not been complied with, the modification shall
not be authorized.
Article 3
The amendments necessary for adjusting the requirements of the Annex
so as to take account of technical progress, with the exception of therequirements set out under item I, shall be adopted in accordance withthe procedure laid down in Article 13 of the Council Directive of 6
February 1970 on the type approval of motor vehicles and their trailers.
Article 4
1. Member States shall put into force the provisions containing the
requirements needed in order to comply with this Directive within
eighteen months of its notification and shall forthwith inform theCommission thereof.
2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of the main provisions
of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directiveare communicated to the Commission.
Article 5
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1970L0221 — EN — 28.04.1981 — 003.001 — 3
▼B
▼B
ANNEX
I. Tanks and reserve tanks for liquid fuel
I.1. Fuel tanks must be made so as to be corrosion resistant. They must
satisfy the leakage tests carried out by the manufacturer at a pres-
sure equal to double the working pressure but in any event not less
than 1·3 bars. Any excess pressure or any pressure exceeding the
working pressure must be automatically compensated by suitable
devices (vents, safety valves, etc.). The vents must be designed in
sucha way as to prevent any fire risks. Th e fuel must not escape
through the fuel tank cap or through the devices provided to
compensate excess pressure, even if the tank is completely over-
turned: a drip shall be tolerated.
I.2. Fuel tanks must be installed in sucha way as to be protected from
the consequences of an impact to the front or to the rear of the
vehicle; there shall be no protruding parts, sharp edges, etc., near
the tanks.
II. Rear underrun protection
II.1.General
Vehicles covered by this Directive must be designed so as to
provide effective protection against underrunning from the rear by
vehicles of categories M1and N1(1).
II.2.Definitions
II.2.1. Vehicle type for the purposes of rear underrun protection
The term ‘vehicle type for the purposes of rear underrun protection’
means vehicles which do not differ with respect to the following
main characteristics:
II.2.1.1. Width of the rear axle, structure, dimensions, shape and materials
of the rear part of the vehicle in so far as they have a bearing on
the requirements of items II.5.1 to II.5.4.5.5;
II.2.1.2. Suspension characteristics in so far as they have a bearing on the
requirements of items II.5.1 to II.5.4.5.5.
II.2.2. Type of rear underrun protective device
The term ‘type of rear underrun protective device’ means devices
which do not differ with respect to the following main characteris-
tics:
II.2.2.1. shape,
II.2.2.2. dimensions,
II.2.2.3. attachment,
II.2.2.4. materials.
II.3.ApplicationforEECtype-approval
II.3.1. Application for EEC type-approval of a vehicle type with respect to
rear underrun protection.
II.3.1.1. The application for EEC type-approval of a vehicle type with
respect to the rear underrun protection must be submitted by the
vehicle manufacturer or his authorized representative.
II.3.1.2. It must be accompanied by the undermentioned documents in tripli-
cate and the following information:
II.3.1.2.1. A description of the vehicle from the standpoint of the criteria
referred to in item 11.2.1, together with dimensional drawings and
either a photograph or an exploded view of the rear of the vehicle.
The numbers and/or symbols identifying the vehicle type must be
quoted;1970L0221 — EN — 28.04.1981 — 003.001 — 4
(1) Categories under the international classification set out in Note (b) of Annex I to
Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws
of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers.▼M1
▼M1
II.3.1.2.2. A technical description of the parts providing rear underrun protec-
tion together with sufficiently detailed information.
II.3.1.2.3. A vehicle representative of the type to be approved must be
submitted to the technical service responsible for the type-approval
tests.
II.3.2. Application for EEC type-approval in respect of a rear underrun
protective device considered to be a technical unit.
II.3.2.1. The application for EEC type-approval in respect of a rear underrun
protective device considered to be a technical unit within the
meaning of Article 9a of Directive 70/156/EEC must be submitted
by the vehicle manufacturer or the manufacturer of the rear
underrun protective device or by their respective authorized repre-
sentatives.
II.3.2.2. For eachtype of rear underrun protective device, th e application
must be accompanied by:
II.3.2.2.1. Documentation in triplicate giving a description of the technical
characteristics of the device;
II.3.2.2.2. A sample of the type of device. If the competent authority deems it
to be necessary, it may request a further sample. The samples must
be clearly and indelibly marked withth e applicant's trade name or
mark and the type designation.
II.4.EECtype-approval
II.4.1. The EEC type-approval certificate for a vehicle type must be
provided withan Annex drawn up in conformity withone of th e
following models:
II.4.1.1. In the case of the application referred to in item II.3.1, the model
shown in Appendix 1;
II.4.1.2. In the case of the application referred to in item II.3.2, the model
shown in Appendix 2.
II.5.Specifications
II.5.1. All vehicles must be so constructed and/or equipped as to offer
effective protection over their whole width against underrunning
from the rear by vehicles of categories M1and N1(1).
II.5.2. Any vehicle in one of the categories M1,M2,M3,N1,O1or O2(cate-
gories under the international classification set out in note (b) of
Annex I to Council Directive 70/156/EEC) will be deemed to
satisfy the condition set out in item II.5.1:
— if it satisfies the conditions set out in item II.5.3, or
— if the ground clearance of the rear part of the unladen vehicle
does not exceed 55 cm over a width which is not shorter than
that of the rear axle by more than 10 cm on either side
(excluding any tyre bulging close to the ground).
Where there is more than one rear axle, the width to be considered
is that of the widest.
This requirement must be satisfied at least on a line at a distance of
not more than 45 cm from the rear extremity of the vehicle.
II.5.3. Any vehicle in one of the categories N2,N3,O3or O4(1) will be
deemed to satisfy the condition set out in item II.5.1 provided that:
— the vehicle is equipped with a special rear underrun protective
device in accordance withth e requirements of item II.5.4, or
— the vehicle is so designed and/or equipped at the rear that, by
virtue of their shape and characteristics, its component parts
can be regarded as replacing the rear underrun protective
device. Components whose combined function satisfies the
requirements set out in item II.5.4 are considered to form a
rear underrun protective device.1970L0221 — EN — 28.04.1981 — 003.001 — 5
(1) Categories under the international classification set out in Note (b) of Annex I to
Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws
of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers.▼M2
▼M1
▼M1
II.5.4. A device for protection against underrunning from the rear, herein-
after referred to as ‘device’, generally consists of a cross-member
and linking components connected to the chassis side-members or
to whatever replaces them.
It must have the following characteristics:
II.5.4.1. The device must be fitted as close to the rear of the vehicle as
possible. When the vehicle is unladen(1), the lower edge of the
device must at no point be more than 55 cm above the ground;
II.5.4.2. The width of the device must at no point exceed the width of the
rear axle measured at the outermost points of the wheels, excluding
the bulging of the tyres close to the ground, nor must it be more
than 10 cm shorter on either side. Where there is more than one
rear axle, the width to be considered is that of the widest rear axle;
II.5.4.3. The section height of the cross-member must be not less than 10
cm. The lateral extremities of the cross-member must not bend to
the rear or have a sharp outer edge; this condition is fulfilled
when the lateral extremities of the cross-member are rounded on
the outside and have a radius of curvature of not less than 2·5 mm
II.5.4.4. The device may be so designed that its position at the rear of the
vehicle can be varied. In this event, there must be a guaranteed
method of securing it in the service position so that any uninten-
tional change of position is precluded. It must be possible for the
operator to vary the position of the device by applying a force not
exceeding 40 daN;
II.5.4.5. The device must offer adequate resistance to forces applied parallel
to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and be connected, when in
the service position, with the chassis side-members or whatever
replaces them.
This requirement will be satisfied if it is shown that both during
and after the application the horizontal distance between the rear
of the device and the rear extremity of the vehicle does not exceed
40 cm at any of the points P1, P2 and P3. In measuring this
distance, any part of the vehicle which is more than 3 m above
the ground when the vehicle is unladen must be excluded;
II.5.4.5.1. Points P1 are located 30 cm from the longitudinal planes tangential
to the outer edges of the wheels on the rear axle; points P2, which
are located on the line joining points P1, are symmetrical to the
median longitudinal plane of the vehicle at a distance from each
other of 70 to 100 cm inclusive, the exact position being specified
by the manufacturer. The height above the ground of points P1 and
P2 must be defined by the vehicle manufacturer within the lines
that bound the device horizontally. The height must not, however,
exceed 60 cm when the vehicle is unladen. P3 is the centre-point
of the straight line joining points P2;
II.5.4.5.2. A horizontal force equal to 12·5 % of the maximum technically
permissible weight of the vehicle but not exceeding 2·5 × 104N
must be applied successively to bothpoints P1 and to point P3;
II.5.4.5.3. A horizontal force equal to 50 % of the maximum technically
permissible weight of the vehicle but not exceeding 10 × 104N
must be applied successively to bothpoints P2;
II.5.4.5.4. The forces specified in items II.5.4.5.2 and II.5.4.5.3 above must be
applied separately. The order in which the forces are applied may
be specified by the manufacturer;
II.5.4.5.5. Whenever a practical test is performed to verify compliance with
the abovementioned requirements, the following conditions must
be fulfilled:
II.5.4.5.5.1. The device must be connected to the chassis side-members of the
vehicle or to whatever replaces them;
II.5.4.5.5.2. The specified forces must be applied by rams which are suitably
articulated (e.g. by means of universal joints) and must be parallel
to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle via a surface not
more than 25 cm in height (the exact height must be indicated by
the manufacturer) and 20 cm wide, with a radius of curvature of 51970L0221 — EN — 28.04.1981 — 003.001 — 6
(1) As defined in item 2.6 of Annex I to Directive 70/156/EEC.
▼M1
± 1 mm at the vertical edges; the centre of the surface is placed
successively at points P1, P2 and P3.
II.5.5. By way of derogation from the abovementioned requirements, vehi-
cles of the following categories need not comply with the
requirements of this Annex as regards rear underrun protection:
— tractors for semi-trailers;
— ‘slung’ trailers and other similar trailers for the transport of logs
or other very long items;
— vehicles for which rear underrun protection is incompatible with
their use.1970L0221 — EN — 28.04.1981 — 003.001 — 7
▼M1
APPENDIX 1
MODEL
(Maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm)
1970L0221 — EN — 28.04.1981 — 003.001 — 8
▼M1
APPENDIX 2
MODEL
(Maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm)
1970L0221 — EN — 28.04.1981 — 003.001 — 9