1970L0221 — EN — 25.04.1979 — 002.001 — 1
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►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 20March 1970
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to liquid fuel tanks and ►C1 rear
underrun protection ◄for motor vehicles and their trailers
(70/221/EEC)
(OJ L 76, 6.4.1970, p. 23)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Commission Directive 79/490/EEC of 18 April 1979 L 128 22 26.5.1979
Amended by:
►A1 Act of Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern IrelandL 73 14 27.3.1972
Corrected by:
►C1 Corrigendum, OJ L 65, 15.3.1979, p. 42 (70/221/EEC)
▼B
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 20March 1970
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
liquid fuel tanks and ►C1 rear underrun protection ◄for motor
vehicles and their trailers
(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 same
requirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules, in
order, 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 typeapproval of motor vehicles and their trailers to be applied in respect of
each type of vehicle;
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 perhour, 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 for a
vehicle if such vehicle satisfies the requirements set out in the Annexconcerning 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 theAnnex concerning rear underrun protection or if such vehicle is fittedwith 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 with the requirementsof item 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 Article 9aof Directive 70/156/EEC, satisfies the relevant requirements set out inthe Annex.1970L0221 — EN — 25.04.1979 — 002.001 — 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 service oruse of a vehicle if such a vehicle satisfies the requirements set out in theAnnex concerning rear underrun protection or if the vehicle is fitted witha 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 with the requirements set out in itemII.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 within themeaning 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 modification to a part orcharacteristic referred to in items II.2.1 and II.2.2 of the Annex. Thecompetent authorities of that Member State shall determine whetherfresh tests should be carried out on the modified type and a fresh reportdrawn 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 6February 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 the
Commission 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 Directive arecommunicated to the Commission.
Article 5
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1970L0221 — EN — 25.04.1979 — 002.001 — 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 pressure
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 such a way
as to prevent any fire risks. The fuel must not escape through the fuel
tank cap or through the devices provided to compensate excess
pressure, even if the tank is completely overturned: a drip shall be
tolerated.
I.2. Fuel tanks must be installed in such a 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 character-
istics:
II.2.2.1. shape,
II.2.2.2. dimensions,
II.2.2.3. attachment,
II.2.2.4. materials.
II.3. Application for EEC type-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
triplicate 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 — 25.04.1979 — 002.001 — 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
protection 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 representatives.
II.3.2.2. For each type of rear underrun protective device, the 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 with the applicant's trade name or
mark and the type designation.
II.4. EEC type-approval
II.4.1. The EEC type-approval certificate for a vehicle type must be
provided with an Annex drawn up in conformity with one of the
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(1) will
be deemed to satisfy the condition set out in item II.5.1 if the ground
clearance of the entire rear width of the chassis or the main parts of
the body does not exceed 55 cm.
This requirement must be satisfied over a distance of 45 cm
measured 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 with the 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.
II.5.4. A device for protection against underrunning from the rear,
hereinafter 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 (2), the lower edge of the
device must at no point be more than 55 cm above the ground;1970L0221 — EN — 25.04.1979 — 002.001 — 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 theMember States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers.
(
2) As defined in item 2.6 of Annex I to Directive 70/156/EEC.
▼M1
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 unintentional
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 both points 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 both points 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 5 ± 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,
vehicles 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 — 25.04.1979 — 002.001 — 6
▼M1
APPENDIX 1
MODEL
(Maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm)
1970L0221 — EN — 25.04.1979 — 002.001 — 7
▼M1
APPENDIX 2
MODEL
(Maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm)
1970L0221 — EN — 25.04.1979 — 002.001 — 8