1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►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
►M3Commission Directive 97/19/EC of 18 April 1997 L 125 1 16.5.1997
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 same
requirements 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 typeapproval of motor vehicles and their trailers to be applied in respect
of 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 perhour, and its trailers, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails
and of agricultural and forestry tractors and all mobile machinery.
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 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-approval
for a vehicle if such vehicle satisfies the requirements set out in theAnnex concerning rear underrun protection or if suchveh icle is fittedwith a rear underrun protective device which has been granted type-approval as a technical unit ►
M3within the meaning of Article 2 of
Directive 70/156/EEC and installed in accordance withth e require-
ments set out in item 5 of Annex II. ◄
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 ►
M3within the meaning of
Article 2 of Directive 70/156/EEC, satisfies the relevant requirementsset out in Annex II. ◄1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 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.▼M3
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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 ►
M3within the meaning of Article
2 of Directive 70/156/EEC and installed in accordance withth erequirements set out in item 5 of Annex II. ◄
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 ►
M3Article 2 ◄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 ►
M3items 2.1 and 2.2 of
Annex II ◄. The competent authorities of that Member State shall
determine whether fresh tests should be carried out on the modifiedtype and a fresh report drawn up. Where such tests reveal that the
requirements of this Directive have not been complied with, the modi-
fication 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 ►
M3Annex I ◄, shall be adopted in
accordance with the 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 withineighteen 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 Directive
are communicated to the Commission.
Article 5
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 3
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LISTOFANNEXES
AnnexI: Tanks for liquid fuel
Appendix 1: Information document
Appendix 2: EC type-approval certificate
AnnexII: Rear underrun protection
Appendix 1: Information document (vehicle)
Appendix 2: Information document (separate technical unit)
Appendix 3: EC type-approval certificate (vehicle)
Appendix 4: EC type-approval certificate (separate technical
unit)
Appendix 5: EC type-approval mark1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 4
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ANNEX I
TANKSFORLIQUIDFUEL
1. SCOPE
1.1. This Annex applies to vehicles to which Directive 70/156/EEC applies.
2. DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Directive:
2.1. ‘Vehicle type with regard to fuel tanks’ means vehicles which do not
differ essentially in suchrespects as:
2.1.1. the structure, shape, dimensions and materials of the tank(s);
2.1.2. the position of the tank(s) in the vehicle (right and/or left, front, rear,
centre.
2.2. ‘Tank’ means the tank(s) designed to contain the liquid fuel, as defined in
2.3, used primarily for the propulsion of the vehicle excluding its aces-
sories (filler pipe (if it is a separate element), filler hole, cap, gauge,
connections to the engine or to compensate interior excess pressure, etc.).
2.3. ‘Liquid fuel’ means a fuel which is liquid in normal ambient conditions.
3. APPLICATION FOR EC TYPE-APPROVAL
3.1. The application for type-approval of a vehicle with regard to its fuel
tanks pursuant to Article 3 (4) of Directive 70/156/EEC shall be
submitted by the vehicle manufacturer.
3.2. A model for the information document is given in Appendix 1.
3.3. The following must be submitted to the technical service responsible for
conducting the type-approval tests:
3.1.1. a vehicle representative of the vehicle type to be approved or the parts of
the vehicle which the technical service deems necessary for approval
tests.
4. GRANTING OF EC TYPE-APPROVAL
4.1. If the relevant requirements are satisfied, EC type-approval pursuant to
Article 4 (3) and, if applicable, Article 4 (4) of Directive 70/156/EEC
shall be granted.
4.2. A model for the EC type-approval certificate is given in Appendix 2.
4.3. An approval number in accordance withAnnex VII to Directive 70/156/
EEC shall be assigned to each type of vehicle approved. The same
Member State shall not assign the same number to another type of
vehicle.
5. SPECIFICATIONS
5.1. 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.
5.2. Fuel tanks must be installed in sucha way as to be protected from th e
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.
6. MODIFICATIONS OF THE TYPE AND AMENDMENTS TO
APPROVALS
6.1. In the case of modifications of the type approved pursuant to this Direc-
tive, the provisions of Article 5 of Directive 70/156/EEC shall apply.1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 5
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7. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
7.1. As a general rule, measures to ensure the conformity of production shall
be taken in accordance withth e provisions laid down in Article 10 of
Directive 70/156/EEC.1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 6
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Appendix 1
1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 7
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Appendix 2
MODEL
(maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm))
1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 8
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Addendum to EC type-approval certificate No …
concerning the type-approval of a vehicle with regard to Directive 70/221/EEC (fuel tanks) as last
amended by Directive …/…/EC
1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 9
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ANNEX II
REARUNDERRUNPROTECTION
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).
2. DEFINITIONS
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 essentially with respect to the
following main characteristics:
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 5.1 to 5.4.5.5;
2.1.2. suspension characteristics in so far as they have a bearing on the
requirements of 5.1 to 5.4.5.5;
2.1.3. type of rear underrun protection device, if fitted.2.2. Type of rear underrun protection device
The term ‘type of rear underrun protection device’ means devices
which do not differ essentially with respect to the following main
characteristics:
2.2.1. shape;2.2.2. dimensions;2.2.3. attachment;2.2.4. materials.
3. APPLICATION FOR EC TYPE-APPROVAL
3.1. Application for EC type-approval in respect of a vehicle type3.1.1. Application for EC type-approval pursuant to Article 3 (4) of Direc-
tive 70/156/EEC of a vehicle type with regard to rear underrun
protection shall be submitted by the vehicle manufacturer.
3.1.2. A model for the information document is given in Appendix 1.
3.1.3. A vehicle representative of the type to be approved shall be submitted
to the technical service responsible for conducting the type-approval
tests.
3.2. Application for EC type-approval in respect of a rear underrun protec-
tive device considered to be a separate technical unit
3.2.1. Application for EC type-approval pursuant to Article 3 (4) of Direc-
tive 70/156/EEC in respect of a rear underrun protective device
considered to be a separate technical unit within the meaning of
Article 2 of that Directive shall be submitted by the vehicle manufac-
turer or the manufacturer of the rear underrun protective device.
3.2.2. A model for the information document is given in Appendix 2.3.2.3. One sample of the type of rear underrun protective device to be
approved shall be submitted to the technical service conducting the
tests. That service may, if it is considered necessary, request a further
sample. The samples shall be clearly and indelibly marked with the
applicant's trade name or mark and the type designation.
4. GRANTING OF EC TYPE-APPROVAL
4.1. If the relevant requirements are satisfied, EC type-approval pursuant
to Article 4 (3) and, if applicable, Article 4 (4) of Directive 70/156/
EEC shall be granted.1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 10
(1) As defined in Annex II Section A to Directive 70/156/EEC.
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4.2. A model for the EC type-approval certificate is shown in:
4.2.1. Appendix 3 for applications referred to in 3.1; and4.2.2. Appendix 4 for applications referred to in 3.2.4.3. An approval number in accordance withAnnex VII to Directive 70/
156/EEC shall be assigned to each type of vehicle or each type of
rear protective device approved. The same Member State shall not
assign the same number to another type of vehicle or to another type
of rear protective device.
5. SPECIFICATIONS
5.1. All vehicles must be so constructed and/or equipped as to offer effec-
tive protection over their whole width against underrunning from the
rear by a vehicle of categories M
1and N1(1).
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 5.1:
— if it satisfies the conditions set out in 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.
5.3. Any vehicle in one of the categories N2,N3,O3or O4(1) will be
deemed to satisfy the condition set out in 5.1 provided that:
— the vehicle is equipped with a special rear underrun protective
device in accordance withth e requirements of 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 5.4 are considered to form a rear underrun protective
device.
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:
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;
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;
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;
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 guaranteedmethod 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;
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 the1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 11
(1) As defined in Annex II Section A to Directive 70/156/EEC.
(2) As defined in item 2.6 of Appendix 1.
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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;
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 manu-facturer. 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;
5.4.5.2. a horizontal force corresponding to 12,5 % of the maximum techni-
cally permissible mass of the vehicle but not exceeding 2,5 × 10
4N
must be applied successively to bothpoints P1 and to point P3;
5.4.5.3. a horizontal force corresponding to 50 % of the maximum technically
permissible mass of the vehicle but not exceeding 10 × 104N must be
applied successively to bothpoints P2;
5.4.5.4. the forces specified in 5.4.5.2 and 5.4.5.3 above must be applied sepa-
rately. The order in which the forces are applied may be specified bythe manufacturer;
5.4.5.5. whenever a practical test is performed to verify compliance with the
abovementioned requirements, the following conditions must be
fulfilled:
5.4.5.5.1. the device must be connected to the chassis side-members of the
vehicle or to whatever replaces them;
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 manu-
facturer) and 20 cm wide, witha 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.
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.
6. EC TYPE-APPROVAL MARKING
6.1. Every rear underrun protective device conforming to the type
approved pursuant to this Directive as a separate technical unit shall
bear an EC type-approval mark.
6.2. This mark shall consist of a rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’
followed by the distinguishing number or letters of the Member State
which has granted type-approval:
1 for Germany
2 for France
3 for Italy4 for the Netherlands
5 for Sweden
6 for Belgium9 for Spain
11 for the United Kingdom
12 for Austria1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 12
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13 for Luxembourg
17 for Finland18 for Denmark21 for Portugal
23 for Greece
IRL for Ireland.
It must also include in the vicinity of the rectangle the ‘base approval
number’ contained in Section 4 of the type-approval number referred
to in Annex VII of Directive 70/156/EEC, preceded by the two
figures indicating the sequence number assigned to the most recent
major technical amendment to Directive 70/221/EEC on the date EC
type-approval was granted. In this Directive the sequence number is
‘00’.
6.3. The EC type-approval mark must be affixed to the rear underrun
protective device in sucha way as to be indelible and clearly legible
even if the device is fitted to a vehicle.
6.4. An example of the EC type-approval mark is shown in Appendix 5.
7. MODIFICATIONS OF THE TYPE AND AMENDMENTS TO
APPROVALS
7.1. In the case of modifications of the type approved pursuant to this
Directive, the provisions of Article 5 of Directive 70/156/EEC shall
apply.
8. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
8.1. As a general rule, measures to ensure the conformity of production
shall be taken in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article
10 to Directive 70/156/EEC.1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 13
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Appendix 1
1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 14
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1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 15
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Appendix 2
INFORMATIONDOCUMENTNo…
relatingtoECtype-approvalasaseparatetechnicalunitwithrespectofarearunderrunprotec-
tivedevice
(Directive 70/221/EEC as last amended by Directive …/…/EC)
1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 16
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Appendix 3
MODEL
(maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm))
1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 17
▼M3
Addendum to EC type-approval certificate No …
concerning the type-approval of a vehicle with respect of a rear underrun protective device
(Directive 70/221/EEC as last amended by Directive …/…/EC)
1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 18
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Appendix 4
MODEL
(maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm))
1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 19
▼M3
Addendum to EC type-approval certificate No …
concerning the type-approval of a separate technical unit with regard to a rear underrun protective
device
(Directive 70/221/EEC as last amended by Directive …/…/EC)
1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 20
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Appendix 5
ModelfortheECtype-approvalmark
The rear underrun protective device bearing the above EC type-approval mark is a device which has
been approved in Spain (e 9) under the base approval 0148 on the basis of this Directive (00).
The figures used are only indicative.1970L0221 — EN — 05.06.1997 — 004.001 — 21