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"B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 28 June 1977
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to parking lamps for motor vehicles
(77/540/EEC)
(OJ L 220, 29.8.1977, p. 83)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
"A1 Act of Accession of Greece L 291 17 19.11.1979
Corrected by:
"C1 Corrigendum, OJ L 284, 10.10.1978, p. 11 (77/540/EEC)1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 1
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 28 June 1977
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
parking lamps for motor vehicles
(77/540/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 parking lamps;
Whereas these 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, in order,
in particular, to allow the EEC type-approval procedure which was the subject
of Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation ofthe laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehiclesand their trailers (
3) to be introduced in respect of each type of vehicle;
Whereas in Directive 76/756/EEC (4), the Council laid down the common
requirements for the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on
motor vehicles and trailers;
Whereas a harmonized component type-approval procedure for parking lamps
makes it possible for each Member State to check compliance with the
common construction and testing requirements and to inform the other
Member States of its findings by sending a copy of the componenttype-approval certificate completed for each type of parking lamp; whereas
the placing of an EEC component type-approval mark on all parking lamps
manufactured in conformity with the approved type obviates any need fortechnical checks on these parking lamps in the other Member States;
Whereas the approximation of national laws relating to motor vehicles entails
reciprocal recognition by Member States of the tests carried out by each ofthem on the basis of the common requirements,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. Each Member State shall grant EEC component type-approval for any
type of parking lamp which satisfies the construction and testing requirementslaid down in Annexes I, II, IV , V and VI.
2. The Member State which has granted EEC component type-approval
shall take the measures required in order to verify that production modelsconform to the approved type, in so far as this is necessary and if need be in
cooperation with the competent authorities in the other Member States. Such
verification shall be limited to spot checks.
Article 2
Member States shall for each type of parking lamp which they approve
pursuant to Article 1 issue to the manufacturer, or to his authorizedrepresentative, an EEC component type-approval mark conforming to themodel shown in Annex IV .!B
(1) OJ No C 118, 16. 5. 1977, p. 29.
(2) OJ No C 114, 11. 5. 1977, p. 4.
(3) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1.
(4) OJ No L 262, 27. 9. 1976, p. 1.1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 2
Member States shall take all appropriate measures to prevent the use of marks
liable to create confusion between parking lamps which have beentype-approved pursuant to Article 1 and other devices.
Article 3
1. No Member State may prohibit the placing on the market of parking
lamps on grounds relating to their construction or method of functioning ifthey bear the EEC component type-approval mark.
2. Nevertheless, a Member State may prohibit the placing on the market of
parking lamps bearing the EEC component type-approval mark whichconsistently fail to conform to the approved type. That State shall inform theother Member States and the Commission forthwith of the measures taken,
specifying the reasons for its decision.
Article 4
The competent authorities of each Member State shall within one month send
to the competent authorities of the other Member States a copy of the
component type-approval certificates, an example of which is given in AnnexIII, completed for each type of parking lamp which they approve or refuse toapprove.
Article 5
1. If the Member State which has granted EEC component type-approval
finds that a number of parking lamps bearing the same EEC component
type-approval mark do not conform to the type which it has approved, it shall
take the necessary measures to ensure that production models conform to theapproved type. The competent authorities of that State shall advise those ofthe other Member States of the measures taken which may, where there is
consistent failure to conform, extend to withdrawal of EEC component
type-approval. The said authorities shall take the same measures if they areinformed by the competent authorities of another Member State of suchfailure to conform.
2. The competent authorities of Member States shall inform each other
within one month of any withdrawal of EEC component type-approval, and ofthe reasons for such a measure.
Article 6
Any decision taken pursuant to the provisions adopted in implementation of
this Directive, to refuse or withdraw EEC component type-approval for aparking lamp or prohibit its placing on the market or use, shall set out in detail
the reasons on which it is based. Such decisions shall be notified to the party
concerned, who shall at the same time be informed of the remedies availableto him under the laws in force in the Member States and of the time limitsallowed for the exercise of such remedies.
Article 7
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national
type-approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to its parking lamps if these
bear the EEC component type-approval mark and are fitted in accordance
with the requirements laid down in Directive 76/756/EEC.
Article 8
No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, entry into
service or use of any vehicle on grounds relating to its parking lamps if thesebear the EEC component type-approval mark and are fitted in accordancewith the requirements laid down in Directive 76/756/EEC.
Article 9
For the purposes of this Directive, ‘vehicle’ means any motor vehicle intended
for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having at least four wheels and
a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, with the exception of vehicles
which run on rails, agricultural or forestry tractors and machinery and publicworks vehicles.!B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 3
Article 10
Any amendments necessary to adjust the requirements of the Annexes to take
account of technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive 70/156/EEC.
Article 11
1. Member States shall bring into force the provisions needed in order to
comply with this Directive within 18 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 12
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.!B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 4
LIST OF ANNEXES
ANNEX I: Definitions, general specifications, intensity of light emitted, test
procedure, colour of light emitted, conformity of production, noteconcerning colour
ANNEX II: Minimum angles required for the light distribution in space
ANNEX III: Model EEC component type-approval certificateANNEX IV: EEC component type-approval and marking requirements
ANNEX V: Photometric measurements
ANNEX VI: Colour of light emitted, trichromatic coordinates!
B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 5
ANNEX I
DEFINITIONS, GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS, INTENSITY OF LIGHT
EMITTED, TEST PROCEDURE, COLOUR OF LIGHT EMITTED, CON-
FORMITY OF PRODUCTION, NOTE CONCERNING COLOUR
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1. ‘Parking lamp’ means the lamp used to draw attention to the presence of a
stationary vehicle in a built-up area.
1.2. ‘Axis of reference’ (or reference axis) means the characteristic axis of the light
signal, determined by the manufacturer for use as the direction of reference (H= 0°, V = 0°) for photometric measurements and when fitting the lamp on thevehicle.
1.3. ‘Centre of reference’ means the intersection of the axis of reference with the
exterior light-emitting surface specified by the manufacturer of the lamp.
1.4. ‘Type of parking lamp’ means parking lamps which do not differ in such
essential respects as:
1.4.1. the trade name or mark;
1.4.2. the characteristics of the optical system;
1.4.3. the type of filament lamp.
2. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
2.1. Each sample referred to in 1.2.3 of Annex IV shall conform to the specifications
set forth in 3 and 5.
2.2. The parking lamps shall be so designed and constructed that under normal
conditions of use, notwithstanding any vibration to which they may be subjectedduring such use, their satisfactory operation remains assured and they retain thecharacteristics prescribed by this Directive.
3. INTENSITY OF LIGHT EMITTED
3.1. In the reference axis, the light emitted by each of the two samples referred to in
1.2.3 of Annex II shall be of not less than the minimum intensity and of notmore than the maximum intensity specified below:
Minimum
(cd)Maximum
(cd)
3.1.1. Forward-facing parking lamps 2 60
3.1.2. Rearward-facing parking lamps 2 30
3.2. Outside the reference axis and within the angular fields defined in the diagrams
in Annex II, the intensity of the light emitted by each of the two samples must:
3.2.1. in each direction corresponding to the points in the luminous intensity
distribution table reproduced in Annex V be not less than the value shown, in
the said table for the direction in question, expressed as a percentage of theminimum specified in 3.1;
3.2.2. in any direction within the space from which the lamp in question is visible, not
exceed the maximum specified in 3.1;
3.2.3. however, a luminous intensity of 60 cd shall be permitted for parking lamps
incorporated with stop lamps (see 3.1.2) below a plane forming an angle of 5°with and downward from the horizontal plane;
3.2.4. moreover,
3.2.4.1. throughout the fields defined in Annex II, the intensity of the light emitted must
be not less than 0.05cd;
3.2.4.2. the requirements of 2.2 of Annex V on local variations of intensity must be
observed.
3.3. The intensities must be measured with the filament lamp(s) continuously alight
and, in the case of devices emitting red or amber light, in coloured light.
3.4. Annex V , to which reference is made in 3.2.1, gives particulars of the methods
of measurement to be used.!
B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 6
4. TEST PROCEDURE
All measurements shall be carried out with colourless standard filament lamps
of the types recommended for the parking lamp, and so regulated as to producethe normal luminous flux prescribed for those types of lamp.
5. COLOUR OF LIGHT EMITTED
The-colour of the light emitted, measured by using a source of light with a
colour temperature of 2 854 K, corresponding to illuminant A of the
International Commission on Illumination (CIE), must be within the limits ofthe coordinates prescribed for the colour in question in Annex VI.
6. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
Every parking lamp bearing an EEC component type-approval mark must
conform to the type approved and comply with the photometric conditions
specified in 3 and 5. Nevertheless, in the case of a parking lamp picked at
random from series production, the requirements as to minimum intensity of thelight emitted (measured with a standard filament lamp as referred to in 4) shallbe limited in each relevant direction to 80 % of the minimum values specified in3.1 and 3.2.
7. NOTE CONCERNING COLOUR
EEC component type-approval shall be granted if the colour emitted by the
parking lamp is that laid down in 3.13 of Annex I to Directive 76/756/EEC.!
B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 7
ANNEX II
MINIMUM ANGLES REQUIRED FOR THE LIGHT DISTRIBUTION IN
SP ACE (1)
In all cases, the minimum vertical angles of light distribution in space are 15° above and
15° below the horizontal.
Minimum horizontal angles of light distribution in space
!B
(1) The angles shown in these diagrams are correct for devices to be mounted on the
right side of the vehicle. The arrows point to the front of the vehicles.1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 8
ANNEX III
MODEL EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROV AL CERTIFICATE
(Maximum format: A4 (210 × 297 mm))
!B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 9
ANNEX IV
EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROV AL AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS
1. APPLICATION FOR EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL
1.1. The application for EEC component type-approval shall be submitted by the
holder of the trade name or mark or by his authorized representative.
1.2. For each type of parking lamp the application shall be accompanied by:
1.2.1. a brief technical description stating, in particular, the type(s) of filament lamp(s)
recommended, which must comply with the specifications of "C1the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC); 3
1.2.2. drawings (three copies), in sufficient detail to permit identification of the type
of the parking lamp and showing geometrically the position in which the lamp isto be mounted on the vehicle, the axis of observation to be taken as the axis ofreference in the tests (horizontal angle H = 0°, vertical angle V = 0°), and thepoint to be taken as the centre of reference in the said tests;
1.2.3. two samples; if the parking lamps are such that they can be mounted only on
one side of the vehicle, the two samples submitted may be identical and besuitable for mounting only on the right or only on the left side of the vehicle.
2. MARKINGS
2.1. The samples of a type of parking lamp submitted for EEC component
type-approval must bear:
2.1.1. the trade name or mark of the applicant, which must be clearly legible and
indelible;
2.1.2. a clearly legible and indelible marking indicating the type(s) of filament lamp(s)
recommended;
2.1.3. and incorporate a space large enough to contain the EEC component
type-approval mark, including the additional symbols prescribed in 4; thisspace shall be shown in the drawings mentioned in 1.2.2.
3. EEC COMPONENT TYPE-APPROV AL
3.1. If the two samples submitted in accordance with 1 meet the requirements of
Annexes I, II, IV , V and VI, EEC component type-approval shall be granted and
a component type-approval number assigned.
3.2. This number shall not be assigned to any other type of parking lamp.
3.3. Where EEC component type-approval is requested for a type of lighting and
light-signalling device comprising a parking lamp and other lamps, a singleEEC component type-approval mark may be issued provided that the lamp inquestion complies with the requirements of this Directive and that each of the
other lamps forming part of the lighting and light-signalling device for which
EEC component type-approval is requested, complies with the specificDirective applying to it.
4. MARKS
4.1. Every parking lamp conforming to a type approved under this Directive shall
bear an EEC component type-approval mark.
4.2. This mark shall consist of a rectangle surrounding the lower-case letter ‘e’,
followed by the distinguishing number or letter(s) of the Member State which
has granted the component type-approval:
1 for Germany,2 for France,3 for Italy,4 for the Netherlands,6 for Belgium,
11 for the United Kingdom,13 for Luxembourg,18 for Denmark,!
B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 10
IRL for Ireland,
E for Greece.
It must also include the EEC component type-approval number which
corresponds to the number of the EEC component type-approval certificateissued for the type of parking lamp in question.
4.3. In the following cases the EEC component type-approval mark shall be
supplemented by an additional symbol ‘P’.
4.4. The EEC component type-approval number must be placed in any convenient
position near the rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’.
4.5. The EEC component type-approval mark and the additional symbols must be
affixed to the lens of the lamp or one of the lenses in such a way as to beindelible and clearly legible even when the parking lamps are fitted on thevehicle.
4.6. An example of the EEC component type-approval mark and additional symbol
is given in the Appendix.
4.7. Where a single EEC component type-approval number is issued, as under 3.3,
for a type of lighting and light-signalling device comprising a parking lamp andother lamps, one EEC component type-approval mark only may be affixed,consisting of:
— a rectangle surrounding the letter ‘e’ followed by the distinguishing
number or letter(s) of the Member State which has granted the EECcomponent type-approval,
— the EEC component type-approval number,
— the additional symbols required by the various Directives under which EEC
component type-approval was granted.
4.8. The dimensions of the various components of this mark shall not be less than
the largest of the minimum dimensions specified for individual markings by theDirectives under which the EEC component type-approval was granted.!
B
!A1
!B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 11
Appendix
Example of an EEC component type-approval mark
The device bearing the EEC component type-approval mark shown above is a parking lamp, EEC type-approved in the United
Kingdom (e 11) under the number 1471.!B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 12
ANNEX V
PHOTOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS
1. MEASUREMENT METHODS
1.1. During photometric measurements, stray reflections shall be prevented by
appropriate masking.
1.2. Should the results of measurements be challenged, measurements shall be
carried out in such a way as to meet the following requirements:
1.2.1. the distance of measurement shall be such that the law of the inverse of the
square of the distance is applicable;
1.2.2. the measuring equipment shall be such that the angular aperture of the receiver
viewed from the reference centre of the lamp is between 10 ’and 1°.
1.2.3. the intensity requirement for a particular direction of observation shall be
deemed to be satisfied if that requirement is met in a direction deviating by notmore than 15 ’from the direction of observation.
2. STANDARD LUMINOUS INTENSITY DISTRIBUTION TABLE
2.1. The direction H = 0° and V = 0° corresponds to the reference axis (which, when
the lamp is mounted on the vehicle, must be horizontal, parallel to the medianlongitudinal plane of the vehicle and oriented in the required direction of
visibility). It passes through the centre of reference. The values shown in the
table give, for the various directions of measurement, the minimum intensitiesas a percentage of the minimum required in the axis for each lamp (in thedirection H = 0° and V = 0°).
2.2. If visual examination of a lamp appears to reveal substantial local variations of
intensity, a check shall be made to ensure that no intensity measured betweentwo of the directions of measurement referred to in 2.1 is:
2.2.1. for a minimum specification, below 50 % of the lower of the two minimum
intensities prescribed for these directions of measurement;
2.2.2. for a maximum specification, above the lower of the two maximum intensities
prescribed for these directions of measurement, increased by a fraction,expressed as a linear function, of the difference between the intensitiesprescribed for the said directions of measurement.!
B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 13
ANNEX VI
COLOUR OF LIGHT EMITTED
TRICHROMATIC COORDINATES
RED: limit towards yellow: y 40.335
limit towards purple: z 40.008
WHITE: limit towards blue: x 50.310
limit towards yellow: x 40.500
limit towards green: y 40.150+0.640x
limit towards green: y 40.440
limit towards purple: y 50.050+0.750x
limit towards red: y 50.382
AMBER: limit towards yellow: y 40.429
limit towards red: y 50.398
limit towards white: z 40.007
For checking those colorimetric characteristics, a source of light at a colour
temperature of 2 854 K corresponding to illuminant A of the International
Commission on Illumination (CIE) shall be used.!B1977L0540 — EN — 01.01.1981 — 001.001 — 14