1970L0387 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 27July 197 0
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the doors of motor vehicles and
their trailers
(70/387/EEC)
(OJ L 176, 10.8.1970, p. 5)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►A1Act of Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern IrelandL 73 14 27.3.1972
Corrected by:
►C1RECTIF
▼B
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 27July 197 0
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
the doors of motor vehicles and their trailers
(70/387/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;Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committe;Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy
pursuant to national laws relate, inter alia , to their doors;
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(
1) 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 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, having at least four wheels and a maximumdesign speed exceeding 25 km/h, and its trailers, with the exception ofpublic transport vehicles, vehicles which run on rails, agriculturaltractors and machinery and public works vehicles.
Article 2
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type approval or national
type approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to its doors if these satisfythe requirements set out in the Annexes.
Article 2a
No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale or registration, entry
into service or use of a vehicle on grounds relating to its doors if thesesatisfy the requirements set out in the Annexes.
Article 3
The amendments necessary for adjusting the requirements of the Annex
so as to take account of technical progress shall be adopted in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of the CouncilDirective of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of theMember States relating to the type approval of motor vehicles and theirtrailers.1970L0387 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ No L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1.▼C1
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▼A1
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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 inform the Commission
forthwith.
2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of
the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the fieldcovered by this Directive.
Article 5
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1970L0387 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 3
▼B
ANNEX I
1. GENERAL
1.1 The design characteristics of the vehicle must permit entry to and exit from it
in perfect safety.
1.2 Doors, entries and exits must be such that they can be used easily and without
danger.
1.3 Doors and door latches must be designed in such a way that any irritating
noise on closing may be avoided.
1.4 Door latches must be designed in such a way as to prevent the doors opening
accidentally.
2. LATCHES AND HINGES (Construction and fitting requirements)
2.1 The hinges of hinge-mounted doors (with the exception of folding doors),
when fitted to the sides of vehicles, must be fixed at the front edge of the
doors in the direction of forward travel. In the case of double doors, this
requirement applies to the door wing which opens first: it must be possible to
bolt the other wing of the door.
2.2 The latches and hinges of the side doors of private cars(1) must satisfy the
requirements set out in Annex II to this Directive.
3. RUNNING BOARDS (Construction and fitting requirements)
3.1 If the floor at the entrance to the vehicle is more than 700 mm above the
ground, the vehicle must have one or more running boards. The running
board, or lower running board if there are several, must not be more than 700
mm above the ground and must be constructed in such a way as to preclude
the risk of slipping. The wheel hub, rims and other parts of the wheel shall
not be deemed to be running boards for the purposes of this Directive, except
where reasons relating to construction or use preclude the fitting of running
boards elsewhere on the vehicle.1970L0387 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 4
(1) Class M1 of the International Classification set out in Note (b) to the Annex to the
Council Directive referredto in Article 3 of this Directive.
▼B
ANNEX II
CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING REQUIREMENTS AND STRENGTH
TESTS FOR ►C1 LATCHES ◄AND HINGES ON SIDE DOORS FOR
ENTRY TO OR EXIT FROM PRIVATE CARS
1. GENERAL
1.1 Latches and hinges must be so designed, constructed and fitted that in
normal use, the vehicle satisfies the requirements of this Directive.
1.2 Each latch shall have both an intermediate latched position and a fully
latched position.
2. PARTICULARS AND BATCHES OF LATCHES AND HINGES TO
BE SUBMITTED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR HIS
AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE.
The manufacturer or his authorised representative must submit the
following particulars and batches of latches and hinges:
2.1 Drawings of the doors and of their latches and hinges on an
appropriate scale and in sufficient detail;
2.2 A technical description of the latches and hinges;2.3 A batch of five sets of hinges per door. Where, however, the same
sets are used for several doors, it will be sufficient to submit one
batch of sets. Sets of hinges which are distinguishable only because
they are designed to be fitted on the left or on the right shall not be
regarded as different;
2.4 A batch of five complete latches, including actuating mechanism, per
door. Where, however, the same complete latches are used for several
doors, it will be sufficient to submit one batch of such latches.
Latches which are distinguishable only because they are designed to
be fitted on the left or on the right shall not be regarded as different.
3. CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS3.1 Latches
3.1.1 Longitudinal load
The latch and striker assembly shall be able to withstand a
longitudinal load of 453 kp (444 daN) in the intermediate latched
position and 1134 kp (1111 daN) in the fully latched position (Figure
2).
3.1.2 Transverse load
The latch and striker assembly must be capable of withstanding a
transverse load of 453 kp (444 daN) in the intermediate latched
position, and 907 kp (889 daN) in the fully latched position (Figure
3).
3.1.3 Resistance to inertia load
The latch shall not move from the fully latched position when a
longitudinal or transverse inertia load, in both directions, of 30 g is
applied to the lock assembly, including its actuating mechanism.
3.2 Hinges
3.2.1 Each hinge system shall be capable of supporting the door and
withstanding a longitudinal load of 1134 kp (1111 daN) and a
transverse load of 907 kp (889 daN) in both directions.
4. REQUIREMENTS FOR TESTING THE STRENGTH OF DOOR
►
C1LATCHES ◄AND HINGES
Compliance with the requirements contained in items 3.1 and 3.2
shall be checked in accordance with the following:
4.1 Setting up, procedure and equipment for static-load tests1970L0387 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 5
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4.1.1 Setting up
4.1.1.1 Hinges
4.1.1.1.1 The tests shall be conducted with the use of rigid components
reproducing the geometric conditions of the mounting on the vehicle
of a fully latched door.
4.1.1.1.2 To this equipment there shall be applied, at the mid-point between the
hinges:
4.1.1.1.2.1 the prescribed longitudinal load, perpendicular to the axis of the hinge
pivots, situated in a plane passing through that axis;
4.1.1.1.2.2 the prescribed transverse load, perpendicular to the plane defined by
the longitudinal load and the axis of the pivots, and situated in a plane
passing through that axis.
4.1.1.1.3 A new set of hinges shall be used for each test.
4.1.1.1.4 Figure 1 gives an illustration of a test assembly.
4.1.1.2 Latches4.1.1.2.1 The tests shall be conducted with the use of rigid components
reproducing the mounting on the vehicle of the two latch components,
the latch body and the striker.
4.1.1.2.2 The prescribed load shall be applied to this equipment so as not to
cause any stress on the latch. In addition, a transverse static load of
90·7 kp (88·9 daN) shall be applied in such a way that it tends to
move the latch away from its striker in the direction in which the door
opens.
4.1.1.2.3 Figure 2 and 3 give illustrations of a test assembly.4.1.2 Test procedure and equipment
The equipment referred to in items 4.1.1.1 and 4.1.1.2 above shall be
mounted on a tensile testing machine with a minimum capacity of
1500 kp (1470 daN). Loads gradually increasing to the values
prescribed in items 3.1 and 3.2 shall be applied thereto in such a way
that the speed of separation of the retaining devices does not exceed 5
mm/min.
4.2 Procedure for determining the resistance of latches to accelera-
tion
4.2.1 Resistance to opening in both directions under a longitudinal and
transverse inertia load of 30 g, applied in both cases to the opening
knob in the direction in which it is actuated, shall be determined
dynamically or analytically (Figure 4), disregarding:
4.2.1.1 Frictional forces.
4.2.1.2 The components of gravity acceleration which tend to keep the latch
closed.
4.2.2 Latch locking devices, if any, must not be brought into play.
4.3 Equivalent test methods
4.3.1 Equivalent non-destructive test methods are permitted, provided that
the results referred to in items 4.1.2 and 4.2 above can be obtained
either entirely by means of the substitute test or by calculation from
the results of the substitute test. If a method other than that described
in items 4.1.2 and 4.2 above is used, its equivalence must be
demonstrated.1970L0387 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 6
▼B
Door hinge system — static-load fixture (transverse load)
FIGURE 11970L0387 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 7
▼B
Door latch — Test equipment under static load (longitudinal load
FIGURE 2
Door latch — Test equipment under static load (transverse load)
FIGURE 3 ►C1Door latch assembly ◄1970L0387 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 8
▼B
Resistance to the effects of inertia — Example of calculation
FIGURE 4
Given:A door latch system subjected to a deceleration of 30 g
F= M
a=
a=
30 g = 30 W
F1=W1× 30 − Average load on knob spring = (0·016 kg × 30) − 0·454
kg = 0·036 kg
F2=W2× 30 = 0·023 kg × 30 = 0·68 kg
F3=W3
2×3 0=
 × 30 = 0·184 kg
ΣMo=F1×d1+F2×d2−F3×d3= 0·036 kg × 31·5 mm + 0·68 kg × 10·67
mm − 0·184 kg × 4·83 mm = 7·51 mm/kg
F5=
=
= 0·238 kg
F6=W4× 30 = 0·042 × 30 = 1·265 kg
ΣMp= load on bolt spring (F5d5+F6d6) = 45·62 mm/kg − (0·238 × 37·59
+ 1·265 × 1·9) = 45·62 mm/kg − 11·36 mm/kg = 34·26 mm/kg1970L0387 — EN — 01.01.1973 — 001.001 — 9