Only the original UN/ECE texts have legal effect under international public law. The status and date of entry into force of this Regulation should be checked in the latest version of the UN/ECE status document TRANS/WP.29/343, available at: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29wgs/wp29gen/wp29fdocstts.html

UN Regulation No 135 – Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to their Pole Side Impact performance (PSI) [2020/486]

Incorporating all valid text up to:

Supplement 2 to the 01 series of amendments – Date of entry into force: 29 May 2020

This document is meant purely as documentation tool. The authentic and legally binding texts are:

— ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/79

— ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/80

— ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2015/54

— ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2015/71 and

— ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2019/111

CONTENTS

REGULATION

1. Scope

2. Definitions

3. Application for approval

4. Approval

5. Requirements

6. Modification of the vehicle type and extension of approval

7. Conformity of production

8. Penalties for non-conformity of production

9. Production definitively discontinued

10. Names and addresses of Technical Services responsible for conducting approval tests, and of Type Approval Authorities

ANNEXES

1. Communication

2. Arrangement of the approval mark

3. Dynamic pole side impact test procedure

4. Seat adjustment and installation requirements for the WorldSID 50th percentile adult male dummy

5. Description of the three-dimensional H-point machine (3-D H machine)

6. Test conditions and procedures for the assessment of post-crash hydrogen fuel system integrity

7. Impact reference line

8. Impact angle

9. Pitch and roll angle references

10. Determination of WorldSID 50th percentile adult male dummy performance criteria

1. SCOPE (1)

1.1. This Regulation applies to: (a) Category M1 vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of up to 3 500 kg; and (b) Category N1 vehicles where the acute angle alpha (α), measured between a horizontal plane passing through the centre of the front axle and an angular transverse plane passing through the centre of the front axle and the R-point of the driver’s seat, as illustrated below, is less than 22,0 degrees; or the ratio between the distance from the driver’s R-point to the centre of the rear axle (L101-L114) and the centre of the front axle and the driver’s R-point (L114) is less than 1,30. (2)

1.2. Other Category M and Category N vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of up to 4 500 kg may also be approved if requested by the manufacturer.

2. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Regulation:

2.1. "Approval of a vehicle type" means the full procedure whereby a Contracting Party to the Agreement applying this Regulation certifies that a vehicle type meets the technical requirements of this Regulation.

2.2. "Back Door" is a door or door system on the back end of a motor vehicle through which passengers can enter or depart the vehicle or cargo can be loaded or unloaded. It does not include: (a) A trunk lid; or (b) A door or window that is composed entirely of glazing material and whose latches and/or hinge systems are attached directly to the glazing material.

2.3. "Compressed hydrogen storage system (CHSS)’ means a system designed to store hydrogen fuel for a hydrogen-fuelled vehicle and composed of a pressurized container, pressure relief devices (PRDs) and shut off device that isolate the stored hydrogen from the remainder of the fuel system and the environment.

2.4. "Container (for hydrogen storage)’ means the component within the hydrogen storage system that stores the primary volume of hydrogen fuel.

2.5. "Door latch system" consists, at a minimum, of a latch and a striker.

2.6. "Fuel ballast leakage" means the fall, flow, or run of fuel ballast from the vehicle but does not include wetness resulting from capillary action.

2.7. "Fully latched position" is the coupling condition of the latch that retains the door in a completely closed position.

2.8. "Gross vehicle mass" means the maximum mass of the fully laden solo vehicle, based on its construction and design performances, as declared by the manufacturer.

2.9. "Hinge" is a device used to position the door relative to the body structure and control the path of the door swing for passenger ingress and egress.

2.10. "Hydrogen-fuelled vehicle" means any motor vehicle that uses compressed gaseous hydrogen as a fuel to propel the vehicle, including fuel cell and internal combustion engine vehicles. Hydrogen fuel for passenger vehicles is specified in ISO 14687-2:2012 and SAE J2719 (Sep 2011 Revision).

2.11. "Latch" is a device employed to maintain the door in a closed position relative to the vehicle body with provisions for deliberate release (or operation).

2.12. "Latched" means any coupling condition of the door latch system, where the latch is in a fully latched position, a secondary latched position, or between a fully latched position and a secondary latched position.

2.13. "Manufacturer" means the person or body responsible to the Approval Authority for all aspects of the type approval process and for ensuring conformity of production. It is not essential that the person or body is directly involved in all stages of the construction of the vehicle, system or component which is the subject of the approval process.

2.14. "Passenger compartment" means the space for occupant accommodation, bounded by the roof, floor, side walls, doors, outside glazing and front bulkhead and the plane of the rear compartment bulkhead or the plane of the rear-seat back support.

2.15. "Pressure relief device (PRD) (for hydrogen storage systems)" means a device that, when activated under specified performance conditions, is used to release hydrogen from a pressurised system and thereby prevent failure of the system.

2.16. "Rated cargo and luggage mass" means the cargo and luggage carrying capacity of the vehicle, which is the mass obtained by subtracting the unladen vehicle mass and the rated occupant mass from the gross vehicle mass.

2.17. "Rated occupant mass" is the mass obtained by multiplying the total number of designated seating positions in the vehicle by 68 kg.

2.18. "R-point" means a design reference point, which: (a) Has coordinates determined in relation to the designed vehicle structure; and (b) Shall be established, where relevant for the purpose of this Regulation, in accordance with Annex 1 of the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3) (3).

2.19. "Secondary latched position" refers to the coupling condition of the latch that retains the door in a partially closed position.

2.20. "Shut-off valve (for hydrogen-fuelled vehicles)" means a valve between the storage container and the vehicle fuel system that can be automatically activated; which defaults to the ‘closed" position when not connected to a power source.

2.21. "Striker" is a device with which the latch engages to maintain the door in the fully latched or secondary latched position.

2.22. "Trunk lid" is a movable body panel that provides access from outside the vehicle to a space wholly partitioned from the passenger compartment by a permanently attached partition or fixed or fold-down seat back (in the position of occupant use).

2.23. "Type of protective system" means a category of protective devices which do not differ in such essential design respects as their: (a) Technology; (b) Geometry; (c) Energy-absorption capacity; and (d) Constituent materials.

2.24. "Unladen vehicle mass" means the nominal mass of a complete vehicle with bodywork and all factory fitted equipment, electrical and auxiliary equipment for normal operation of the vehicle, including liquids, tools, fire extinguisher, standard spare parts, chocks and spare wheel, if fitted. The fuel tank is filled to 90 per cent of manufacturer rated capacity and the other liquid containing systems (except those for used water) to 100 per cent of the capacity specified by the manufacturer.

2.25. "Vehicle fuel system (for hydrogen-fuelled vehicles)" means an assembly of components used to store or supply hydrogen fuel to a fuel cell (FC) or internal combustion engine (ICE).

2.26. "Vehicle type" means a category of vehicles, the design characteristics of which do not differ in such essential respects as: (a) The type of protective system(s); (b) The type of front seat(s); (c) The vehicle width; (d) The wheelbase and overall length of the vehicle; (e) The structure, dimensions, lines and materials of the side walls of the passenger compartment, including any optional arrangements or interior fittings within or about the side walls of the passenger compartment; (f) The type of door latches and hinges; (g) The type of fuel system(s); (h) The unladen vehicle mass and the rated cargo and luggage mass; (i) The sitting of the engine (front, rear or centre); in so far as they may be considered to have a negative effect on the results of a vehicle-to-pole side impact test conducted in accordance with Annex 3 of this Regulation.

2.27. "Vehicle width" means the distance between two planes parallel to the longitudinal median plane (of the vehicle) and touching the vehicle on either side of the said plane but excluding the rear-view mirrors, side marker lamps, tyre pressure indicators, direction indicator lamps, position lamps, flexible mud-guards and the deflected part of the tyre side-walls immediately above the point of contact with the ground.

3. APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL

3.1. The application for approval of a vehicle type with regard to its pole side impact performance shall be submitted by the vehicle manufacturer or their duly accredited representative.

3.2. It shall be accompanied by the undermentioned documents in triplicate and the following particulars:

3.2.1. A detailed description of the vehicle type with respect to its structure, dimensions, lines and constituent materials;

3.2.2. Photographs and/or diagrams and drawings of the vehicle showing the vehicle type in front, side and rear elevation and design details of the lateral part of the structure;

3.2.3. Unladen vehicle mass, rated cargo and luggage mass, and gross vehicle mass specifications for the vehicle type;

3.2.4. The lines and inside dimensions of the passenger compartment; and

3.2.5. A description of the relevant side interior fittings and protective systems installed in the vehicle.

3.3. The applicant for approval shall be entitled to present any data and results of tests carried out which make it possible to establish that compliance with the requirements can be achieved on prototype vehicles with a sufficient degree of accuracy.

3.4. A vehicle which is representative of the vehicle type to be approved shall be submitted to the Technical Service responsible for conducting the approval test(s).

3.4.1. A vehicle not comprising all the components proper to the vehicle type may be accepted for tests provided that it can be shown that the absence of the components omitted has no detrimental effect on the performance prescribed in the requirements of this Regulation.

3.4.2. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant for approval to show that the application of paragraph 3.4.1 is in compliance with the requirements of this Regulation.

4. APPROVAL

4.1. If the vehicle type submitted for approval pursuant to this Regulation meets the requirements of paragraph 5 below, approval of that vehicle type shall be granted.

4.2. In case of doubt, account shall be taken, when verifying the conformity of the vehicle to the requirements of this Regulation, of any data or test results provided by the manufacturer which can be taken into consideration in validating the approval test carried out by the Technical Service.

4.3. An approval number shall be assigned to each vehicle type approved. Its first two digits (at present 01 corresponding to the 01 series of amendments) shall indicate the series of amendments incorporating the most recent major technical amendments made to the Regulation at the time of issue of the approval. The same Contracting Party may not assign the same approval number to another vehicle type.

4.4. Notice of approval or of extension or of refusal or withdrawal of approval pursuant to this Regulation shall be communicated to the Contracting Parties to the Agreement applying this Regulation by means of a form conforming to the model in Annex 1 of this Regulation and photographs and/or diagrams and drawings supplied by the applicant for approval, in a format not exceeding A4 (210 × 297) mm or folded to that format and on an appropriate scale.

4.5. There shall be affixed to every vehicle conforming to a vehicle type approved under this Regulation, conspicuously and in a readily accessible place specified on the approval form, an international approval mark consisting of:

4.5.1. A circle surrounding the letter "E" followed by the distinguishing number of the country which has granted approval ( 4 )

4.5.2. The number of this Regulation, followed by the letter "R", a dash and the approval number, to the right of the circle prescribed in paragraph 4.5.1.

4.6. If the vehicle conforms to a vehicle type approved, under one or more other Regulations annexed to the Agreement, in the country which has granted approval under this Regulation, the symbol prescribed in paragraph 4.5.1 need not be repeated; in this case the Regulation and approval numbers and the additional symbols of all the Regulations under which approval has been granted in the country which has granted approval under this Regulation shall be placed in vertical columns to the right of the symbol prescribed in paragraph 4.5.1.

4.7. The approval mark shall be clearly legible and shall be indelible.

4.8. The approval mark shall be placed close to or on the vehicle data plate affixed by the manufacturer.

4.9. Annex 2 to this Regulation gives examples of approval marks.

5. REQUIREMENTS

5.1. th percentile adult male dummy. A vehicle, representative of the vehicle type to be approved, shall be tested in accordance with Annex 3, using a WorldSID 50percentile adult male dummy. ( 5 )

5.1.1. With the exception of vehicle types designed as described in paragraph 5.1.2 below, the approval test shall be conducted such that the vehicle impacts the pole on the driver’s side.

5.1.2. In the case of vehicle types where the side structures, front-row seats or the type of protective systems on each side of the vehicle are sufficiently different for the Approval Authority to consider they could appreciably affect performance in a test conducted in accordance with Annex 3, either of the alternatives in paragraph 5.1.2.1 or 5.1.2.2 may be used by the Approval Authority.

5.1.2.1. The Approval Authority will require the approval test to be conducted such that the vehicle impacts the pole on the driver’s side where:

5.1.2.1.1. This is considered the least favourable side; or

5.1.2.1.2. The manufacturer provides additional information (e.g. manufacturer’s in-house test data) sufficient to satisfy the Approval Authority that the design differences on each side of the vehicle do not appreciably affect performance in a test conducted in accordance with Annex 3.

5.1.2.2. The Approval Authority will require the approval test to be conducted such that the vehicle impacts the pole on the side opposite the driver’s side, where this is considered the least favourable side.

5.2. The results of an approval test conducted in accordance with paragraph 5.1 shall be considered satisfactory, if the requirements of paragraphs 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5 are met.

5.3. WorldSID 50 th percentile adult male dummy performance requirements

5.3.1. The performance criteria measured by a WorldSID 50 th percentile adult male dummy in the front-row outboard seating position on the impact side of a vehicle tested in accordance with Annex 3, shall meet the requirements of paragraphs 5.3.2 to 5.3.6.

5.3.2. Head Injury Criteria

5.3.2.1. The Head Injury Criterion (HIC) 36 shall not exceed 1 000 when calculated in accordance with paragraph 1 of Annex 10.

5.3.3. Shoulder performance criteria

5.3.3.1. The peak lateral shoulder force shall not exceed 3,0 kN when calculated in accordance with paragraph 2.1 of Annex 10.

5.3.4. Thorax performance criteria

5.3.4.1. The maximum thorax rib deflection shall not exceed 55 mm when calculated in accordance with paragraph 3.1 of Annex 10.

5.3.5. Abdominal performance criteria

5.3.5.1. The maximum abdominal rib deflection shall not exceed 65 mm when calculated in accordance with paragraph 4.1 of Annex 10.

5.3.5.2. The resultant lower spine acceleration shall not exceed 75 g (1 g = the acceleration due to gravity = 9,81 m/s 2 ), except for intervals whose cumulative duration is not more than 3ms, when calculated in accordance with paragraph 4.2 of Annex 10.

5.3.6. Pelvis performance criteria

5.3.6.1. The peak pubic symphysis force shall not exceed 3,36 kN when calculated in accordance with paragraph 5.1 of Annex 10.

5.4. Door latch and hinge system integrity requirements

5.4.1. Any side door which impacts the pole shall not separate totally from the vehicle.

5.4.2. Any door (including a back door, but excluding a trunk lid), which does not impact the pole and is not wholly partitioned from the passenger compartment by a permanently attached partition or fixed or fold-down seat back (in the position of occupant use), shall meet the following requirements:

5.4.2.1. The door shall remain latched. This requirement is deemed to be fulfilled: (a) if it is clearly visible, that the door lock is latched; or (b) if the door does not open under a static tractive force of at least 400 N in the y-direction applied to the door, according to the Figure below, as close as possible to the window sill and to the edge of the door opposite to the hinged side, except to the door handle itself.

5.4.2.2. The latch shall not separate from the striker;

5.4.2.3. The hinge components shall not separate from each other or from their attachment to the vehicle; and

5.4.2.4. Neither the latch nor the hinge systems of the door shall pull out of their anchorages.

5.5. Fuel system integrity requirements

5.5.1. In the case of a vehicle propelled by fuel with a boiling point above 0 °C, fuel ballast leakage from the fuel system(s) ( 6 ) prepared in accordance with paragraph 5.1 of Annex 3 shall not exceed:

5.5.1.1. A total of 142 grams during the 5 minute period immediately following first vehicle contact with the pole; and

5.5.1.2. A total of 28 grams during each subsequent 1 minute period from 5 minutes up until 30 minutes after first vehicle contact with the pole.

5.5.2. In the case of a compressed hydrogen-fuelled vehicle:

5.5.2.1. The hydrogen leakage rate (V H2 ) determined in accordance with either, paragraph 4 of Annex 6 for hydrogen, or paragraph 5 of Annex 6 for helium, shall not exceed an average of 118 NL per minute for the time interval, Δt minutes, after the crash;

5.5.2.2. The gas (hydrogen or helium as applicable) concentration by volume in air values determined for the passenger and luggage compartments in accordance with paragraph 6 of Annex 6, shall not exceed 4,0 per cent for hydrogen or 3,0 per cent for helium,,at any time throughout the 60 minute post-crash measurement period ( 7 ) ; and

5.5.2.3. The container(s) (for hydrogen storage) shall remain attached to the vehicle at a minimum of one attachment point.

6. MODIFICATION OF THE VEHICLE TYPE AND EXTENSION OF APPROVAL

6.1. Every modification, affecting the design characteristics of the vehicle type identified in paragraph 2.26 (a) to (i) above, shall be brought to the attention of the Approval Authority which approved the vehicle type. The Approval Authority may then either:

6.1.1. Consider that the modifications made will not have an appreciable adverse effect on the vehicle-to-pole side impact performance and grant an extension of the approval; or

6.1.2. Consider that the modifications made could adversely affect the vehicle-to-pole side impact performance and require further tests or additional checks before granting an extension of the approval.

6.2. Provided there is otherwise no conflict with the provisions of paragraph 6.1 above, the approval shall be extended to cover all the other variants of the vehicle type for which the sum of the unladen vehicle mass and the rated cargo and luggage mass is not more than 8 per cent greater than that of the vehicle used in the approval test.

6.3. A notice of extension or refusal of approval, specifying the alteration(s), shall be communicated by the Approval Authority to the other Contracting Parties to the Agreement which apply this Regulation, using the procedure specified in paragraph 4.4 above.

6.4. The Approval Authority shall assign a serial number to each extension, to be known as the extension number.

7. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION

The conformity of production procedures shall comply with those set out in Appendix 2 of the Agreement (E/ECE/324-E/ECE/TRANS/505/Rev.2), with the following requirements.

7.1. Every vehicle approved under this Regulation shall be so manufactured as to conform to the type approved by meeting the requirements set out in paragraph 5 above.

7.2. The holder of the approval shall ensure that for each type of vehicle at least the tests concerning the taking of measurements are carried out.

7.3. The authority which has granted type approval may at any time verify the conformity control methods applied in each production facility. The normal frequency of these verifications shall be once every two years.

8. PENALTIES FOR NON-CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION

8.1. The approval granted in respect of a vehicle type, pursuant to this Regulation, may be withdrawn if the requirement laid down in paragraph 7.1 above is not complied with, or if the vehicle or vehicles selected have failed to pass the checks prescribed in paragraph 7.2 above.

8.2. If a Contracting Party to the Agreement applying this Regulation withdraws an approval it has previously granted, it shall forthwith so notify the other Contracting Parties applying this Regulation by means of a communication form conforming to the model in Annex 1 to this Regulation.

9. PRODUCTION DEFINITIVELY DISCONTINUED

9.1. If the holder of the approval completely ceases to manufacture a type of vehicle approved in accordance with this Regulation, they shall so inform the authority which granted the approval, which in turn shall forthwith notify the other Contracting Parties to the Agreement applying this Regulation by means of a communication form conforming to the model set out in Annex 1 to this Regulation.

10. NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF TECHNICAL SERVICES RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING APPROVAL TESTS, AND OF TYPE APPROVAL AUTHORITIES

10.1. The Contracting Parties to the Agreement applying this Regulation shall communicate to the United Nations secretariat the names and addresses of the Technical Services responsible for conducting approval tests, and of the Type Approval Authority which grant approval and to which forms certifying approval or extension, or refusal or withdrawal of approval, issued in other countries, are to be sent.

11. TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

11.1. As from the official date of entry into force of the 01 series of amendments to this Regulation, no Contracting Party applying this Regulation shall refuse to grant or refuse to accept type approvals to this Regulation as amended by the 01 series of amendments.

11.2. Even after the date of entry into force of the 01 series of amendments, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation may continue granting type approvals and shall not refuse to grant extensions of type approvals to this Regulation in its original form.

11.3. Until 1 September 2016, no Contracting Party applying this Regulation shall refuse national or regional type approval of a vehicle type approved to this Regulation in its original form.

11.4. As from 1 September 2016, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation shall not be obliged to accept, for the purpose of national or regional type approval, vehicles having a vehicle width of 1,50 m or less, which are not type approved to this Regulation as amended by the 01 series of amendments.

11.5. Even after 1 September 2016, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation shall continue to accept approvals of vehicle types to this Regulation in its original form, which are not affected by the 01 series of amendments.

(1) In accordance with the general guidelines on the scope of UN Regulations (see document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1044/Rev.1), Regulation No 135 type approvals may only be granted for vehicles within the scope of this Regulation and shall be accepted by all the Contracting Parties applying this Regulation. However, decisions regarding the vehicle categories required on a regional/national basis to meet the requirements of this Regulation shall be dealt with at the regional/national level. A Contracting Party may therefore restrict application of the requirements in its national legislation if it decides that such restriction is appropriate.

(2) As defined in the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3.), document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.6, para. 2 – www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29wgs/wp29gen/wp29resolutions.html

(3) Document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.6, Annex 1 – www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29wgs/wp29gen/wp29resolutions.html

(4) The distinguishing numbers of the Contracting Parties to the 1958 Agreement are reproduced in Annex 3 to the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3), document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev. 6.

(5) The technical specifications, including detailed drawings and procedures for assembly/disassembly of the WorldSID 50th percentile adult male dummy are specified in Annex 3 of this Regulation.

(6) To ensure that liquid leakage from the fuel system can be easily separated and identified, liquids from other vehicle systems may be replaced by the equivalent ballast mass (as per paragraph 5.3 of Annex 3).

(7) This requirement is satisfied if it is confirmed that the shut-off valve of each hydrogen storage system has closed within 5 seconds of first vehicle contact with the pole and there is no leakage from the hydrogen storage system(s).