Technical requirements of Regulation No 23 of the United Nations' Economic Commission for Europe referred to in Article 3 and in Annex II, item 2.1 of Commission Directive 97/32/EC (1) adapting to technical progress Council Directive 77/539/EEC relating to reversing lamps for motor vehicles and their trailers

1. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Regulation,

1.1. 'reversing lamp` means the lamp of the vehicle designed to illuminate the road to the rear of the vehicle and to warn other road users that the vehicle is reversing or about to reverse;

1.2. The definitions given in Regulation No 48 and its series of amendments in force at the time of application for type approval shall apply to this Regulation;

1.3. reversing lamps of different 'types` are reversing lamps which differ in such essential respects as,

1.3.1. the trade name or mark;

1.3.2. the characteristics of the optical system;

1.3.3. the inclusion of components capable of altering the optical effects by reflection, refraction or absorption; and

1.3.4. the category of filament lamp.

5. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

5.1. Each sample shall conform to the specifications set forth in the paragraphs below.

5.2. Reversing lamps shall be so designed and constructed that in normal use, despite the vibration to which they may then be subjected, they continue to function satisfactorily and retain the characteristics prescribed by this Regulation.

6. INTENSITY OF LIGHT EMITTED

6.1. The intensity of the light emitted by each of the two samples shall be not less than the minima and not greater than the maxima specified below and shall be measured in relation to the axis of reference in the directions shown below (expressed in degrees of angle with the axis of reference).

6.2. The intensity along the axis of reference shall be not less than 80 candelas.

6.3. The intensity of the light emitted in all directions in which the light can be observed shall not exceed

300 candelas in directions in or above the horizontal plane; or

600 candelas in directions below the horizontal plane.

6.4. In every other direction of measurement shown in annex 3 to this Regulation the luminous intensity shall be not less than the minima specified in that annex.

However, in the case where the reversing lamp is intended to be installed on a vehicle exclusively in a pair of devices, the photometric intensity may be verified only up to an angle of 30° inwards where a photometric value of at least 25 cd shall be satisfied.

This condition shall be clearly explained in the application for approval and relating documents (see paragraph 2 of this Regulation).

Moreover, in the case where the type approval will be granted applying the condition above, a statement in paragraph 11 'Comments` of the communication form (see annex 1 to this Regulation), will inform that the device shall only be installed in a pair.

6.5. In the case of a single lamp containing more than one light source, the lamp shall comply with the minimum intensity required when any one light source has failed and when all light sources are illuminated the maximum intensities shall not be exceeded.

7. TEST PROCEDURE

7.1. All measurements shall be carried out with uncoloured standard filament lamps of the types prescribed for the device, adjusted to produce the normal luminous flux prescribed for those types of filament lamps.

7.1.1. All measurements on lamps equipped with non-replaceable light sources (filament lamps and other) shall be made at 6.75 V, 13.5 V or 28.0 V respectively.

In the case of light sources supplied by a special power supply, the above test voltages shall be applied to the input terminals of that power supply. The test laboratory may require from the manufacturer the special power supply needed to supply the light sources.

8. COLOUR OF LIGHT EMITTED

The colour of the light emitted shall be white. In case of doubt, the colour may be checked on the basis of the definition of the colour of white light given in annex 4 to this Regulation.

(1) OJ No L 171, 30. 6. 1997, p. 63.

ANNEX 3

Photometric measurements

1. MEASUREMENT METHODS

1.1. When photometric measurements are taken, stray reflections shall be avoided by appropriate masking.

1.2. In the event that the results of measurements are challenged, measurements shall be taken 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 angle subtended by the receiver from the reference centre of the light is between 10' and 1°;

1.2.3. the intensity requirement for a particular direction of observation shall be satisfied if the required intensity is obtained in a direction deviating by not more than one quarter of a degree from the direction of observation.

2. MEASURING POINTS EXPRESSED IN DEGREES OF ANGLE WITH THE AXIS OF REFERENCE AND VALUES OF THE MINIMUM INTENSITIES OF THE LIGHT EMITTED

TOP

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

2.1. The directions H = 0° and V = 0° correspond to the axis of reference. On the vehicle they are horizontal, parallel to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle and oriented in the required direction of visibility. They pass through the centre of reference. The values shown in the table give, for the various directions of measurement, the minimum intensities in cd.

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 between two of the directions of measurement referred to above is below 50 % of the lower minimum intensity of the two prescribed for these directions of measurement.

3. PHOTOMETRIC MEASUREMENT OF LAMPS EQUIPPED WITH SEVERAL LIGHT SOURCES

The photometric performance shall be checked:

3.1. For non-replaceable light sources (filament lamps and other): with the light sources present in the lamp, in accordance with paragraph 7.1.1. of this Regulation.

3.2. For replaceable filament lamps:

when equipped with mass production filament lamps at 6.75 V, 13.5 V or 28.0 V the luminous intensity values produced shall lie between the maximum limit given in this Regulation and the minimum limit of this Regulation increased according to the permissible deviation of the luminous flux permitted for the type of filament lamp chosen, as stated in Regulation No 37 for production filament lamps; alternatively a standard filament lamp may be used in turn, in each of the individual positions, operated at its reference flux, the individual measurements in each position being added together.

ANNEX 4

COLOUR OF WHITE LIGHT (Trichromatic coordinates)

>TABLE>

For checking these colorimetric characteristics, a source of light at a colour temperature of 2,854°K corresponding to illuminant A of the International Commission on Illumination (ICI) shall be used.

However, for lamps equipped with non-replaceable light sources (filament lamps and other), the colorimetric characteristics should be verified with the light sources present in the lamp, in accordance with paragraph 7.1.1. of this Regulation.