ANNEX 3

Test procedure

The purpose of this test is to verify whether the vehicle satisfies the requirements set forth in paragraph 5.2 of the Regulation.

1. Installation and preparation of the vehicle

1.1. Testing ground The test area shall be large enough to accommodate the run-up track, barrier and technical installations necessary for the test. The last part of the track, for at least 5 m before the barrier, shall be horizontal, flat and smooth.

1.2. Barrier The barrier shall consist of a block of reinforced concrete not less than 3 m wide in front and not less than 1,5 m high. The barrier shall be of such thickness that it weighs at least 70 metric tons. The front face shall be flat, vertical and perpendicular to the axis of the run-up track. It shall be covered with plywood boards 20 ± 2 mm thick, in good condition. A structure on a steel plate at least 25 mm thick may be placed between the plywood board and the barrier. A barrier with different characteristics may likewise be used, provided that the area of the impact surface is greater than the frontal crash area of the vehicle being tested and provided that it gives equivalent results.

1.3. Orientation of the barrier

1.3.1. Alignment of the vehicle to the barrier. It shall reach the obstacle on a course perpendicular to the collision wall; the maximum lateral misalignment tolerated between the vertical median line of the front of the vehicle and the vertical median line of the collision wall is ± 30 cm.

1.4. State of vehicle

1.4.1. General specification The test vehicle shall be representative of the series production, shall include all the equipment normally fitted and shall be in normal running order. Some components may be replaced by equivalent masses where this substitution clearly has no noticeable effect on the results measured under paragraph 6 below. It shall be allowed by agreement between manufacturer and Technical Service to modify the fuel system so that an appropriate amount of fuel can be used to run the engine or the electrical energy conversion system.

1.4.2. Mass of vehicle

1.4.2.1. For the test, the mass of the vehicle submitted shall be the unladen kerb mass;

1.4.2.2. The fuel tank shall be filled with water to mass equal to 90 per cent of the mass of a full load of fuel as specified by the manufacturer with a tolerance of ±1 per cent; This requirement does not apply to hydrogen fuel tanks.

1.4.2.3. All the other systems (brake, cooling ...) may be empty in this case, the mass of the liquids shall be compensated;

1.4.2.4. If the mass of the measuring apparatus on board the vehicle exceeds the 25 kg allowed; it may be compensated by reductions which have no noticeable effect on the results measured under paragraph 6 below.

1.4.2.5. The mass of the measuring apparatus shall not change each axle reference load by more than 5 per cent, each variation not exceeding 20 kg.

1.4.2.6. The mass of the vehicle resulting from the provisions of paragraph 1.4.2.1 above shall be indicated in the report.

1.4.3. Passenger compartment adjustments

1.4.3.1. Position of steering wheel The steering wheel, if adjustable, shall be placed in the normal position indicated by the manufacturer or, in the absence of any particular recommendation by the manufacturer, midway between the limits of its range(s) of adjustment. At the end of the propelled travel, the steering wheel shall be left free, with its spokes in the position which according to the manufacturer corresponds to straight-ahead travel of the vehicle.

1.4.3.2. Glazing The movable glazing of the vehicle shall be in the closed position. For test measurement purposes and in agreement with the manufacturer, it may be lowered, provided that the position of the operating handle corresponds to the closed position.

1.4.3.3. Gear-change lever position The gear-change lever shall be in the neutral position. If the vehicle is propelled by its own engine, then the gear-change lever position shall be defined by the manufacturer.

1.4.3.4. Pedals The pedals shall be in their normal position of rest. If adjustable, they shall be set in their mid-position unless another position is specified by the manufacturer.

1.4.3.5. Doors The doors shall be closed but not locked.

1.4.3.5.1. In the case of vehicles equipped with an automatically activated door locking system, the system shall be activated at the start of propulsion of the vehicle in order to lock the doors automatically before the moment of impact. At the choice of the manufacturer, the doors shall be locked manually before the start of propulsion of the vehicle.

1.4.3.5.2. In the case of vehicles equipped with an automatically activated door locking system that is installed optionally and/or which can be de-activated by the driver, one of the following two procedures shall be used at the choice of the manufacturer:

1.4.3.5.2.1. The system shall be activated at the start of propulsion of the vehicle in order to lock the doors automatically before the moment of impact. At the choice of the manufacturer, the doors shall be locked manually before the start of propulsion of the vehicle.

1.4.3.5.2.2. The side doors on the driver side shall be unlocked and the system overridden for these doors; for the side doors on the passenger side, the system may be activated in order to lock these doors automatically before the moment of impact. At the choice of the manufacturer, these doors shall be locked manually before the start of propulsion of the vehicle. This test is deemed to be fulfilled, if the unlocked and locked doors are reversed.

1.4.3.6. Opening roof If an opening or removable roof is fitted, it shall be in place and in the closed position. For test measurement purposes and in agreement with the manufacturer, it may be open.

1.4.3.7. Sun-visor The sun-visors shall be in the stowed position.

1.4.3.8. Rear-view mirror The interior rear-view mirror shall be in the normal position of use.

1.4.3.9. Arm-rests Arm-rests at the front and rear, if movable, shall be in the lowered position, unless this is prevented by the position of the dummies in the vehicles.

1.4.3.10. Head restraints Head restraints adjustable for height shall be in their appropriate position as defined by the manufacturer. In the absence of any particular recommendation from the manufacturer, then the head restraints shall be in their uppermost position for the fiftieth percentile male dummy and in the lowermost position for the fifth percentile female dummy.

1.4.3.11. Seats

1.4.3.11.1. Position of front driver seat Seats adjustable longitudinally shall be placed so that their ‘H’ point, determined in accordance with the procedure set out in Annex 6 is in the middle position of travel or in the nearest locking position thereto, and at the height position defined by the manufacturer (if independently adjustable for height). In the case of a bench seat, the reference shall be to the ‘H’ point of the driver's place.

1.4.3.11.2. Position of front passenger seat Seats adjustable longitudinally shall be placed so that their ‘H’ point, determined in accordance with the procedure set out in Annex 6, is: (a) In the position given by the manufacturer, which shall be forward of the middle position of travel; or (b) In the absence of any particular recommendation from the manufacturer, as near as possible to a position which is midway between the forward most position of the seat and the centre position of its travel. Any support system shall be adjusted as defined by the manufacturer. In the absence of any particular recommendation from the manufacturer, then any support system (e.g. seat cushion length and tilt adjustment) shall be in its retracted/ lowermost position.

1.4.3.11.3. Position of the front seat-backs If adjustable, the seat-backs shall be adjusted so that the resulting inclination of the torso of the dummy is as close as possible to that recommended by the manufacturer for normal use or, in the absence of any particular recommendation by the manufacturer, to 25° towards the rear from the vertical. For the fifth percentile female dummy, the seat back may be adjusted to a different angle, if this is needed to respect the requirements of Annex 5, paragraph 3.1.

1.4.3.11.4. Rear seats If adjustable, the rear seats or rear bench seats shall be placed in the rearmost position.

1.4.4. Electric power train adjustment

1.4.4.1. Procedures for SOC adjustment.

1.4.4.1.1. The adjustment of SOC shall be conducted at an ambient temperature of 20 ± 10 °C.

1.4.4.1.2. The SOC shall be adjusted according to one of the following procedures as applicable. Where different charging procedures are possible, the REESS shall be charged using the procedure which yields the highest SOC: (a) For a vehicle with a REESS designed to be externally charged, the REESS shall be charged to the highest SOC in accordance with the procedure specified by the manufacturer for normal operation until the charging process is normally terminated. (b) For a vehicle with a REESS designed to be charged only by an energy source on the vehicle, the REESS shall be charged to the highest SOC which is achievable with normal operation of the vehicle. The manufacturer shall advise on the vehicle operation mode to achieve this SOC.

1.4.4.1.3. When the vehicle is tested, the SOC shall be no less than 95 per cent of the SOC according to paragraphs 1.4.4.1.1 and 1.4.4.1.2 for REESS designed to be externally charged and shall be no less than 90 per cent of SOC according to paragraphs 1.4.4.1.1 and 1.4.4.1.2 for REESS designed to be charged only by an energy source on the vehicle. The SOC will be confirmed by a method provided by the manufacturer.

1.4.4.2. The electric power train shall be energized with or without the operation of the original electrical energy sources (e.g. engine-generator, REESS or electric energy conversion system), however:

1.4.4.2.1. By the agreement between Technical Service and manufacturer it shall be permissible to perform the test with all or parts of the electric power train not being energized insofar as there is no negative influence on the test result. For parts of the electric power train not energized, the protection against electrical shock shall be proved by either physical protection or isolation resistance and appropriate additional evidence.

1.4.4.2.2. In the case where an automatic disconnect is provided, at the request of the manufacturer it shall be permissible to perform the test with the automatic disconnect being triggered. In this case it shall be demonstrated that the automatic disconnect would have operated during the impact test. This includes the automatic activation signal as well as the galvanic separation considering the conditions as seen during the impact.

2. Dummies

2.1. Front seats

2.1.1. A dummy corresponding to the specifications for Hybrid III fiftieth percentile male dummy ( 1 ) meeting the specifications for its adjustment shall be installed in the driver seat in accordance with the conditions set out in Annex 5. A dummy corresponding to the specifications for Hybrid III fifth percentile female dummy1 meeting the specifications for its adjustment shall be installed in the passenger seat in accordance with the conditions set out in Annex 5.

2.1.2. The car will be tested with restraint systems, as provided by the manufacturer.

3. Propulsion and course of vehicle

3.1. The vehicle shall be propelled by its own engine or by any other propelling device;

3.2. At the moment of impact the vehicle shall no longer be subject to the action of any additional steering or propelling device.

3.3. The course of the vehicle shall be such that it satisfies the requirements of paragraphs 1.2 and 1.3.1.

4. Test speed Vehicle speed at the moment of impact shall be 50 -0/ +1 km/h. However, if the test was performed at a higher impact speed and the vehicle met the requirements, the test shall be considered satisfactory.

5. Measurements to be made on dummies in front seats

5.1. All the measurements necessary for the verification of the performance criteria shall be made with measurement systems corresponding to the specifications of Annex 8.

5.2. The different parameters shall be recorded through independent data channels of the following CFC (Channel Frequency Class):

5.2.1. Measurements in the head of the dummy The acceleration (a) referring to the centre of gravity is calculated from the triaxial components of the acceleration measured with a CFC of 1 000.

5.2.2. Measurements in the neck of the dummy

5.2.2.1. The axial tensile force and the fore/aft shear force at the neck/head interface are measured with a CFC of 1 000.

5.2.2.2. The bending moment about a lateral axis at the neck/head interface are measured with a CFC of 600.

5.2.3. Measurements in the thorax of the dummy The chest deflection between the sternum and the spine is measured with a CFC of 180.

5.2.4. Measurements in the femur of the dummy

5.2.4.1. The axial compressive force is measured with a CFC of 600.

6. Measurements to be made on the vehicle

6.1. To enable the simplified test described in Annex 7 to be carried out, the deceleration time history of the structure shall be determined on the basis of the value of the longitudinal accelerometers at the base of one of the ‘B’ pillars of the vehicle with a CFC of 180 by means of data channels corresponding to the requirements set out in Annex 8;

6.2. The speed time history which will be used in the test procedure described in Annex 7 shall be obtained from the longitudinal accelerometer at the ‘B’ pillar.

7. Equivalent procedures

7.1. Alternative procedures may be permitted at the discretion of the Type Approval Authority provided equivalence can be demonstrated. A report shall be attached to the approval documentation describing the method used and the results obtained or the reason for not carrying out the test.

7.2. Responsibility for demonstrating the equivalence of the alternative method shall rest with the manufacturer or his agent wishing to use such a method.

(1) The Working Party on Passive Safety (GRSP) of UNECE intends to prepare an addendum for the Mutual Resolution M.R.1 on frontal impact dummies. Until the addendum is available the technical specifications and detailed drawings of Hybrid III with the principal dimensions of a fiftieth percentile male dummy and of a fifth percentile female dummy and the specifications for their adjustment for this test are deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and may be consulted on request at the secretariat to the Economic Commission for Europe, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.