Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Council Directive 78/548/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to heating systems for the passenger compartment of motor vehicles
Date: 1999-08-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: approximation of laws, common transport policy, heating, motor vehicle, road transport

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 13.08.1999
COM(1999) 370 final

98/0277 (COD)

Amended proposal for a

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE

amending Council Directive 78/548/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to heating systems for the passenger compartment of
motor vehicles

(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2)
of the EC-Treaty)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

In the light of the European Parliaments opinion (1) of the 13 April 1999 on the
proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on heating systems for
motor vehicles (2) and in accordance with Article 250 of the EC Treaty,
the
Commission has decided to amend that proposal.

The objective of the initial proposal is to extend the scope of Council Directive
78/548/EEC to include not only M1 vehicles (passenger cars) but all vehicle
categories M, N and O (vehicles for the carriage of passengers or goods, and trailers).
Improved provisions for conventional heating systems are proposed. Additionally,
new safety and environmental prescriptions for combustion heaters, which function
independently of the propulsion engine, are introduced, which assure that such
devices comply with the highest standards consistent with current
technology.
Thirdly, the proposal aligns the administrative provisions of this Directive to those of
the framework Directive establishing the type-approval procedure for motor vehicles
and trailers (Council Directive 70/156/EEC).

The Commission has accepted 6 amendments, which constitute mainly clarifications
to the initial text. Additionally, the Commission has accepted 3 amendments relating
to specific safety issues:

– An amendment saying that not only the driver but also the passengers should not be
able to come into contact with parts of the vehicle or heated air liable to cause burns.

– An amendment concerning gaseous fuel combustion heaters equipped with an
automatic flame supervision device and introducing a reduced ignition and
switching time for the supply of fuel in case of emergency.

– An amendment, stating that, in the case a notice at the fuelling pint is not suitable,
such notice should fixed at the drivers door area, warning users of combustion
heaters that the heater must be shut down during refuelling.

The Commission has rejected 2 amendments:

– Requesting the Commission to draw up proposal for tests on the efficiency of
combustion heaters by 1 October 2001. The Commission has the opinion that in
this issue, market forces will ensure a high level of efficiency and that there is no
need for regulatory action. Also, the compliance of combustion heaters with the
requirements of the Directive will ensure a high level of safety and environmental
protection, consistent with current technology. If, in the future, particular problems
or innovations would change this situation, the Commission will be informed by
the national approval authorities in the established working groups and will act
subsequently.

– Introducing alternative prescriptions for the conditions in which a combustion
heater may be positioned in the passenger compartment of M2 and M3 vehicles.

1 PE 278.537, p. 43
2 COM (1998) 526 final

2

The proposed wording is representing an analogous or maybe even lower safety
level
to the provisions which are proposed in the Commission proposal. In
particular, it is not sure that the proposed wording will have the same level of
safety with regards to risks of fire. Furthermore, the amendment is more design
restrictive without any need.

3

Amended proposal for a

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE

amending Council Directive 78/548/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to heating systems for the passenger compartment of
motor vehicles

(Text with EEA relevance)

Annex I, Appendix 1, item 9.10.5.3 (new)

9.10.5.3 Maximum current consumption in kW

Annex II, item 2.10

Initial text

2.10

"Gaseous fuel" includes fuels that are gaseous at normal temperature and
pressure, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas
(CNG).

Amended text

2.10

"Gaseous fuel" includes fuels that are gaseous at normal temperature and
pressure (273.2 K and 101.33 kPa), such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
and compressed natural gas (CNG).

Annex II, item 2.11

Initial text

2.11

"Overheating" means the condition that exists when the air inlet to the
combustion heater is completely blocked.

Amended text

2.11

"Overheating" means the condition that exists when the heating air inlet to
the combustion heater is completely blocked.

Annex II, item 3.2, second indent

Initial text

-

the driver of the vehicle, during road use, will not be able to come into
contact with parts of the vehicle or heated air liable to cause burns, and

Amended text

-

the driver and passengers, during road use, will not be able to come into
contact with parts of the vehicle or heated air liable to cause burns, and

4

Annex IV, item 1.1

Initial text

1.1

Operate the heater for one hour at maximum output in conditions of still air
(wind speed £
in the case of a
combustion heater, the propulsion engine switched off. If, however, having
selected the maximum output the heater switches off automatically in less
than an hour, the measurements may be made earlier.

2 m/s), with all windows closed and,

Amended text

1.1

Operate the heater for one hour at maximum output in conditions of still air
(wind speed £
in the case of a
combustion heater, the propulsion engine switched off. If, however, having
selected the maximum output the heater switches off automatically in less
than an hour, the measurements may be made before switch off.

2 m/s), with all windows closed and,

Annex IV, item 2.0

Initial text

2.0

In the case of combustion heaters as components the following test shall be
carried out:

Amended text

2.0

In the case of combustion heaters as components the following test shall be
carried out after the tests of Annex V, Annex VI and item 1.3 of Annex VII:

Annex VI, item 1

Initial text

1.

Operate heater for one hour at maximum output in conditions of still air
(wind speed £ 2 m/s) and an ambient temperature 20 ± 10 ºC. If, however,
having selected the maximum output the heater switches off automatically in
less than an hour, the measurements may be made earlier.

Amended text

1.

Operate heater for one hour at maximum output in conditions of still air
(wind speed £ 2 m/s) and an ambient temperature 20 ± 10 ºC. If, however,
having selected the maximum output the heater switches off automatically in
less than an hour, the measurements may be made before switch off.

Annex VII, item 1.2

Initial text

1.2

Safety equipment shall be installed (either as part of the combustion heater or
as part of the vehicle) to control the operation of every combustion heater in
an emergency. It shall be designed such that, if no flame is obtained at start-
up or if the flame goes out during operation, the ignition and switching times

5

for the supply of fuel are not exceeded by 4 minutes in the case of liquid fuel
heaters or 1 minute in the case of gaseous fuel heaters.

Amended text

1.2

Safety equipment shall be installed (either as part of the combustion heater or
as part of the vehicle) to control the operation of every combustion heater in
an emergency. It shall be designed such that, if no flame is obtained at start-
up or if the flame goes out during operation, the ignition and switching times
for the supply of fuel are not exceeded by 4 minutes in the case of liquid fuel
heaters or
in the case of gaseous fuel heaters 1 minute in case of
thermoelectric flame supervision device respectively 10 seconds in case of
automatic flame supervision device.

Annex VII, item 2.3.3

Initial text

2.3.3

A notice, indicating that the heater must be shut down before refuelling, shall
be affixed if possible to the fuelling point or a suitable instruction included in
the manufacturer's operating manual.

Amended text

2.3.3

A notice, indicating that the heater must be shut down before refuelling, shall
be affixed to the fuelling point or if not suitable to the design it shall be fixed
to the drivers door area where it is clearly visible when the door is open. Also
a suitable instruction shall be included in the manufacturer's operating
manual.

6