Commission Directive 2004/78/EC of 29 April 2004 amending Directive 2001/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to heating systems for motor vehicles and their trailers and Council Directive 70/156/EEC for the purposes of adapting to technical progress
Date: 2004-04-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: commercial vehicle, gas, heating, motor fuel, motor vehicle, technical standard

L 153/100 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.4.2004 

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2004/78/C 

of 29 April 2004 

amending Directive 2001/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council relating 
to heating systems for motor vehicles and their trailers and Council Directive 
70/156/EEC for the purposes of adapting to technical progress  

(Text with EEA relevance) 

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 

Having regard to Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of 
the  laws  of  the  Member  States  relating  to  the  type-approval  of  motor  vehicles  and  their 
trailers1 and in particular Article 13(2) thereof, 

Having regard to Directive 2001/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 
September  2001  relating  to  heating  systems  for  motor  vehicles  and  their  trailers2,  and  in 
particular Article 5 thereof,  

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Directive  2001/56/EC  is  one  of  the  separate  directives  under  the  EC  type-approval 
procedure which has been established by Directive 70/156/EEC. Directive 2001/56/EC 
lays  down  requirements  for  the  type  approval  of  vehicles  fitted  with  combustion 
heaters and for combustion heaters as components.  

Pursuant  to  Article  5  of  Directive  2001/56/EC  the  Commission  has  to  examine 
additional  safety  requirements  with  respect  to  liquefied  petroleum  gas  (LPG)  fuelled 
heating systems of motor vehicles. 

Until  now  Member  States  have  applied  individual  national  requirements  on  vehicles 
fitted  with  LPG  heating  systems.  In  order  to  provide  a  harmonised  approach  to  the 
technical  requirements  for  LPG  appliances  and  heating  systems,  two  European 
Standards which are now available should be applied within the type approval system 
for  motor  vehicles  and  their  trailers.  In  the  light  of  technical  progress  it  is  therefore 
considered necessary to introduce these two EN standards as well as main elements of 
UN/ECE Regulation No. 67 into Directive 2001/56/EC.  

(4) 

Directive  2001/56/EC  should  therefore  be  amended  accordingly,  in  particular,  in  the 
interest of clarity Annex VIII should be replaced. 

1 

2 

OJ  L  42,  23.2.1970,  p.  1.  Directive  as  last  amended  by  Regulation  (EC)  No  807/2003  /OJ  L  122, 
16.5.2003, p.36).  
OJ L 292, 9.11.2001, p. 21. Directive as amended by the 2003 Act of Accession. 

                                                 
(5) 

Exceptions  relating  to  heating  systems  for  special  purpose  vehicles,  in  particular  for 
motor  caravans  and  trailer  caravans  that  are  quite  often  fitted  with  LPG  heating 
systems,  are  no  longer  required  due  to  the  introduction  of  requirements  for  LPG 
heating systems. Therefore the harmonised safety provisions of Directive 2001/56/EC 
have to apply to all vehicles including special purpose vehicles as referred to in Annex 
XI of Directive 70/156/EEC. 

(6) 

Directive 70/156/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly. 

(7) 

The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the 
Committee  for  Adaptation  to  Technical  Progress  established  under  Article  13  of 
Directive 70/156/EEC, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 

Article 1 

Amendment to Directive 2001/56/EC 

Directive 2001/56/EC is amended as follows: 

(1) Annexes I and II are amended in accordance with part A of Annex I to this Directive; 

(2) Annex VIII is replaced by the text set out in part B of Annex I to this Directive. 

Article 2 

Amendment to Directive 70/156/EEC 

Directive 70/156/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Directive.  

Article 3 

Transitional provisions 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

With effect from 1 October 2004, in respect of a new type of vehicle fitted with an 
LPG  fuelled  heating  system  which  complies  with  the  requirements  laid  down  in 
Annexes I, II and IV to VIII of Directive 2001/56/EC, as amended by this Directive, 
Member States may not, on grounds relating to heating systems: 

(a) 

refuse to grant EC type-approval, or national type-approval, or 

(b)  prohibit registration, sale or entry into service. 

With  effect  from  1  October  2004,  in  respect  of  a  new  type  of  LPG  fuelled 
combustion heater as a component which complies with the requirements laid down 
in  Annexes  I,  II  and  IV  to  VIII  of  Directive  2001/56/EC,  as  amended  by  this 
Directive, Member States may not: 

(a) 

refuse to grant EC type-approval, or national type-approval, or 

(b)  prohibit sale or entry into service. 

With effect from 1 January 2006, in respect of a type of vehicle fitted with an LPG 
fuelled heating system, or a type of LPG fuelled combustion heater as a component, 
which does not comply with the requirements laid down in Annexes I, II and IV to 
VIII  of  Directive  2001/56/EC,  as  amended  by  this  Directive,  Member  States  shall 
refuse to grant EC type-approval and may refuse national type-approval.   

With  effect  from  1  January  2007,  in  respect  of  vehicles  fitted  with  LPG  fuelled 
heating systems which do not comply with the requirements laid down in Annexes I, 
II, and IV to VIII of Directive 2001/56/EC, as  amended by this Directive, Member 
States: 

(a) 

shall  consider  certificates  of  conformity  which  accompany  new  vehicles  in 
accordance with the provisions of Directive 70/156/EEC to be no longer valid 
for the purposes of Article 7 (1) of that Directive, and 

(b)  may refuse the registration, sale or entry into service of new vehicles 

on grounds relating to heating systems. 

5. 

With effect from 1 January 2007  

+the requirements of Annexes I, II and IV to VIII of Directive 2001/56/EC,  as  amended by 
this  Directive,  in  relation  to  LPG  fuelled  combustion  heaters  as  components  shall 
apply for the purposes of Article 7(2) of Directive 70/156/EEC. 

Article 4  

Transposition 

1. 

Member  States  shall  bring  into  force  the  laws,  regulations  and  administrative 
provisions  necessary  to  comply  with  this  Directive  by  30  September  2004  at  the 
latest.  They  shall  forthwith  communicate  to  the  Commission  the  text  of  those 
provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive. 

When  Member  States  adopt  those  provisions,  they  shall  contain  a  reference  to  this 
Directive  or  be  accompanied  by  such  a  reference  on  the  occasion  of  their  official 
publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. 

2. 

Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions 
of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive. 

Article 5 

Entry into force 

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Article 6 

Addressees 

This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 

Done at Brussels, 29 April 2004. 

For the Commission 
Erkki LIIKANEN 
Member of the Commission 

 
 
 
 
ANNEXES 

ANNEX I 

AMENDMENTS TO DIRECTIVE 2001/56/EC 

PART A 

1. 

ANNEX I IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: 

(a) 

In Appendix 1 new items 9.10.5.3. and 9.10.5.3.1. are inserted, to read: 

“9.10.5.3.  A  brief  description  of  the  vehicle  type  with  regard  to  the 
control: 
system 

automatic 

and 

the 

combustion  heating 
……………………………… 

9.10.5.3.1.  layout  drawing  of  the  combustion  heater,  the  air  inlet  system,  the 
exhaust system, the fuel tank, the fuel supply system (including the 
valves) and the electrical connections showing their positions in the 
vehicle.” 

Item 9.10.5.3. (former) is renumber as item 9.10.5.4.  

(b) 

In  the  Addendum  to  Appendix  2  new  items  1.2.1.  and  1.2.2.  are  inserted,  to 
read:  

“1.2.1.  Make and type: …………………………………………………. 

1.2.2. Component and approval number, if applicable: ………………” 

(c) 

In Appendix 3 item 1.2. is replaced by:  

“1.2.  Detailed  description,  layout  drawings  and  mounting  description  of  the 

combustion heater and all its components:"  

(d) 

In item 1.1.2 of Appendix 5 to Annex I “Directive 78/548/EEC” is replaced by 
“Directive 2001/56/EC”. 

2. 

ITEM 3.2.1 OF ANNEX II IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: 

(a) In the table in the row “Gaseous fuel heater” “See Notes 2 and 3” is replaced by 

“See Note 3”; 

(b) Note 2 is deleted. 

 
 
Annex VIII is replaced by the following: 

PART B 

“ANNEX VIII  

SAFETY REQUIRMENTS FOR LPG COMBUSTION HEATERS AND LPG HEATING 
SYSTEMS 

1. 

LPG HEATING SYSTEMS FOR ROAD USE 

1.1. 

If an LPG heating system in a motor vehicle can also be used when the vehicle is in 
motion,  the  LPG  combustion  heater  and  its  supply  system  shall  comply  with  the 
following requirements: 

1.1.1.  The  LPG  combustion  heater  shall  comply with  the  requirements  of  the  harmonised 
standard on specifications for dedicated LPG appliances – Room sealed LPG space 
heating equipment for installation in vehicles and boats (EN 624:2000) (*). 

1.1.2. 

In cases of a permanently installed LPG container all components of the system that 
are in contact with LPG in the liquid phase (all components from the filling unit to 
the  vaporiser/pressure  regulator)  and  the  associated  liquid  phase  installation  shall 
comply with the technical requirements of UN/ECE Regulation No. 67-01, Part I and 
II and the Annexes 3 to 10, 13 and 15 to 17(**). 

  
1.1.3 

1.1.4 

1.1.5 

The gaseous phase installation of the LPG heating system in a vehicle shall comply 
with  the  requirements  of  the  harmonised  standard  on  specifications  for  the 
Installation  of  LPG  systems  for  habitation  purposes  in  leisure  accommodation 
vehicles and in other road vehicles (EN 1949:2002) (***).  

The  LPG  supply  system  shall  be  so  designed  that  the  LPG  is  supplied  with  the 
required pressure and in the correct phase for the installed LPG combustion heater. It 
is permitted to withdraw LPG from the permanently installed LPG container in either 
gaseous or liquid phase.  

The  liquid  outlet  of  the  permanently  installed  LPG  container  to  supply  LPG  to  the 
heater  shall  be  provided  with  a  remotely  controlled  service  valve  with  excess  flow 
valve  as  required  in  paragraph  17.6.1.1  of  UN/ECE  Regulation  No.  67-01.  The 
remotely controlled service valve with excess flow valve shall be controlled such that 
it  is  automatically  closed  within  five  seconds  of  the  vehicle  engine  stopping, 
irrespective of the position of the ignition switch. If within these five seconds the on-
switch of the heater or LPG supply system is activated, the heating system may stay 
in operation. The heating can always be restarted. 

1.1.6 

If  the  LPG  is  supplied  in  the  gaseous  phase  from  the  permanently  installed  LPG 
container or separate portable LPG cylinder(s), appropriate provisions shall be taken 
to ensure that  

1.1.6.1  no  liquid  LPG  can  enter  the  pressure  regulator  or  LPG  combustion  heater.  A 

separator may be used and 

1.1.6.2  no uncontrolled release due to an accident can occur. Means shall be provided to stop 
the flow of LPG by installing a device directly after a cylinder or container mounted 
regulator  or  if  the  regulator  is  mounted  remote  from  the  cylinder  or  container,  a 
device  shall  be  installed  directly  before  the  hose  or  pipe  from  the  cylinder  or 
container and an additional device shall be installed after the regulator.  

1.1.7 

1.1.8 

If the LPG is supplied in liquid phase, the vaporiser and pressure-regulator unit shall 
be heated as appropriate by a suitable heat source. 

In  motor  vehicles  that  use  LPG  in  their  propulsion  system,  the  LPG  combustion 
heater  may  be  connected  to  the  same  permanently  installed  LPG  container  that 
supplies LPG to the engine, provided that the safety requirements of the propulsion 
system are met. If a separate LPG container is used for heating, this container shall 
be provided with its own filling unit. 

2. 

LPG HEATING SYSTEMS FOR STATIONARY USE ONLY 

2.1. 

The LPG-combustion heater and its supply system of an LPG heating system that is 
intended  to  be  used  only  when  the  vehicle  is  not  in  motion,  shall  comply  with  the 
following requirements: 

2.1.1.  Permanent  labels  shall  be  attached  on  the  compartment  where  the  portable  LPG 
cylinders  are  stored  and  in  close  proximity  to  the  control  device  for  the  heating 
system, giving instructions that the LPG heater shall not be in operation and that the 
valve of the portable LPG cylinder shall be closed when the vehicle is in motion.  

2.1.2.  The LPG combustion heater shall comply with the requirements of section 1.1.1.  

2.1.3.  The  gaseous  phase  installation  of  the  LPG  heating  system  shall  comply  with  the 

requirements of section 1.1.3. 

________ 

(*) 

Commission  Communication  in  the  framework  of  the  implementation  of  Council  Directive 
90/396/EEC  of  29  June  1990  on  the  approximation  of  the  laws  of  the  Member  States  relating  to 
appliances burning gaseous fuels, OJ C 202, 18.7.2001, p. 5. 

(**) 

UN/ECE Regulation No. 67: 

Uniform provisions concerning  

I. 

II. 

Approval of specific equipment of motor vehicles using liquefied petroleum gases in their propulsion 
system  

Approval  of  a  vehicle  fitted  with  specific  equipment  for  the  use  of  liquefied  petroleum  gases  in  its 
propulsion system with regard to the installation of such equipment  

E/ECE/324 

E/ECE/TRANS/505 

E/ECE/324 

E/ECE/TRANS/505 

E/ECE/324 

E/ECE/TRANS/505 

E/ECE/324 

E/ECE/TRANS/505 

E/ECE/324 

E/ECE/TRANS/505 

}  Rev.1/Add.66/Rev.1 

}  Rev.1/Add.66/Rev.1/Amend.1 

}  Rev.1/Add.66/Rev.1/Corr.1 

}  Rev.1/Add.66/Rev.1/Corr.2 

}  Rev.1/Add.66/Rev.1/Amend.2 

(***) 

EN 1949:2002 is prepared by the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN). EN 624:2000 refers to 
EN 1949:2002 (see point 1.1.1). " 

 
ANNEX II 

 Directive 70/156/EEC is amended as follows:  

(1) 

In Annex I the following items are inserted:  

“9.10.5.3.  A  brief  description  of  the  vehicle  type  with  regard  to  the  combustion 

heating system and the automatic control: 

9.10.5.3.1.  layout drawing of the combustion heater, the air inlet system, the exhaust 
system,  the  fuel  tank,  the  fuel  supply  system  (including  the  valves)  and 
the electrical connections showing their positions in the vehicle.” 

Paragraph 9.10.5.3. (former), renumber as paragraph 9.10.5.4.  

(2) 

Annex XI is amended as follows:  

(a) 

In Appendix 1, item 36 is replaced by the following:  

Item 

Subject 

Directive No  M1 ≤ 2 500 (1) 

“36 

Heating systems 

2001/56/EC 

kg 

X 

M1 > 2 500 (1) 
kg 

M2  M3 

X 

X 

X” 

(b) 

In Appendix 2, item 36 is replaced by the following:  

Item 

Subject 

Directive No M1 M2 M3 N1  N2  N3  O1  O2  O3  O4 

“36 

Heating 
systems 

2001/56/EC 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X” 

(c) 

In Appendix 3 the following item 36 is added: 

Item 

Subject 

Directive No M1 M2 M3 N1  N2  N3  O1  O2  O3  O4 

“36 

Heating 
systems 

2001/56/EC 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X” 

(d) 

In Appendix 4 the following item 36 is added: 

Item 

Subject 

Directive No  Mobile crane of category N 

“36 

Heating systems 

2001/56/EC 

X” 

(e) 

In “Meaning of letters” the following letters are deleted:  

 
 
 
 
 
“I 

“P 

Application  limited  to  those  heating  systems  not  specially  designed  for  habitation 
purposes.”  

Application  limited  to  those  heating  systems  not  specially  designed  for  habitation 
purposes. The vehicle shall be fitted with an adequate system in the front.”