CELEX: 51992PC0332
Language: en
Date: 1992-09-23
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON AUDIBLE WARNING DEVICES FOR TWO OR THREE-WHEEL MOTOR VEHICLES

9 . 11 . 92                                  Official Journal of the European Communities                                   No C 293 / 15
                   Proposal for a Council Directive on audible warning devices for two or three-wheel motor
                                                                  vehicles
                                                             ( 92 / C 293 / 03
                                                     COM(92) 332 final — SYN 430
                                       (Submitted by the Commission on 28 September 1992)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,                                 Whereas in order to facilitate access to the markets of
                                                                          non-Community countries it appears necessary to establish
                                                                          equivalence as between the requirements of this Directive and
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European                     those of Regulation No 28 of the United Nations Economic
Economic Community , and in particular Article 100 a                      Commission for Europe;
thereof,
                                                                          Whereas there is a need for the rapid adjustment of the
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,                       technical requirements set out in the Annex to this Directive
                                                                          to take account of technical progress; whereas this task
                                                                          should be entrusted to the Commission in order to simplify
In cooperation with the European Parliament ,
                                                                          and expedite the procedure; whereas it is advisible , whenever
                                                                          the Council grants powers to the Commission for the
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social                   implementation of the rules laid down in respect of two or
Committee,                                                                three-wheel motor vehicles, to provide for an advance
                                                                          consultation procedure between the Commission and the
                                                                          Member States within an Advisory Committee,
Whereas it is necessary to adopt measures intended gradually
to introduce the internal market over a period expiring on 3 1
December 1992; whereas the internal market comprises an
entity without internal frontiers within which the free                   HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
movement of goods , persons, services and capital is
guaranteed ;
                                                                                                        Article 1
Whereas in each Member State two and three-wheel motor
vehicles must, in respect of audible warning devices, display
certain mandatory technical characteristics which differ from             This Directive and its Annexes shall apply to audible warning
one Member State to another; whereas this disparity                       devices for all types of vehicle as defined in Article 1 of
constitutes a barrier to trade within the Community;                      Council Directive 92 / . . . / EEC of ... on the type-approval
                                                                          of two or three-wheel motor vehicles .
Whereas these obstacles to the establishment and operation
of the internal market can be removed if the same
requirements are adopted by all Member States in place of                                               Article 2
their national regulations;
                                                                          The procedures governing the granting of component
Whereas the drawing up of harmonized requirements                         type-approval in respect of audible warning devices for a type
concerning audible warning devices for two or three-wheel                 of two or three-wheel motor vehicle, the component
vehicles is necessary in order to enable the type-approval and            type-approval of an audible warning device in the form of a
component type-approval procedures covered by Directive                  component and the conditions applying to the free movement
92 /. . ./ EEC (*) to be implemented in respect of each type of           of said vehicles and to the unimpeded placing on the market
said vehicle .                                                            of audible warning devices shall be those set out in Directive
                                                                          92 /. . ./ EEC , . . ., in the Chapters II and III respectively .
Whereas, given the scale and impact of the action proposed in                                          Article 3
the sector in question, the Community measures which are
the subject of this Directive are necessary, or even                      In accordance with the provisions of Article 1 1 of Directive
indispensable , to attain the objective set , namely Community            92 /. . ./ EEC of . . ., the equivalence of the requirements of
vehicle type-approval ; whereas this objective cannot be                 this Directive and those of Regulation No 28 of the United
adequately achieved by the Member States individually ;                  Nations Economic Commission for Europe (document
                                                                         E / ECE / TRANS / 505 — Rev. 1 / Add . 27) shall be
0 ) OJ No L . . .                                                        recognized .
 ---pagebreak--- No C 293 / 16                                   Official Journal of the European Communities                                   9 . 11 . 92
The authorities of the Member States which grant                           The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition ,
component type-approval shall accept component type­                       each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its
approvals issued in accordance with the requirement of the                 position recorded in the minutes. The Commission shall take
abovementioned         Regulation       No 28     and     component        the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the
type-approval marks in place of corresponding component                    Committee . It shall inform the Committee of the manner in
type-approvals issued in accordance with the requirements of               which its opinion has been taken into account .
this Directive .
                                                                                                      Article 6
                             Article 4
                                                                           1.     Member States shall bring into force the laws ,
                                                                           regulations and administrative provisions necessary to
Any amendments necessary to adapt the requirements of the                  comply with this Directive not later than 1 August 1994 .
Annexes to technical progress shall be adopted in accordance               They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
with the procedure laid down in Article 5 of this
Directive .                                                                They shall implement these provisions with effect from
                                                                           1 October 1994 .
                                                                           2.     When the Member States adopt these provisions, the
                             Article 5                                     provisions shall contain a reference to this Directive or be
                                                                           accompanied by such a reference when they are published in
                                                                           official form . The procedures for making such reference shall
In all cases where reference is made to the procedure set out in           be laid down by the Member States .
this Article, the representative of the Commission shall
submit to the Committee set up by Article 12 of Directive
70 / 156 / EEC (*) a draft of the measures to be taken . The
Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time                                        Article 7
limit which the chairman may lay down according to the
urgency of the matter , if necessary by taking a vote .                    This Directive is addressed to the Member States .
O ) OJ No L 42 , 23 . 2 . 1970 , p. 1 , as last amended by Directive
    92 / 53 / EEC ( OJ No L 225 , 10 . 8 . 1992, p. 1 ).
 ---pagebreak--- 9 . 11 . 92                                 Official Journal of the European Communities                                           No C 293 / 17
                                                                      ANNEX 1
            REQUIREMENTS APPLYING TO THE COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL OF AUDIBLE WARNING
                                                                  DEVICES
            1.      DEFINITIONS
                    For the purposes of this Directive:
            1.1 .   'audible warning device' means a device emitting an acoustic signal the operation of which is intended to
                    give warning of the presence of or a manoeuvre by a vehicle in a dangerous road traffic situation;
            1.1.1 . a device consisting of several sound emission orifices that are excited by a single power source shall be
                    considered to be an audible warning device ;
            1.1.2 . an audible warning device consisting of several components each emitting an acoustic signal and operating
                    simultaneously as a result of actuation by a single control shall be considered to be a single audible warning
                    device ;
            1.2 .   'type of audible warning device' means audible warning devices not essentially differing among themselves,
                    particularly in respect of the following aspects :
            1.2.1 . make or trade name ;
            1.2.2 . operating principle;
            1.2.3 . type of power supply ( direct current, alternating current, compressed air);
            1.2.4 . outer shape of the casing;
            1.2.5 . shape and dimensions of the diaphragm(s);
            1.2.6 . shape or type of the sound emission orifice(s );
            1.2.7 . nominal sound frequencies ;
            1.2.8 . nominal supply voltage;
            1.2.9 . in the case of warning devices supplied direct by an external source of compressed air: the nominal
                    operating pressure .
            2.      REQUIREMENTS
            2. 1 .  Audible warning devices shall emit a continuous, uniform sound and their sound spectrum shall not vary
                    perceptibly during operation . In the case of warning devices supplied with an alternating current this
                    requirement shall apply solely at constant generator speed , that speed lying within the range specified in
                    Item 3.3.2 .
            2.2 .   Warning devices shall display sound characteristics ( spectral distribution of the sound energy , sound
                    pressure level ) and mechanical characteristics such that, in the order stated, they pass the tests specified in
                    Items 3 and 4 .
            3.      SOUND LEVEL MEASUREMENTS
            3.1 .   Audible warning devices shall preferably be tested in an anechoic environment. They may alternatively be
                    tested in a semi-anechoic chamber or in a cleared outside space . In this case , precautions must be taken in
                    order to avoid reflections off the ground in the measuring area, e.g. by providing a number of absorbent
                    screens. It shall be checked that the spherical distortion is no more than 1 dB within a hemisphere having a
                    radius of at least 5 m up to the maximum frequency to be measured , this mainly being in the direction of
                    measurement and at the height of the device and microphone . The ambient noise shall be at least 10 dB
                    lower than the sound pressure levels to be measured .
                    The device submitted for testing and the microphone shall be at the same height . That height shall lie
                    between 1.15 and 1.25 m . The line of maximum sensitivity of the microphone shall coincide with the
                    direction in which the sound level of the warning device is at its highest level .
                    The microphone shall be positioned such that its diaphragm is at a distance of 2 ± 0.01 m from the exit
                    plane of the sound emitted by the device. That same distance from devices having several exits shall be
                    determined in relation to the exit plane closest to the microphone .
 ---pagebreak--- No C 293 / 18                                Official Journal of the European Communities                                             9 . 11 . 92
            3.2 .    The measurements of the sound pressure level shall involve the use of a class- 1 precision sound level meter
                     meeting the requirements of IEC publication No 651 , first edition ( 1979 ).
                     All measurements shall be carried out using the 'rapid' time constant. The (A) weighting curve shall be used
                     to measure the overall sound pressure levels .
                     The Fourier transform of the sound signal shall be used in measuring the emitted-sound spectrum .
                     Alternatively , third octave filters meeting the requirements set out in IEC publication No 225 , first edition
                     ( 1966 ) may be used .
                     In that instance the sound pressure level within the 2 500 Hz centre octave frequency band shall be
                     determined by adding the quadratic means of the sound pressures in the third-octave bands of centre
                     frequencies of 2 000, 2 500 and 3 150 Hz. In all cases only the Fourier transform method may be
                     considered to be a reference method .
             3.3 .   The audible warning device shall be supplied with one of the following voltages, as appropriate:
             3.3.1 . in the case of audible warning devices receiving direct current a test voltage of6.5,13or26volts, measured
                     at the output side of the eletricity source and corresponding to a nominal voltage of 6 , 12 or 24 volts
                     respectively ;
             3.3.2 . where audible warning devices receive direct current that shall be supplied by an electrical generator of the
                     type normally used with this type of device. The acoustic characteristics of that type of warning device shall
                     be recorded at alternator speeds corresponding to 50 % , 75 % and 100 % of the maximum speed stated by
                     the manufacturar of the alternator for continuous operation . The alternator shall be subject to no other
                     electrical load during the test . The durability test described in Item 4 shall be carried out at a speed stated
                     by the manufacturer of the equipment and selected from the range referred to above .
             3.4 .   If a rectified current is used for the test on an audible warning device receiving direct current , the
                     unsmoothed component of the voltage at its terminals, measured from peak to peak during operation of
                   • the warning devices , shall not exceed 0.1 volts .
             3.5 .   The resistance of the electrical conductor for audible warning devices receiving direct current, including
                     the resistance of the terminals and contacts , shall lie as closely as possible to :
                     — 0.05 Ohms for a nominal voltage of 6 V ;
                     — 0.10 Ohms for a nominal voltage of 12 V ;
                     — 0.20 Ohms for a nominal voltage of 24 V.
             3.6 .   The audible warning device shall be rigidly mounted , using the part or parts intended for that purpose by
                     its manufacturer on a support, the mass of which is at least ten times greater than that of the warning device
                     to be tested and at least 30 kg. Moreover , the support shall be arranged in such a way that the reflections
                     off its walls and the vibrations shall have no significant effect on the results of the measurements .
             3.7 .   Under the conditions set out above the A-weighted sound level shall not exceed the following values :
                     ( a ) 115 dB(A ) for audible warning devices intended mainly for mopeds , motorcycles and tricycles
                           developing a power of not more than 7 kW ;
                     (b) 118 dB(A) for audible warning devices intended mainly for motorcycles and tricycles developing a
                           power of more than 7 kW.
            3.7.1 . Moreover the sound pressure level within the 1 800—3 550 Hz frequency band must be higher than that
                     of any frequency component above 3 550 Hz , and in any case be at least:
                     ( a ) 90 dB(A ) in the case of audible warning devices intended mainly for mopeds;
                     ( b ) 95 dB(A ) for audible warning devices intended mainly for motorcycles and tricycles developing a
                           power of not more than 7 kW ;
                     (c) 105 dB(A) for audible warning devices intended mainly for motorcycles and tricycles developing a
                           power of more than 7 kW.
            3.7.2 . Audible warning devices displaying the characteristics described in (c) may be used on the vehicles
                     described in ( a ) and (b) while audible warning devices displaying the sound characteristics described in ( b )
                     may be used on mopeds ;
 ---pagebreak--- 9 . 11 . 92                               Official Journal of the European Communities                                        No C 293 / 19
            3.8 .  the characteristics set out above must also be displayed by any audible warning device that has been
                   subjected to the durability test provided for in Item 4 . The variation in voltage shall be either between
                   115 % and 95 % of the rated value for audible warning devices receiving direct current or between 50 %
                   and 100 % of the maximum alternator speed stated by the manufacturer of the alternator for continuous
                   operation in the case of audible warning devices receiving alternating current .
            3.9 .  The time lag between actuation and the moment when the sound reaches the minimum value required by
                   Item 3.7 shall not exceed 0.2 seconds measured at an ambient temperature of 20 ± 5 °C . This
                   requirement applies, in particular, to pneumatic or electro-pneumatic warning devices.
            3.10.   Under the power supply conditions laid down by their manufacturers pneumatic or electro-pneumatic
                   warning devices shall yield the same acoustic performance as those required for electric audible warning
                   devices .
            3.11 . The minimum values quoted above must be obtained for each of the individual components of any
                   multi-tone device each component part of which may emit sound independently . The maximum overall
                   sound level must be achieved with all of the component parts operating at the same time .
            4.     DURABILITY TEST
            4.1 .  The audible warning device shall be supplied with the nominal voltage at the conductor resistance specified
                   in Items 3.3 to 3.5 and be operated :
                   — 10 000 times in the case of warning devices intended mainly for mopeds , motorcycles and tricycles
                        developing a power not exceeding 7 kW;
                   — 50 000 times in the case of warning devices intended mainly for motorcycles and tricycles developing a
                       power of more than 7 kW respectively ;
                   at a rate of one second on followed by four seconds off. During the test the audible warning device shall be
                   exposed to a forced draught having a speed of rougly 10 m / sec .
            4.2 .  If a test is conducted within an insulated chamber that shall be of sufficient volume to ensure normal
                   dissipation of the heat given off by the warning device during the durability test .
            4.3 .  The ambient temperature within the test chamber shall lie between + 15 and + 30 °C .
            4.4 .  If, after half the required number of operations , the characteristics of the sound level have altered as
                   compared with before the test the audible warning device may be reset. When the total number of
                   operations required have been completed the audible warning device must successfully complete the test
                   described in Item 3 , where necessary after being further reset.
            4.5 .  Electro-pneumatic audible warning devices may be lubricated with the oil recommended by their
                   manufacturer every 10 000 operations .
            5.     COMPONENT TYPE-APPROVAL MARK
            5.1 .  All audible warning devices conforming to the type that has been component type-approved shall bear a
                   component type-approval mark meeting the requirements set out in Annex V to Council Directive
                   92 /. . ./ EEC .
 ---pagebreak--- No C 293 / 20                            Official Journal of the European Communities                                          9 . 11 . 92
                                                               Appendix 1
            Information document in respect of a type of audible warning device intended for two or three-wheel motor
                                                                  vehicles
            (to be attached to the application for component type-approval where this is submitted, separately from the
                                                 application for vehicle type-approval )
            Order No ( assigned by the applicant):
            The application for component type-approval in respect of a type of audible warning device intended for two or
            three-wheel motor vehicles shall contain the information set out in Annex II to Council Directive 92 /. . ./ EEC ,
            under A , Items 9.5.1 to 9.5.4 .
                                                               Appendix 2
            Certificate of component type-approval for a type of audible warning device intended for two or three-wheel motor
                                                                  vehicles
                                                                 MODEL
                                                                                                        Name of administration
            Report No                              by testing body                               date
            Component type-approval number:                            Extension number:
             1 . Make of audible warning device :
            2 . Type of audible warning device and vehicle(s) for which it is intended [state the power output of motorcycles
                 and tricycles (^ 7 kW or > 7 kW)]:
            3.   Manufacturer's name and address :
            4 . Name and address of manufacturer's representative ( if any):
            5 . Audible warning device submitted for a test on :
            6 . Component type-approval granted / refused ('):
            7.   Place :
            8.   Date :
            9 . Signature:
            (') Delete as appropriate.
 ---pagebreak--- 9 . 11 . 92                                    Official Journal of the European Communities                                    No C 293 / 21
                                                                      ANNEX II
            REQUIREMENTS APPLYING TO THE FITTING OF AUDIBLE WARNING DEVICES TO TWO OR
                                                      THREE-WHEEL MOTOR VEHICLES
            1.      DEFINITIONS
                    For the purposes of this Directive:
            1.1 .   'type of vehicle' means vehicles not differing essentially among themselves, where any such differences may
                    relate to :
            1.1.1 . the number and type(s) of audible warning devices fitted to the vehicle;
            1.1.2 . the warning device adapters on the vehicle;
            1.1.3 . the position of the warning devices on the vehicle ;
            1.1.4 . the stiffness of the structural parts to which the audible warning device(s ) is ( are ) fitted ;
            1.1.5 . the shape and the materials used in the bodywork forming the front of the vehicle which are likely to affect
                    the level of the sounds emitted by the warning device(s ) and to mask those sounds .
            2.      REQUIREMENTS
            2.1 .   All vehicles shall be fitted with an audible warning device that has been component type-approved in
                    pursuance of this Directive or of Directive 70 / 388 / EEC on audible warning devices for motor
                    vehicles (');
            2.2 .   the test voltage shall be that laid down in Item 3.3 in Annex I ;
            2.3 .   the sound pressure levels shall be measured under the conditions laid down in Item 3.2 in Annex 1 ;
            2.4 .   the A-weighted sound pressure level emitted by the device(s ) fitted to the vehicle shall be measured 7 m
                    ahead of the vehicle , which shall have been placed on a clear space, the ground being as smooth as possible
                    and, in the case of direct-current audible warning devices , the engine of the vehicle being shut down ;
            2.5 .   the microphone for the measuring device shall be located roughly in the median longitudinal plane of the
                    vehicle ;
            2.6 .   the pressure level of the ambient noise and of the noise generated by the wind shall be at least 10 dB(A )
                    lower than the sound level to be measured ;
            2.7 .   the maximum sound pressure level shall be sought within a segment lying between 0.5 and 1.5 m above­
                    ground level ;
            2.8 .   when measured under the 'conditions specified in Items 2.2 to 2.7 the maximum sound level value ( Item
                    2.7) of the audible warning under test shall be at least:
                    ( a ) 75 dB(A ) and at the most 112 dB(A ) for mopeds;
                    ( b ) 80 dB(A ) and at the most 112 dB(A ) for motorcycles and tricycles developing a power of not more
                          than 7 kW ;
                    (c) 93 dB( A) and at the most 112 dB(A) for motorcycles and tricycles developing a power of more than
                          7 kW .
            (') OJ No L 176 , 10 . 8 . 1970 , p. 12 .
 ---pagebreak--- No C 293 / 22                              Official Journal of the European Communities                                          9 . 11 . 92
                                                                Appendix 1
            Information document in respect of the installation of an audible warning device on a type of two or three-wheel
                                                                motor vehicle
             (to be attached to the application for component type-approval where this is submitted separately from the
                                                   application for vehicle type-approval )
             Order No ( assigned by the applicant):
             The application for component type-approval in respect of the installation of an audible warning device on a type
             of two or three-wheel motor vehicle shall contain the information set out under the following points in Annex II to
             Council Directive 92 /. . ./ EEC , under A :
             — 0.1
             — 0.2
             — 0.4 to 0.6
             — 3.2.5 to 3.2.5.2.2
             — 9.5.5 .
                                                                 Appendix 2
             Certificate of component type-approval in respect of the installation of an audible warning device on a type of two
                                                       or three-wheel motor véhiculés
                                                                  MODEL
                                                                                                          Name of administration
              Report No                              by testing body                              date
              Component type-approval number:                           Extension number:
              1.  Make or trade name of vehicle:
              2 . Type of vehicle :
              3.  Manufacturer's name and address:
              4 . Name and address of manufacturer's representative ( if any ):
              5.  Vehicle submitted for test on :
              6 . Component type-approval granted / refused ('):
              7.  Place :
              8.  Date:
              9 . Signature:
              (') Delete as appropriate .