UN R149 Supplement 4 (01 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 149 (ECE R149) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of road illumination devices (lamps) and systems for power-driven vehicles.
UN R149 — Supplement 4 to the 01 series of amendments
Supplement 3 → 4
- What changed
- “HCR” may be marked on headlamps that meet the requirements for a Class C passing beam and a Class B driving beam (new para. 3.3.2.4.8.).
- Unless otherwise specified, each symbol must be marked individually in accordance with Table 1 (para. 3.3.2.5.).
- In Annex 6, paragraph 2.2., the measurement method for the maximum sharpness of the “cut-off” now also applies to linearity.
- Why
- The expert of GTB proposed to clarify the markings and the measuring of the quality of the “cut-off”.
- The 0.05° step width is also important for the linearity measurement, to obtain comparable measurement results in all laboratories.
- The expert from China pointed out possible inconsistencies in various tables for the conformity of production.
Q1What changed28 changes
Marking of symbols (paras. 3.3.2.4.8., 3.3.2.4.9. and 3.3.2.5.)
In new paragraph 3.3.2.4.8., headlamps that meet the Class C passing beam and Class B driving beam requirements may be marked “HCR”. New paragraph 3.3.2.4.9. covers headlamps that meet the requirements for both beams and have the same Class BS, CS or DS. It gives the letters “CR-BS” for Class BS, “WCR-CS” for Class CS and “WCR-DS” for Class DS headlamps. Paragraph 3.3.2.5. now adds that, unless otherwise specified, each symbol must be marked individually in accordance with Table 1. The rules on where to place the approval number and the symbols do not change.
Measurement of the quality of the “cut-off” (Annex 6, paragraph 2.2.)
In Annex 6, paragraph 2.2., the measurements to determine the maximum sharpness now also determine the linearity. These measurements scan vertically through the horizontal part of the “cut-off” in angular steps of 0.05°. They are made exclusively at a measurement distance of 25 m, with a detector of approximately 30 mm diameter. Before, this sentence named only the maximum sharpness.
Two values in Table 22 (Class C – Bend lighting – Category 1)
In Table 22, two values change: 1.21∙104 becomes 8.47∙103, and 5.10∙103 becomes 3.57∙103. In the adopted Table 22, 8.47∙103 is in the row for 75R, and 3.57∙103 is in the row for 50V.
Marking examples in Annex 13, Figures A13-I to A13-IV
In Figure A13-I, the number after 149R now shows approval under the 01 series of amendments, not the original form (00). In Figures A13-I, A13-III and A13-IV, the maximum intensity for the number 30 is now between 1.24∙105 and 1.45∙105 candelas, not 123,625 and 145,125. In the note to Figure A13-III, items (a) to (d) now refer to the 01 series of amendments instead of the 00 series. Item (b) now describes a passing beam of Class C and a driving beam of Class B, instead of a headlamp of Class B. In Figure A13-IV, the references to this Regulation and to UN Regulation No. 148 now name their 01 series of amendments. The marking images of these figures are replaced, and “passing-beam” and “driving-beam” are now written without a hyphen.
New marking examples 5 and 6, and renumbered Figures A13-VII and A13-VIII (Annex 13)
New Figure A13-V, marking example 5, corresponds to a headlamp with Class DS passing beam and Class DS driving beam (“WCR-DS”). New Figure A13-VI, marking example 6, corresponds to a headlamp with Class CS passing beam and Class DS driving beam (“WC-CS” and “WR-DS”). In both examples, the number 12.5 indicates a maximum intensity between 4.84∙105 and 6.45∙105 candelas. The former Figure A13-V, the light source module marking example, is now Figure A13-VII. The former Figure A13-VI, the lighting unit marking example, is now Figure A13-VIII. The texts of these two figures now refer to the new figure numbers.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Experts from the International Automotive Lighting and Light-Signalling Expert Group (GTB); expert from China
- Working party
- GRE, 90th session (April–May 2024)
Reasons
The symbols for road illumination functions were reviewed in the 01 series of amendments. However, the text did not make clear how to mark them on the lamps.
Source
“However, it is still unclear in the current text how to mark them on the lamps.”
Some countries and regions refer to the 00 series of amendments or older regulations, because they have not introduced the 01 series. To avoid marking the symbols of both series on the lamp, consistent symbols between the two series should be allowed when possible.
Sources (3)
“Some countries and regions, such as India, Taiwan, etc. refer to the requirements of the 00 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149, or older regulations, as they have not introduced the requirements of the 01 series of amendments.”
“In order to avoid the redundant burden to mark the symbols of both the 00 and 01 series of amendments on the lamp”
“the consistency of the symbols between the 00 and the 01 series of amendments should be allowed when possible.”
The Annex 13 examples that still referred to the 00 series of amendments are changed to the 01 series. UN Regulation No. 149 has requirements for a passing beam designed to provide a symmetrical “cut-off” line, but Annex 13 had no examples.
Sources (2)
“The figures in Annex 13 showing examples still referring to the 00 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149 have been corrected to indicate the 01 series of amendments; the explanations have been updated accordingly.”
“UN Regulation No. 149 also includes the requirements of passing beam designed to provide symmetrical “cut-off” line, but there are no examples in Annex 13.”
Annex 6, paragraph 2.2., gave the 0.05° angular steps only for the sharpness of the “cut-off”. This step width is also important for the linearity measurement, to obtain comparable measurement results in all laboratories.
Sources (2)
“describes a clear measurement method, with angular steps of 0.05°, only to determine the sharpness of the “cut-off”.”
“Nevertheless, this step width is also important for the linearity measurement (Annex 6, paragraph 2.2.3.), in order to obtain comparable measurement results in all laboratories.”
The expert from China pointed out possible inconsistencies in various tables for the conformity of production. For Table 22, GRE agreed to include the proposed correction in draft Supplement 4 without delay.
Sources (2)
“The expert from China pointed out possible inconsistencies in various tables for the conformity of production (GRE-90-29).”
“For Table 22 (GRE-90-29, page 2), GRE agreed to include, without delay, the proposed correction in draft Supplement 4 to the 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149”
Document trail
- 2024-02ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/7Proposal by the experts from GTB to clarify the measurement of the quality of the “cut-off”
- 2024-02ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/8Proposal by the experts from GTB to clarify the markings
- —ProposalGRE-90-29Informal document by the expert from China, with the correction for Table 22
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/90Session report, paras. 24 and 25
- 2024-08Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2024/96Text that GRE sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2024-11-13WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1181Adopted at the 194th session (session report, para. 158)
- 2025-06-12In forceC.N.343.2025.TREATIES-XI.B.16.149UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- No direct action for this role.
Component supplier
- Use the new Table 22 values 8.47∙103 and 3.57∙103 in your conformity of production checks.
Technical service / Approval authority
- Check conformity of production against the new Table 22 values 8.47∙103 and 3.57∙103.
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.
More UN R149 change reports
- 01 series — Supplement 8
- 01 series — Supplement 7
- 01 series — Supplement 6
- 01 series — Supplement 5
- 01 series — Supplement 2
- 01 series — Supplement 1
- 01 series — Base text
- 00 series — Supplement 11
- 00 series — Supplement 10
- 00 series — Supplement 9
- 00 series — Supplement 8
- 00 series — Supplement 7
- 00 series — Supplement 6
- 00 series — Supplement 5
- 00 series — Supplement 4
- 00 series — Supplement 3