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UN R149 Supplement 5 (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 5 to the 01 series of amendments

Supplement 4 → 5

Adopted at the WP.29 195th sessionEntry into force 2025-09-26
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What changed
  • Paragraph 4.13.1. is new. A specific function with elements for visible radiation wired so that one failure does not make all stop emitting light must give a failure signal.
  • Tables 25 and 26 for Class V bend lighting now give 6.25∙102, 8.80∙102 and 1.01∙103 for BLL, instead of 8.80∙102, 1.14∙103 and 1.26∙103.
  • In Annex 8, paragraph 3.7.1.2.1., item (a) no longer names point HV for the results after the mechanical deterioration test.
Why
  • GTB proposed to amend the failure detection and signalisation requirements to reflect technological progress in multiple light sources.
  • By mistake, Tables 25 and 26 did not reflect the change of the Class V maximum for Segment BLL from 880 cd to 625 cd.
  • GTB proposed to align the measurement points for the mechanical deterioration test with UN Regulations Nos. 98, 112 and 123.

Q1What changed22 changes

Failure signal requirements (paras. 4.13. and 4.13.1.)

Paragraph 4.13. requires a signal when a light source and/or light source module fails, if UN Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 or 86 require it. Before, paragraph 4.13. started “If applicable”, named UN Regulation No. 48 or UN Regulation No. 53, and said “LED module” instead of “light source module”. Paragraph 4.13.1. is new. A specific function with elements for visible radiation wired so that one failure does not make all stop emitting light must give a failure signal. The signal follows the applicant’s selection of one or more of the options (a) to (e).

If applicablerequired by the provisions of the relevant UN Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 or 86 the device (lamp ) shall be so made that, if a light source and/or a LED light source module has failed, a signal indicating the failure signal in order to comply with the relevant provisions of UN Regulation No. 48 or UN Regulation No. 53 is provided.
In case a specific function, which is realised with more than one element for visible radiation (see definition of “light source” in UN Regulation No. 48) wired so that a failure of any one of them does not cause all of them to stop emitting light, a signal indicating the failure of that specific function shall be provided, according to the applicant’s selection of one or more of the following options:

Five failure options (a) to (e) in paragraph 4.13.1.

Option (a): one or more element(s) for visible radiation stop emitting light. Option (b): after one or more elements stop emitting light, luminous intensity in any photometric requirement is below 80% of the required type-approval minimum. Option (c): after one or more elements stop emitting light, luminous flux changes by more than 5% compared to the value when no failure occurs. Option (d): more than 5% of the elements for visible radiation stop emitting light. If more than one light source is used, option (d) applies to all elements together and to the elements of each light source separately. Option (e): if fitted, one or more UN approved light source(s) stop emitting light.

One or more element(s) for visible radiation stops emitting light;
As a consequence of one or more element(s) for visible radiation stops emitting light, the resulting luminous intensity value in any of the photometric requirements is less than 80% of the minimum luminous intensity value required for the type approval;
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Failure signal in paragraph 3.1.2.2. and Annex 1 (items 9.1.13. and 9.2.14.)

The brief technical description (paragraph 3.1.2.2.) must now also state, in new item (f), the measures for compliance with paragraph 4.13.1., where applicable. In Annex 1, new items 9.1.13. and 9.2.14. state if a failure signal is produced under paragraph 4.13., with option (a) to (e).

The measures provided to ensure compliance with the provisions of paragraph 4.13.1. where applicable.
Failure signal produced according to paragraph 4.13.:
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LED module failure in Annex 9 (item 1.2.)

Annex 9, item 1.2., no longer says that a LED module is considered to have failed if any one of its LEDs has failed. The first two sentences of item 1.2. do not change.

LED module(s) shall be so designed as to be and to remain in good working order when in normal use. They shall moreover exhibit no fault in design or manufacture. A LED module shall be considered to have failed if any one of its LEDs has failed.

Values for BLL in Tables 25 and 26 (Class V bend lighting)

In Table 25 (Class V bend lighting, category 1), the values for “Point BLL” are now 6.25∙102, 8.80∙102 and 1.01∙103. In Table 26 (Class V bend lighting, category 2), the values for “Line BLL” are also now 6.25∙102, 8.80∙102 and 1.01∙103. Before, both rows had 8.80∙102, 1.14∙103 and 1.26∙103.

8.80∙102 1.14∙103 6.25∙102 8.80∙102 1.26∙1031.01∙103
8.80∙102 1.14∙103 6.25∙102 8.80∙102 1.26∙1031.01∙103

Results after the mechanical deterioration test (Annex 8, paragraph 3.7.1.2.1.)

In item (a) of Annex 8, paragraph 3.7.1.2.1., point HV is deleted. The remaining points in item (a) are B50L and 75R, or B50R and 75L for headlamps intended for left-hand traffic. Item (b), for a headlamp producing driving beam only, still uses point HV.

In the case of AFS, passing-beam of classes C and V and of driving-beam of classes A , B and BD and AFS, after the test the results of photometric measurements carried out on the headlamp in accordance with this Regulation shall not exceed:
By more than 30 per cent the maximum values prescribed at points point B50L and HV and by more than 10 per cent below the minimum values prescribed at point 75R (in the case of headlamps intended for left-hand traffic, the points to be considered are B50R, HV and 75L)
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Name “Zone Imax” in paragraphs 4.11.3.2. and 5.3.2.5.4., Table 7 footnote c and Table 8

Paragraphs 4.11.3.2. and 5.3.2.5.4., footnote c of Table 7 and Table 8 now use the name “Zone Imax”. Before, the text used “segment Imax” or “Segment Imax”. Paragraphs 4.11.3.2. and 5.3.2.5.4. now also write “Zone III b” with a capital letter.

In the case of failure, it must be possible to obtain automatically a passing-beam or a state with respect to the photometric conditions which yields values not exceeding 1.30∙103 cd in the zone Zone III b as defined in paragraph 5.3. and at least 3.40∙103 cd in a point of "segment Zone Imax", by such means as e.g. switching off, dimming, aiming downwards, and/or functional substitution;.
If approval is sought for a category 1 bending mode, the system is designed so that, in the case of a failure affecting the lateral movement or modification of the illumination, it must be possible to obtain automatically either photometric conditions corresponding to paragraph 5.3.2.4. or a state with respect to the photometric conditions which yields values not exceeding 1.30∙103 cd in the zone IIIbZone III b, as defined in Table 9, and at least 3.40∙103 cd in a point of "segment Zone Imax";".
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Q2Why it changed

Proposed by
Expert from the International Automotive Lighting and Light-Signalling Expert Group (GTB)
Working party
GRE, 91st session (October 2024)

Reasons

  • Based on new technologies, passing beams made of a large number of elements for visible radiation are presently available. In these beams, a failure of any first of these elements does not consequentially lead to a lack of performance in photometric values. For this reason, the requirements regarding failures in passing beams using multiple light sources need to be extended and improved. The amendment proposes provisions that allow a failure signal to be triggered only when a significant change in the beam is detected. The relatively small percentage of 5% is proposed to avoid the unlikely formation of dark holes within the light pattern.

    Sources (5)
    “Based on the new technologies and light sources, passing beams constituted of a large number of elements for visible radiation are presently available”
    “where a failure of any first of these does not consequentially lead to a lack of performance in photometric values.”
    “In order to take into account these new technologies, the requirements regarding failures in passing beam using multiple light sources need to be extended and improved.”
    “different provisions allowing that a failure signal is only triggered when a significant change in the beam is detected and ensuring that the most suitable failure provision can be applied for each technology used”
    “The relatively small percentage (5%) is proposed to avoid the unlikely formation of dark holes within the light pattern.”

  • The failure provision chosen for the specific function must be indicated in Annex 1, the communication form of UN Regulation No. 149. The aim is transparency and ease of understanding for all parties involved.

    Source
    “The failure provision chosen for the specific function shall be indicated in the Annex 1 (communication form of UN Regulation No. 149), ensuring transparency and ease of understanding for all parties involved.”

  • The maximum luminous intensity of Segment BLL for Class V was intentionally changed from 880 cd to 625 cd in the 01 series. The purpose was to align the value with Class C. By mistake, this change was not reflected in the COP Tables 25 and 26.

    Sources (3)
    “the maximum luminous intensity of Segment BLL for Class V (see Tables 6 and 7) was intentionally changed from 880 cd”
    “to 625 cd (as in the 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149)”
    “The purpose of this modification was to align the value with Class C but, by mistake, this change was not reflected in the COP Tables 25 and 26.”

  • The photometric measurement in point HV for passing-beam headlamps was deleted from UN Regulations Nos. 98, 112 and 123 at the 76th GRE session. During the preparation of UN Regulation No. 149, this amendment might have been inadvertently overlooked. Deleting point HV for passing-beam headlamps does not change any technical requirement, because UN Regulation No. 149 specifies no photometric values for point HV.

    Sources (3)
    “The photometric measurement in point HV for the passing-beam headlamps was deleted from UN Regulations Nos. 98, 112 and 123 at the seventy-sixth session of the Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling (GRE)”
    “During the preparation of UN Regulation No. 149 this amendment might have been inadvertently overlooked, then measuring point HV for passing-beam headlamps remained in the Annex 8.”
    “The deletion of measuring point HV, for the passing-beam headlamps, does not change any technical requirement since there are no photometric values specified for point HV in the UN Regulation No. 149”

  • In Table 8, “Segment Imax” is delimited by coordinates that make it a polygonal area and not a segment. Other polygonal areas in Figure A4-VI are named zones, for example Zone IIIa and Zone IIIb. For uniformity of terminology, GTB proposed to change the name to “Zone Imax”, without changing any technical requirement.

    Sources (4)
    “In Table 8 of UN Regulation No. 149, “Segment Imax” is delimited by the coordinates 0.3D to 1.72D – 0.5L to 3R, therefore it is a “polygonal area” and not a “segment”.”
    “Other polygonal areas in Figure A4-VI are mentioned as “zones” (e.g. Zone IIIa, Zone IIIb).”
    “For uniformity of terminology, the name of “Segment” for the polygonal area Imax should be changed in “Zone”, for alignment with other polygonal areas.”
    “to “Zone Imax”, without changing any technical requirement.”

Document trail

  1. 2024-08ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/18Proposal by the expert from GTB to clarify and correct the text
  2. 2024-08ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/19Proposal by the expert from GTB to correct the COP tables
  3. 2024-08ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/22Proposal by the expert from GTB on failure detection and signalisation
  4. —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/91Session report, paras. 23 and 24
  5. 2024-12Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2025/39Text that GRE sent to WP.29 and AC.1
  6. 2025-03WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1184Adopted at the 195th session (session report, para. 109)
  7. 2025-09-26In forceC.N.529.2025.TREATIES-XI.B.16.149UN depositary notification

Q3Who is affected

Vehicle manufacturer

  • Check Annex 1, item 9.1.13. or 9.2.14., to see if the lamp produces a failure signal under paragraph 4.13.

Component supplier

  • If one element failure does not stop all elements emitting light, select from options (a) to (e) of paragraph 4.13.1.
  • Add to the brief technical description the measures for compliance with paragraph 4.13.1., where applicable.
  • Use the new BLL values in Tables 25 and 26 for Class V bend lighting.

Technical service / Approval authority

  • For functions under paragraph 4.13.1., be ready to check the failure signal against the options the applicant selects.
  • In Annex 8, paragraph 3.7.1.2.1., item (a), use points B50L and 75R (B50R and 75L for left-hand traffic), not HV.

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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.

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