UN R16 Supplement 6 (08 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 16 (ECE R16) — Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of: Safety-Belts and Restraint Systems, for Occupants of Power-Driven Vehicles.
UN R16 — Supplement 6 to the 08 series of amendments
Supplement 5 → 6
- What changed
- A dust test with talcum to the IEC 60529 material specifications is now also satisfactory if the test object meets the requirements of paragraph 7.6.3.1.
- This supplement deletes paragraph 5.3.5., which did not allow a Unique Identifier (UI) to replace the approval mark.
- Paragraphs 5.3.6. to 5.3.8. become paragraphs 5.3.5. to 5.3.7.
- Why
- Quartz is considered carcinogenic (group 1) to humans, so several regions where UN Regulation No. 16 testing is done restrict its use.
- The expert from the Kingdom of the Netherlands explained that the softer talcum does not lower the stringency of the dust test.
- After AC.1 amended Schedule 5 of the 1958 Agreement in March 2025, the IWG on IWVTA prepared amendments to delete the UI descriptions.
Q1What changed5 changes
Talcum as an alternative test dust (para. 7.6.3.2.)
A new paragraph at the end of paragraph 7.6.3.2. accepts a dust test with talcum as an alternative. The test is satisfactory if the talcum fulfils the material specifications in IEC 60529 and the test object meets the requirements of paragraph 7.6.3.1. Paragraph 7.6.3.2. still specifies about 1 kg of dry quartz as the test dust.
Unique Identifier (UI) paragraph deleted and paragraphs renumbered (paras. 5.3.5. to 5.3.7.)
This supplement deletes former paragraph 5.3.5. That paragraph did not allow a Unique Identifier (UI), as referred to in Schedule 5 of the 1958 Agreement, to replace the approval mark. Former paragraphs 5.3.6. to 5.3.8. become paragraphs 5.3.5. to 5.3.7., and their text does not change. The references to “paragraph 5.3.6. above” in new paragraph 5.3.7. and to “paragraph 5.3.5.” in Annex 2 do not change. After the renumbering, paragraph 5.3.6. is the paragraph that allows a label or direct marking for the particulars. Paragraph 5.3.5. is now the paragraph that refers to the examples of arrangements of the approval mark in Annex 2.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Expert from the Kingdom of the Netherlands (for the UI deletion, on behalf of the IWG on IWVTA)
- Working party
- GRSP, 77th session (May 2025)
Reasons
Quartz is considered carcinogenic (group 1) to humans. For this reason, several regions where UN Regulation No. 16 testing is done restrict its use.
Source
“Quartz is considered carcinogenic (group 1) to humans and therefore its use is restricted in several regions in the world where UN Regulation No. 16 testing is performed.”
The expert from the Kingdom of the Netherlands explained that the softer talcum does not lower the stringency of the test. This is because the test measures dust intrusion, not durability. The proposal adds that differences in the hardness of the dust particles will hardly influence the outcome of the test. The expert also said that type approval authorities should decide which substance to use in the test.
Sources (3)
“He also clarified that the relative softness of talcum did not lower the stringency of the test, as this test was measuring dust intrusion, not durability”
“It is not a durability test and therefore differences in the hardness of the dust particles used will hardly influence the outcome of the test.”
“it should be up to type approval authorities, to decide which substance to use in the test”
For the IP classes IP5x and IP6x, IEC 60529 uses talcum that passes through a square-meshed sieve. The proposal says that this is very much in line with item (c) of paragraph 7.6.3.2., so this talcum could be used as an alternative.
Sources (2)
“For IP classes IP5x and IP6x, this standard uses talcum which is able to pass through a square-meshed sieve”
“This is very much in line with current paragraph 7.6.3.2. (c) and therefore could be used as an alternative.”
AC.1 adopted an amendment to Schedule 5 of the 1958 Agreement in March 2025. After this, the IWG on IWVTA prepared amendments to delete the Unique Identifier (UI) descriptions from UN Regulation No. 16 and other UN Regulations.
Source
“following the adoption by AC.1 of an amendment to Schedule 5 of the 1958 Agreement during its March 2025 session, IWG IWVTA had prepared amendments to delete the Unique Identifier (UI) descriptions from UN Regulations Nos. 16”
The IWVTA Chair suggested to implement the UI deletions together with other revisions at an appropriate time. The expert from the Kingdom of the Netherlands suggested to wait, to group the UI deletions with other amendments and avoid a proliferation of supplements. GRSP agreed to wait to convert the ten UI documents into working documents until other amendments to the UN Regulations concerned were needed.
Sources (3)
“He suggested that it would be desirable to implement these amendments in conjunction with other revisions at an appropriate time.”
“reiterated the suggestion to wait until other amendments were needed for each of the affected regulations in order to group them with these amendments and avoid a proliferation of supplements”
“agreed to wait to convert them into working documents until other amendments to the concerned UN Regulations were needed”
Document trail
- 2025-02ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2025/3Talcum proposal by the Netherlands for the 10 series
- —ProposalGRSP-77-03UI deletion proposal for the 08 series by the Netherlands on behalf of the IWG on IWVTA
- —Amended in sessionGRSP-77-33-Rev.1Talcum text by the Netherlands for the 08, 09 and 10 series that supersedes working document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2025/3
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/77Session report, para. 13
- 2025-08Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2025/120Text that GRSP sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2025-11WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1188Adopted at the 197th session (session report, para. 110)
- 2026-06-04In forceC.N.197.2026.TREATIES-XI.B.16.16UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- No direct action for this role.
Component supplier
- If you use talcum in the retractor dust test, use talcum that fulfils the material specifications in IEC 60529.
- Make sure that the test object meets the requirements of paragraph 7.6.3.1. also in a dust test with talcum.
- Update your documents that quote paragraphs 5.3.6. to 5.3.8. to the new numbers 5.3.5. to 5.3.7.
Technical service / Approval authority
- Be ready to assess dust tests done with talcum that fulfils the IEC 60529 material specifications.
- For a talcum test, also check that the test object meets the requirements of paragraph 7.6.3.1.
- Update your checklists to the new paragraph numbers 5.3.5. to 5.3.7. Former paragraph 5.3.5. on the UI is deleted.
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.
More UN R16 change reports
- 10 series — Supplement 3
- 10 series — Supplement 2
- 10 series — Supplement 1
- 10 series — Base text
- 09 series — Supplement 2
- 09 series — Supplement 1
- 09 series — Base text
- 08 series — Supplement 5
- 08 series — Supplement 4
- 08 series — Supplement 3
- 08 series — Supplement 2
- 08 series — Supplement 1
- 08 series — Base text
- 07 series — Supplement 7
- 07 series — Supplement 6
- 07 series — Supplement 5
- 07 series — Supplement 4
- 07 series — Supplement 3