UN R95 Base text (04 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 95 (ECE R95) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants, fuel system integrity and protection against electrical shock in the event of a lateral collision.
UN R95 — 04 series of amendments
Changes from 03 series of amendments (supplement 7)
- What changed
- This Regulation now applies to vehicles of category M1 with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 3,500 kg and to vehicles of category N1.
- After the impact, it must be possible without the use of tools to open at least one door per row of seats.
- As from 5 July 2022, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation are not obliged to accept preceding-series type approvals first issued after 5 July 2022.
- Why
- The drafting task force prepared the text to align UN Regulations to the revised General Safety Regulation of the European Union and modify the scope.
- Broad exemptions, for example for heavy sport utility vehicles and vans, can no longer be justified in the light of increasing electrification.
- In wide vehicles, the front seats may not need a displacement system, as occupants can move forward between the seats.
Q1What changed16 changes
Scope (para. 1.)
This Regulation now applies to vehicles of category M1 with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 3,500 kg and to vehicles of category N1. Before, it applied to the lateral collision behaviour of the structure of the passenger compartment of M1 and N1 categories of vehicles. These were vehicles where the “R” point of the lowest seat is not more than 700 mm from ground level. The height was taken with the vehicle in the condition corresponding to the reference mass defined in paragraph 2.10. A footnote on the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3.) now cites document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.6, not Rev.3.
Definition of “Displacement system” (para. 2.40.)
New paragraph 2.40. defines “Displacement system”. It means a device by which the seat or one of its parts can be displaced and/or rotated, without a fixed intermediate position. The device is there to permit easy access of occupants to and from the space behind the seat concerned.
Opening doors and evacuating occupants after the impact (para. 5.3.3.1.)
After the impact, it must be possible without the use of tools to open at least one door per row of seats. Before, it said to open enough doors for normal entry and exit, and if necessary tilt seat-backs or seats to allow evacuation of all occupants. Where there is no such door, it must be possible to evacuate all the occupants by activating the seat displacement system, if necessary. If no displacement system is available to evacuate a rear seated occupant, it must be shown that a 50th percentile manikin can be evacuated. This must be possible without the use of any devices to support the manikin's weight and any other tools.
Evacuation through an emergency window for category N1 (para. 5.3.3.1.)
For vehicles of category N1, the evacuation of the occupants may be done through an emergency window, if this window can be easily opened. If tools are necessary, for example to break the window, the manufacturer must provide them. These tools must be visible and located in close proximity to that emergency window.
Configurations to assess for doors, fuel system and high voltage system (paras. 5.3.3.1. and 5.3.8.)
Under paragraph 5.3.3.1., this must be assessed for all configurations or worst-case configuration for number of doors on each side of the vehicle. It must also be assessed for both left-hand drive and right-hand drive vehicles, when applicable. New paragraph 5.3.8. says that the fuel system and high voltage system must be assessed for all configurations or worst-case configuration. This applies for left-hand drive and right-hand drive vehicles, when applicable.
Type approvals to the 04 series and the preceding series (paras. 10.13. to 10.17.)
Paragraph 10.13. applies as from the official date of entry into force of the 04 series of amendments. From then, no Contracting Party applying this Regulation may refuse to grant or refuse to accept type approvals under the 04 series. As from 5 July 2022, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation are not obliged to accept preceding-series type approvals first issued after 5 July 2022. Until 5 July 2024, they must accept preceding-series type approvals first issued before 5 July 2022. As from 5 July 2024, they are not obliged to accept type approvals issued to the preceding series of amendments. Notwithstanding paragraph 10.16., they must continue to accept preceding-series type approvals for vehicles not affected by the changes introduced by the 04 series.
Approval mark examples (Annex 2)
The Annex 2 approval mark examples now refer to the 04 series of amendments of UN Regulation No. 95, not the 03 series. One example now uses approval number 041424 instead of 031424. The example texts now say “UN Regulation No. 95” instead of “Regulation No. 95”. The approval mark images in Annex 2 are also replaced.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Expert from the European Commission on behalf of the drafting task force
- Working party
- GRSP, 66th session (December 2019)
Reasons
The drafting task force prepared the text to align UN Regulations to the revised General Safety Regulation of the European Union and modify the scope. The European Union is in the process of adopting the revised General Safety Regulation. It also addresses a number of exemptions for essential vehicle safety requirements, for example for heavy sport utility vehicles and vans. These broad exemptions can no longer be justified in the light of increasing electrification of the vehicle fleet. They can also no longer be justified in the light of the protection of persons in terms of post-crash electric shock and fuel leakage risks. The exemptions can also no longer be justified as regards door opening or jamming and the safe evacuation of occupants of such vehicles.
Sources (5)
“prepared by the experts of the drafting task force to align UN Regulations to the provisions of the revised General Safety Regulation of the European Union to modify the scope of the UN Regulation”
“The European Union is in the process of adopting the revised General Safety Regulation that introduces a range of new safety features.”
“It however also addresses a number of exemptions for essential vehicle safety requirements for e.g. heavy sport utility vehicles and vans.”
“These broad exemptions can no longer be justified in the light of increasing electrification of the vehicle fleet as well as generally the protection of persons in terms of post-crash electric shock and fuel leakage risks”
“as well as door opening or jamming and the safe evacuation of occupants of such vehicles.”
The drafting task force also prepared the text to provide appropriate transitional provisions. The envisioned application dates decided by the European Parliament and European Union member States are also proposed in new transitional provisions for this Regulation.
Sources (2)
“to provide appropriate transitional provisions and to make minor adaptations and clarifications to the existing requirements”
“The envisioned application dates that have been decided by the European Parliament and European Union member States are also proposed in new transitional provisions for this Regulation.”
In wide vehicles, it may not be necessary for the front seats to have a displacement system (in accordance with UN Regulation No. 17). This is because occupants can move forward between the seats. It is proposed to allow this also in this Regulation, to evacuate rear-seated occupants through a front door in case of a side impact. In some commercial vehicles, no passage to the front row of seats is possible and no forward seat has a displacement system. In these vehicles, evacuation should be guaranteed through, for example, an emergency window.
Sources (3)
“In wide vehicles it may be not necessary for the front seats to have a displacement system (in accordance with UN Regulation No. 17), as occupants can move forward between the seats.”
“It is proposed to allow this also in this Regulation to allow for the evacuation of rear-seated occupants through a front door in case of a side impact.”
“In some commercial vehicles where no passage to the front row of seat is possible and neither forward seats are provided with a displacement system, evacuation should be guaranteed though for example an emergency window.”
The text clarifies that at least a worst-case configuration for side doors, fuel system and/or electrical system layout must be assessed. This is to avoid diverging interpretations by Technical Services and Type-Approval Authorities. It is also to prevent that certain configurations would somehow not be checked.
Sources (2)
“To avoid diverging interpretations by Technical Services and Type-Approval Authorities it is clarified that at least a worst-case configuration for side doors, fuel system and/or electrical system layout must be assessed”
“to prevent that certain configurations would somehow not be checked.”
Document trail
- 2019-09ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2019/30Proposal for the 04 series of amendments, by the expert from the European Commission on behalf of the drafting task force
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/66Session report, para. 34: GRSP adopted the proposal as amended by Annex VII
- 2020-04Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2020/61Text that GRSP sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2020-06WP.29 adoptsAdopted at the 181st session
- 2021-01-03In forceC.N.30.2021.TREATIES-XI.B.16.95UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- Check M1 vehicles with a maximum permissible mass up to 3,500 kg, and N1 vehicles, against this Regulation.
- After the impact, make sure at least one door per row of seats can be opened without tools.
- Where a seat row has no door, make sure all occupants can evacuate by activating the displacement system, if necessary.
- If no displacement system serves a rear seated occupant, show a 50th percentile manikin evacuation without weight-support devices or tools.
- For category N1 evacuation through an easily opened emergency window, provide any necessary tools, visible and close to it.
- Be ready for the 5 July 2022 and 5 July 2024 dates in paragraphs 10.14. to 10.16.
Component supplier
- No direct action for this role.
Technical service / Approval authority
- Be ready to test M1 vehicles with a maximum permissible mass up to 3,500 kg, and N1 vehicles.
- After the impact, check that at least one door per row of seats can be opened without tools.
- Where a seat row has no door, check evacuation of all occupants, activating the displacement system if necessary.
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.
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- 05 series — Supplement 3
- 05 series — Supplement 2
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- 05 series — Base text
- 04 series — Supplement 3
- 04 series — Supplement 2
- 04 series — Supplement 1
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