World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations: Encyclopedia II - World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations - 1958 Agreement

World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations - 1958 Agreement

The core of the Forum's work is based around is the 1958 Agreement, formally titled "Agreement concerning the adoption of uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles and the conditions for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted on the basis of these prescriptions". This forms a legal framework whereby participating countries agree a common set of UNECE Regulations for type approval of vehicles and components. When an item is type approved for a regulation by one participating country, then the approval is accepted by all other participating countries.

Originally, the 1958 Agreement allowed participation of UNECE member countries only, but in 1995 the agreement was revised to allow non-UNECE members to participate.

Items approved as meeting an UNECE Regulation are marked with an E and a number, within in a circle. The number indicates which country approved the item, and other surrounding letters and digits indicate the date and precise regulation met.

World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations - List of participating countries

As of 2005, the participants to the 1958 Agreement, with their UNECE country code, are:

Most countries, even if not formally participating in the 1958 agreement, recognise the UNECE Regulations and permit the use and importation of ECE-approved vehicles.

World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations - List of UNECE Regulations

As of 2005, there are 121 UNECE Regulations. Most regulations cover a single vehicle component or technology. A partial list of current regulations applying to passenger cars follows (different regulations may apply to heavy vehicles, motorcycles etc).

• R37 — filament lamps
• R48 — installation of lighting and light-signalling devices
• R3 — retro-reflecting devices
• R4 — illumination of rear registration plates
• R6 — direction indicators
• R7 — front and rear position (side) lamps, stop-lamps and end-outline marker lamps
• R19 — fog lamps
• R23 — reversing lights
• R39 — rear fog lamps
• R77 — parking lamps
• R87 — daytime running lamps
• R91 — side-marker lamps
• R119 — cornering lamps

• R31 — halogen sealed-beam unit (HSB unit) motor vehicle headlamps emitting an asymmetrical passing beam or a driving beam or both
• R45 — headlamp cleaners
• R98 — headlamps equipped with gas-discharge light sources
• R112 — headlamps emitting an asymmetrical passing beam or a driving beam or both and equipped with filament lamps
• R113 — headlamps emitting a symmetrical passing beam or a driving beam or both and equipped with filament lamps

• R35 — arrangement of foot controls
• R39 — speedometer equipment
• R46 — rear-view mirrors
• R79 — steering equipment

• R11 — door latches and door retention components
• R13-H — braking (passenger cars)
• R14 — safety-belt anchorages
• R16 — safety-belts and restraint systems
• R27 — advance-warning triangles
• R42 — front and rear protective devices (bumpers, etc.)
• R43 — safety glazing materials and their installation on vehicles
• R94 — protection of the occupants in the event of a frontal collision
• R95 — protection of the occupants in the event of a lateral collision
• R116 — protection of motor vehicles against unauthorized use

• R51 — noise emissions
• R68 — measurement of the maximum speed
• R83 — emission of pollutants according to engine fuel requirements
• R84 — measurement of fuel consumption
• R85 — internal combustion engines or electric drive trains — measurement of the net power and the maximum 30 minutes power of electric drive trains
• R101 — measurement of the emission of carbon dioxide and fuel consumption
• R117 — rolling sound emissions of tyres

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "1958 Agreement", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki