Proposal for a collective amendment to Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 and 86
Document GRE/2017/22
9 August 2017

Proposal to introduce requirements for light emitting diode (LED) substitute light sources into Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 and 86.

Submitted by GTB
Status: Superseded
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Previous Documents, Discussions, and Outcomes
5. | UN Regulations Nos. 37 (Filament lamps), 99 (Gas discharge light sources), 128 (Light emitting diodes light sources) and the Consolidated Resolution on the common specification of light source categories)

18. To introduce requirements for LED substitute light sources in the installation UN Regulations, the expert from Germany presented collective amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 and 86 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2018/41). The expert from OICA submitted comments (GRE-80-19). GRE adopted the proposals unamended and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration at their June 2019 sessions as draft Supplement 12 to the 06 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 48, draft Supplement 4 to the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 53, draft Supplement 11 to the 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 74 and draft Supplement 2 to the 01 series of amendments of UN Regulation No. 86.

5. | Regulations Nos. 37, 99, 128 and RE5 (light-source specifications)

17. The expert from GTB presented revised amendments to Regulation No. 128 and to R.E.5 which introduced requirements, test specifications and new categories for light emitting diode (LED) substitute light sources (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/17, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/21). The proposals also included collective amendments to Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74, 86 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/22 and GRE-78-02). The experts from Italy and OICA submitted written comments on the proposals (GRE-78-33 and GRE-78-28).

18. GRE noted that, compared to the original GTB proposals that had been considered at the previous session, the revised proposals contained safeguards against the possible misuse of LED substitutes as retrofits in lamps and/or vehicles that were not type approved for using such light sources. A number of experts were of the view that the proposed measures, such as consumer warning on packaging and a website with a list of compatible vehicle models, were not sufficient and reiterated their concerns as raised at the previous session. The expert of OICA pointed out that, to avoid any responsibility for misusing LED substitutes when installing on old vehicle types, the vehicle manufacturers would have be burdened to extend type approvals pursuant to the earlier series of amendments to Regulation No. 48 (GRE-78-28). GRE acknowledged the problem and noted that the failure detection provisions in Regulation No. 48 should be revised. Some experts advocated the idea of physical keying of LED caps to prevent installing unauthorized substitutes.

19. GRE noted that the discussion addressed two different, but interrelated issues: (a) allowing LED substitutes for new type approvals, as part of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Original Equipment Supplier (OES), and (b) using LED as retrofits on old vehicle types. Some experts were of the view that the two cannot be separated from one another. To make progress, GRE agreed to establish a task force. The expert from Germany stated that another expert from his country would act as Chair of the task force, while the expert from UK provisionally agreed to become Co-Chair. The expert from IEC volunteered to provide secretarial support.

6. (a) | Regulation No. 48: Proposals for amendments to the 05 and 06 series of amendments
5. | Regulations Nos. 37, 99, 128 and RE5

12. The expert from GTB presented proposals for amendments to Regulation No. 128 and to the Consolidated Resolution (R.E.5) which introduce requirements and test specifications for light emitting diode (LED) substitute light sources as well as several new LED substitute light source categories (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/2, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/3, GRE-77-02, GRE-77-03, GRE-77-15, GRE-77-22). These proposals were accompanied by collective amendments to Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74, 86 with the requirements for LED substitute light sources (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2017/4). The expert from GTB explained that the proposed approach was based on the following principles:

  • Lamps may be approved with a filament light source and its corresponding LED substitute light source, when fitting in the same holder, and providing an equivalent photometric performance;
  • Lamps equipped with LED substitute light sources should be tested with both the filament lamp and the LED substitute light source.

Related and Previous Documents
GRE/2017/4
GRE-78-02
GRE-78-33
TFSR-01-07
TFSR-01-06
TFSR-03-05
TFSR-04-04/Rev.1
GRE/2018/41
Relates to UN R48 | UN R53 | UN R74 | UN R86 |