The PMP session discussed revisions to the group’s terms of reference to address overlapping technical issues with GTR 24, UN R179, and replacement parts regulations. Three task forces were proposed: TF3a on layout and testing, TF3b on speed-limited vehicles, and TF4 on electromechanical brakes. Topics included non-original brake parts regulations, UN R179 amendments for new vehicle categories, and GTR heavy-duty brake particle emissions standards. The next meeting was scheduled for end of April 2026.

The PMP webex meeting scheduled for 7 May 2026, 12:00-14:30 CET will review meeting minutes from 13.03.2026, provide an overview of amendments to Brakes GTR 24 and UN R179 covering layout and testing topics, vehicle limited speed, brake replacement parts, and electromechanical brakes, discuss GTR HD brakes, and address any other business.

Proposal to amend UN GTR 24 (Laboratory Measurement of Brake Emissions for Light-Duty Vehicles) by clarifying requirements for electromechanical brakes and dry brakes, modifying test procedures, updating definitions and technical specifications, revising cooling airflow adjustment methodologies, refining PM and PN measurement protocols, and adjusting calibration intervals and quality control procedures.

Task Force 4 addresses brake system development towards dry brakes, specifically electromechanical brakes. Current methods to determine friction brake torque available for hydraulic systems are not all applicable for dry systems. Task Force 4 targets defining a pressure-based equivalent method for electromechanical brake systems and reviewing document validity for electromechanical braking systems. Work Package B completed text document review with proposed changes due end of May 2026. Work Package A discusses two alternative approaches for c-factor calculation: clamping force based and recuperated energy based, with verification tests planned by end of June 2026.

At the 94th session of GRPE, CLEPA proposed a draft UN Regulation for approval of replacement brake parts. A dual pathway approach was proposed with two options depending on data availability: fully available data or minimal set of data with worst-case assumptions. PMP Task Force 3c was established to prepare a UN Regulation for approving replacement brake parts regarding particle emissions. The TF3c will define minimum information required under the simplified approach, assess variability within a family, and identify worst-case assumptions. CLEPA presented two approval concepts and requested support for Option A only. The next meeting is scheduled for 18 May 2026.

PMP Task Force 3b held kick-off on 07.05.2026 to address vehicles with legal limited speed, vehicles unable to follow cycle trace, and vehicles with capped speed by OEM decision. Proposals include adaptation of UN R179 cycle and procedure for vehicles with legal limited speed at 90 kph, with same duration for acceleration, cruise, and deceleration events, same acceleration and deceleration rates, and speed capped when needed. Introduction of such vehicles into brake corner emission families and vehicle types requires methodology to calculate adapted cycle and procedure, including c-factor measurement as alternative to fixed c-factor, and adaptation of Annex 5 procedure.

PMP TF 3a is consolidating and updating UN R179 and GTR 24 through weekly web-meetings organized by JRC with 30+ participants. Over 50 topics have been identified and categorized by priority. Key issues include aligning Type Approval and Conformity of Production testing procedures, harmonizing cooling air adjustment requirements, clarifying vehicle c-factor calculations, adding definitions for light-duty vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes, and addressing test wheel load per GRPE-94-15e. The task force is preparing track changes versions and supporting documentation for major changes.

Task Force 5 is progressing on GTR development with tests on endurance braking ending 07/2026 and potential GTR adoption at GRPE 95th session 10/2026. Draft revisions to Sections 7 and 8 are agreed and incorporated, addressing caliper orientation, fixed airflow, and additional loading factor. Nominal test parameters for brake groups are under revision, with tables from R90 defining disc and drum brake specifications. A small Round Robin Exercise with five volunteers is underway to assess enclosure and duct diameter impacts, with results due first week of June. Auxiliary Braking Systems testing requires significant immediate effort.

The 56th PMP session convened online on 7 May 2026 with approximately 70 participants. Meeting minutes from 13 March 2026 were accepted. PMP agreed on a joint neutral template for all task forces. TF3a discussed cooling air adjustment, temperature criteria, and vehicle emission factors, with proposals requested by end of May 2026. TF3b will discuss family building and speed-limited vehicles. TF3c presented brake replacement parts activities. TF4 prepared work package B on electromechanical brakes and requested feedback by end of May 2026. TF5 reported progress on GTR on HD brake particle emissions with test campaigns planned. The next meeting is expected end of June or beginning of July 2026.

PMP webex meeting scheduled for 9th July 2026, 12:00–14:30 CET. Agenda includes an overview of amendments to Brakes GTR 24 and UN R179, task force discussions on layout and testing topics, vehicles limited speed, brake replacement parts, electromechanical brakes GTR and UNR, HD brakes, projects on tyres and brakes, and any other business. Webex meeting access details and link provided.

This document proposes a new UN Global Technical Regulation (UN GTR) for measuring brake particle emissions from Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDVs). The GTR establishes a harmonised laboratory methodology covering the Worldwide Harmonised Heavy-Duty Vehicles Brake Cycle (WHBC), test system requirements, and measurement protocols for particulate matter (PM) and particle number (PN) emissions.

Key substantive elements include:

- Scope covering M₂–M₃, N₂–N₃, and O₃–O₄ category vehicles with friction braking systems
- Detailed specifications for brake dynamometer systems, enclosure design, sampling tunnel geometry, and cooling air conditioning
- Definition of the WHBC comprising three segments (urban, rural, motorway) with 246 brake events over 20,353 seconds and 271 km
- Brake bedding procedure (six consecutive WHBC cycles) followed by a single WHBC emissions measurement section
- Requirements for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 gravimetric sampling using cyclonic separators and filter-based collection
- Requirements for TPN₁₀ and SPN₁₀ measurement using dilution systems and particle number counters with specified PCRFs
- Detailed quality checks including speed violations, brake event count verification, and kinetic energy dissipation tolerances
- Comprehensive calibration requirements for dynamometer, flow measurement, weighing equipment, and sampling/measurement devices
- Test output specifications including Event-Based, Time-Based, Mass Measurement, and Test Report files

The regulation applies a friction braking share coefficient to convert reference emission factors from the tested brake to final emission factors applicable to the vehicle.

Task Force 3b addresses vehicles with limited speed by introducing a new Appendix 3 in Annex 4 to calculate adjusted cycles when vehicle maximum speed is lower than the WLTC-Brake cycle. The proposal modifies brake corner emissions family testing to allow vehicles with limited speed to be included in families with standard vehicles, with emission factors calculated from parent family factors or measured on adjusted cycles. Amendments address c-factor measurement, cycle-adjusted brake events, kinetic energy dissipation tolerances, and report file specifications.

Task Force 5 progressed toward GTR adoption planned for GRPE 95th session in 10/2026. JRC endurance braking tests conclude 07/08/2026. A small round robin exercise with six participants tests three airflow settings to finalize bracketed values. Key updates include maximum sampling probe length of 1.35m, PM10 probe positioning on outside streamline for bent layouts, and probe distance reduction from 100mm to 70mm. Proposal to delete the Disc or Drum Metallurgy for Brake Groups section. Final GTR text requires PMP comments by 22/07/2026, with layout decisions by 16/07/2026. UNR drafting based on UN R179 skeleton has commenced with significant work required.

Proposal to amend UN R179 following GRPE-94-15e:

• Include supplements on automated vehicle definitions and OICA proposals on family members with higher wheel load but lower wheel load times c-factor ratio,
• Clarify wheel load and vehicle mass definitions for different tests,
• Add wheel load distribution for light commercial vehicles with fully laden mass between 3.5 and 5 tonnes,
• Redefine brake assembly to allow brake calliper reuse if in technically suitable condition,
• Optionally omit cooling air adjustment if temperature requirements are fulfilled,
• Require three emission measurement sections instead of one for type approval with arithmetical average reported,
• Clarify energy calculation for vehicles with limited speed,
• Harmonize reporting requirements including units and decimals,
• Define normalized flows,
• Include transitional provisions stating that vehicle types with existing valid type approvals issued before entry into force of supplement 2 need not undergo new type approval testing.

TF 3c addressed brake emission of replacement parts. Proposed amendments include clarification that surface heat-treated discs fall under “other” category, refinement of “Brake Emissions Family Parent” definition, and addition of new appendix to UN Regulation No. 179 Annex 2. Data sharing agreement established: front-to-rear axle emission ratio, brake force distribution, and vehicle electrification type will be shared with aftermarket operators. Two approaches for aftermarket applicants: use vehicle-specific data through benchmarking or bilateral agreements, or apply default values from Tables 5.4 and 5.5. Testing revealed up to 30% variation within friction-couple families. Safety factor application when using actual c-factor values remains under discussion, with final decision expected before October.

Task Force 4 has completed revisions to GTR 24 concerning electro-mechanical calipers and proposes to include them in Amendment 3.

Draft Minutes of the 56th Particle Measurement Programme session held online on 9th July 2026, 12:00-14:30 CET. The meeting reviewed amendments to Brakes GTR 24 and UN R179 across five task forces. TF3a presented layout and testing topics with concerns raised regarding repetition increases and force distribution. TF3b discussed vehicles with limited speed and family classification issues. TF3c addressed brake replacement parts and emission limits. TF4 reported on electromechanical brakes with work package B agreed. TF5 presented the GTR on heavy-duty brake particle emissions with results expressed in mg/km, with some points remaining in brackets pending inter-laboratory comparisons. Comments are due by 16th July, with the next meeting expected mid/end of September 2026 and a hybrid PMP meeting planned for 12th or 13th October in Geneva.

Proposal to insert new paras. 3.3.29. to 3.3.33. defining “Semi-Metallic-Organic,” “Low-Steel-Organic,” “Non-Asbestos-Organic,” and “Low-Steel-Non-Organic” friction materials and “Pad area,” amend Annex 2 title to read “Annex 2 Communication,” insert a new footnote to Annex 2, and insert a new Annex 2 – Appendix containing a list of vehicle data for UN Regulation No. [XXX] approvals including vehicle type description, brake linings and discs specifications, vehicle test mass, maximum speed, tyre dimensions, brake circuit configuration, and brake specifications.

This document proposes a new UN Regulation on uniform provisions concerning approval of non-original and identical replacement brake parts regarding particulate emissions. The regulation applies to laboratory measurement of brake emissions from non-original replacement brake pads, linings, discs, and drums for vehicles of categories M₁, N₁, and N₂ originating from vehicles with type approval under Regulation No. 179. Approval requires emission factors to comply with specified limits based on vehicle category and powertrain technology. The regulation establishes brake emissions families based on characteristics including calliper type, vehicle axle location, friction material formulation, brake disc or drum material, disc surface form, friction material surface area, and drum diameter. Testing procedures, conformity of production requirements, marking and packaging specifications, and approval extension procedures are detailed.