Proposal to establish a submergence test procedure requiring that during vehicle submergence at least 1 window per row of seats be openable for occupant escape up to 2 minutes from water entry, with the vehicle lowered into a water-filled container within a horizontal angle of 0–10 degrees in the X longitudinal and lateral direction, floating for 2 minutes from the time lowering straps slacken, with the window opened to its lowest position after 2 minutes or automatically lowered within 2 minutes, or alternatively demonstrated through sub-system testing of window opening functionality under water with power source and relevant elements in agreement with the Type Approval Authority and Technical Service.
The operation of latch-release controls and door handles shall be considered intuitive where vehicle occupants are able to identify and operate the means of door opening or latch release immediately and without the need for prior instruction or prior experience with the specific system, by having a distinctive shape, colour or marking, not covered or hidden. This requirement is intended to ensure that occupants are able to open a door or release a latch quickly and reliably, regardless of their familiarity with the vehicle.
The purpose of this test is to verify that door-opening systems remain fully functional following an emergency event leading to a loss of the vehicle’s power supply. After power loss, all doors providing direct occupant entry or exit must demonstrate they can be unlocked, unlatched, and opened from the interior by an occupant seated next to the door regardless of ignition status or initial latch position, and when unlocked, can be unlatched and opened from the exterior by a person standing next to the vehicle. The interior test requires disconnecting the main power supply, waiting 60 minutes, then operating interior means to unlock and unlatch the door and open it using the interior door handle within 10 minutes, repeated up to five cycles. The exterior test requires disconnecting the main power supply, waiting 60 minutes, then operating the exterior latch release control and exterior door handle within 10 minutes, repeated up to five cycles.
IWVTA is an internationally recognised whole vehicle type approval scheme within the revised 1958 Agreement framework. It establishes mutual recognition of vehicle type approvals at the whole vehicle level across Contracting Parties, eliminating requirements for further testing, documentation, or certification for safety, environment, energy, and anti-theft. IWVTA comprises two approaches: U-IWVTA applies the highest stringency of latest UN Regulations, while L-IWVTA permits omissions or lower stringency versions. The scope is limited to passenger cars. Merits include simplified type approval systems, reduced testing and administrative costs, and shortened processing times.
The agenda includes welcome and opening remarks, introduction of participants, adoption of the agenda, report of the 27th meeting (TFSR-27-03), way forward (GRE-91-14), review of GRE-94 report (GRE-94-18), proposals for R.E.5 including H11 LEDr (entered-into-force November 2024 GRE-90-02), H8 LEDr, H16 LEDr, HB4 LEDr (entered-into-force March 2026), front fog types, high beam types, low beam types, clarification of UN R37 requirements for LEDr, enforcement and market surveillance issues (TFSR-26-04,) preparation of GRE-95 status report, any other business, and next meetings.