Status report of the BMFE informal working group.

Proposal to refine the provisions on the number and position of emergency exits of vehicles of Classes A and B. The transition from 05-series to 06-series of amendments is based on the final proposal of the Informal Group for Service Doors, Windows, and Emergency Exits (SDWEE) adopted by GRSG as document GRSG/2012/15. One of the consequences of the new wording is that, if one escape hatch is fitted, it must be positioned in the middle third of the passenger compartment. For Class A and B vehicles with sometimes short passenger compartments (< 3 m), this can be problematic because the middle third position can overlap with the position of the service door, close to which lateral roof reinforcements are necessary to provide structural stability and meet provisions of UN R66. Given that the exact position on shorter vehicles is of lower relevance than for long compartments, this proposal would provide latitude on the exact placement for Class A and B vehicles.

Proposal to lower the minimum mass requirement for an articulated vehicle of Class I having four or more axles of which two are steering axles. Manufacturers of double-articulated vehicles with four or more axles face serious difficulties in fulfilling the requirement for the front steering axle where “the mass corresponding to the load on the front axle or group of axles shall not be less than the percentage of the mass of the vehicle” according to a table in the regulation.

Proposal to allow options for emergency exists of Class B vehicles with internal volume less than 25m³.