Meeting report of the 6th session of the Task Force on Emergency Door Opening. The group discussed amendments to UN Regulation No. 11 and UN GTR No. 1, addressing door types, vehicle master control switch terminology, main power supply definitions, backup power supply failure monitoring, intuitiveness criteria and handle marking, gripping features, owner’s manual requirements, definitions from previous sessions, power loss provisions, sliding door applicability, and locking systems. Amendments to UN Regulation No. 21 addressed vehicle submergence escape procedures, window opening mechanisms, and test facility specifications. Action items were assigned to various parties with homework deadline 2 November 2026.

The document addresses open issues and comments regarding UN R11 and GTR No. 1 concerning emergency door opening. It proposes defining vehicle master control switch as the device bringing onboard electronics from off to normal operation mode, and suggests activating this switch rather than switching ignition on in test procedures. The document defines main power supply as power source(s) and supply path(s) normally used for door system operation, excluding secondary or back-up supply. It raises concerns about secondary or back-up power supply failure occurring in the field before emergencies despite compliant test results. The document discusses objective intuitiveness criteria including visibility, accessibility, discoverability, identification, and operability. It recommends standardized marking for exterior door handles and proposes that door opening and closing procedures be described in vehicle owners’ manuals.

Proposal to establish a submergence test procedure requiring that at least one window per row of seats be capable of being fully opened after a vehicle enters water for occupant escape, with the window operable up to 2 minutes after submergence as designed by the manufacturer, defining container dimensions to accommodate the vehicle without wall or floor contact during the 2-minute period except when fully submerged, permitting open-water test sites provided they comply with test conditions while prohibiting freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and saltwater bodies, requiring the master control switch position allow window operation, specifying unladen kerb mass with measuring apparatus not changing axle reference load by more than 5 per cent, lowering the vehicle into water-filled container at horizontal angle 0–10 degrees with time zero defined as when lowering straps become slack and vehicle floats freely, requiring the vehicle remain in water for 2 minutes from time zero without floor contact until fully submerged, requiring window operation by remote system after 2 minutes with vehicle immersed, and permitting alternative subsystem tests demonstrating window opening functionality under submerged conditions.

Proposals developed during the EDO session to:

• Amend para. 1.1. to include application to evacuation of occupants in emergency events,
• amend definitions of child safety lock system, full locking system, and door closure warning system,
• insert new definitions of latch release control, door handle, retractable door handle, unlock, unlatch, power loss, vehicle master control switch, main power supply, and door opening,
• insert new para. 5.4. establishing requirements for exterior and interior door operation including latch release controls and door handles,
• amend para. 6.3.1. to reference exterior latch release control and insert para. 6.3.1.1. requiring full locking systems to activate only when vehicle master control switch is deactivated with specified measures,
• amend para. 6.3.2. for side rear doors,
• insert new para. 6.4. establishing requirements for intuitive operation of latch release controls and door handles, power-assisted systems capability after 60-minute power loss, and unobstructed positioning,
• insert new para. 7.3. requiring testing in accordance with Annex 7,
• insert new Annex 7 establishing power loss test procedures for interior and exterior door opening after main power supply disconnection.