1. The Working Party on Noise (GRB) held its sixtieth session from 1 to 3 September 2014 in Geneva. The meeting was chaired by Mr. S. Ficheux (France). Experts from the following countries participated in the work following Rule 1(a) of the Rules of Procedure of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) (TRANS/WP.29/690, Amend. 1 and Amend. 2): Austria; Belgium; China; France; Germany; Hungary; India; Italy; Japan; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Republic of Korea; Russian Federation; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Experts from the European Commission (EC) participated. Experts from the following non-governmental organizations also participated: European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO); International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA); International Organization for Standardization (ISO); International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) and World Blind Union (WBU).

2. GRB considered and adopted the agenda.

GRB-60-05 | General information and WP.29 highlights for the 60th session of the Working Party on Noise

3. Through a presentation (GRB-60-16), the expert from OICA introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2014/4 proposing amendments to UN Regulation No. 28, in particular, a reduction the prescribed sound level of the audible warning device from 93 to 87 dB(A). While the expert from the Republic of Korea supported this proposal, the experts from India and IMMA requested a study reservation. GRB agreed to revert to this issue at its January 2015 session.

GRB-60-16 | Assessment on the Minimum Sound Level of the Horn Review of vehicle horn regulations across various markets towards assessing the minimum sound level of 87 dB(A) under UN R28.

GRB/2014/4 | Proposal for amendments to Regulation No. 28 The current UN R28 test procedures specify voltages that cannot be reached by many vehicles' internal battery charges alone; however, the provisions can be met if the vehicle is warmed up and run at idle. Therefore, OICA proposes to allow vehicles to be run at idle during the test procedure. OICA also proposes to change the minimum sound level requirement for vehicles of category M and N and motorcycles of a power greater than 7 kW from 93 dB to 87 dB.

4. The expert from IMMA proposed to complete a table containing all symbols used in this UN Regulation with the symbols related to the additional sound emission provisions (ASEP) test (GRB-60-06). GRB adopted this proposal as reproduced in Annex II to this report and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and the Administrative Committee of the 1958 Agreement (AC.1) for consideration and vote at their March 2015 sessions.

GRB-60-06 | Proposal for amendments to Regulation No. 41 Proposal to clarify certain terms and symbols used in Annex 7 (ASEP) of the regulation.

5. On behalf of the Informal Working Group (IWG) on UN Regulations Nos. 51 and 59, the expert from OICA introduced a revised proposal for the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 51 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2014/5). He explained that the text of this proposal was harmonized, as far as possible, with European Union (EU) Regulation No. 540/2014 on the sound level of motor vehicles and of replacement silencing systems, including a three-phase reduction of the sound level limits. GRB noted that, following the entry into force of phase 2 for new types of vehicles, EU would undertake a detailed study to review the limits of phase 3 and to correct these values, if deemed to be necessary. Other Contracting Parties were invited to conduct similar studies in the future and to transmit their outcomes to GRB. GRB stressed the importance of aligning the timeline for introduction of phases 1-3 of the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 51 with the step-by-step entry into force of the above EU Regulation. For this reason, GRB agreed that all transitional provisions of paragraph 11. of the proposal should refer to specific dates(i.e., dates identical to those of the EU phase-in). Finally, GRB adopted the proposal, as amended by Annex III to this report, and mandated the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2015 sessions.

GRB-60-01 | Proposal for additional amendments to the draft the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No. 51 Proposal from the informal working group on Un Regulations Nos. 51 and 59 for further amendments to the draft 03 series of amendments to UN R51 (document GRB/2014/5).

GRB/2014/5 | Proposal for the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No. 51 Proposal from the expert group on UN R51 and UN R59 to update the provisions of UN Regulation No. 51.

6. The expert from Japan suggested that references to ISO 10844:2011 be put in square brackets for the time being and requested GRB to revert to this issue at the next session.

GRB-60-17 | ISO 10844: Comparison of 2014 version against 2011 version

GRB/2014/5 | Proposal for the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No. 51 Proposal from the expert group on UN R51 and UN R59 to update the provisions of UN Regulation No. 51.

7. The expert from OICA briefly introduced some additional elements which had been identified by IWG on UN Regulations Nos. 51 and 59 for further consideration and possible inclusion into the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 51 (GRB-60-01). The expert from ISO informed GRB about a new version of ISO 10844:2014 which added a few editorial modifications to the previous version ISO 10844:2014 without changes in the fundamental requirements (GRB-60-17). The expert from China introduced GRB-60-10-Rev.1 and GRB-60-15 in which he suggested higher limit values and a new classification for vehicles of a specific category available on the Chinese market. GRB requested the IWG on UN Regulations Nos. 51 and 59 to consider all these additional aspects and to prepare proposals for the next session, if necessary.

GRB-60-01 | Proposal for additional amendments to the draft the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No. 51 Proposal from the informal working group on Un Regulations Nos. 51 and 59 for further amendments to the draft 03 series of amendments to UN R51 (document GRB/2014/5).

GRB-60-10/Rev.1 | China Proposal for treatment of Micro-Van and Micro-Truck classes under UN R51 Proposal to permit a 74dB(A) limit value for the noise of micro-vans and micro-trucks.

GRB-60-15 | China Proposal for a harmonized M1 classification and limits Comparison ECE R51.03 (as adopted by GRB) versus the draft China regulation GB1495 for M1 vehicle noise and proposal for reconciling apparent differences between them.

GRB-60-17 | ISO 10844: Comparison of 2014 version against 2011 version

8. GRB noted that the additional sound emission provisions contained in ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2011/64 had been incorporated into the revised proposal for the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 51 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2014/5) and decided to remove ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2011/64 from the agenda.

GRB/2014/5 | Proposal for the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No. 51 Proposal from the expert group on UN R51 and UN R59 to update the provisions of UN Regulation No. 51.

WP.29/2011/64 | Proposal for amendments to Regulation No. 51

9. On behalf of the IWG on UN Regulations Nos. 51 and 59, the expert from OICA presented a revised proposal for the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 59 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2014/6 and GRB-60-01). He pointed out that this proposal was also aligned with EU Regulation No. 540/2014 on the sound level of motor vehicles and of replacement silencing systems. GRB adopted this proposal, as amended by Annex IV to the present report, and mandated the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2015 sessions.

GRB-60-01 | Proposal for additional amendments to the draft the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No. 51 Proposal from the informal working group on Un Regulations Nos. 51 and 59 for further amendments to the draft 03 series of amendments to UN R51 (document GRB/2014/5).

GRB/2014/6 | Proposal for the 02 series of amendments to Regulation No. 59 Consolidated version of UN Regulation No. 59 incorporating the revisions recommended by the Informal Working Group on UN Regulations Nos. 51 and 59 in order to align the UN R59 with the latest EU decisions.

10. No new information was given under this agenda item.

11. The expert from the Russian Federation introduced some clarifications to be included in UN Regulation No. 117, on data processing for the measurement method of tyre deceleration value obtained in differential form dω/dt (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2014/7). GRB adopted this proposal, as amended by Annex V to this report, and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2015 sessions.

GRB/2014/7 | Proposal for Supplement 6 to the 02 series of amendments to Regulation No. 117 Proposal to introduce a “Deceleration Calculator” (dω/dt) for use in the UN R117 test procedures. This procedure was developed by Russia and validated by an ad hoc group (including NAMI, UTAC, and ETRTO).

12. The expert from ERTRO introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2014/8 to propose new time measurement accuracy for instrumentation involved in the rolling resistance method (Annex 6 to the UN Regulation). The expert from Japan reiterated his reservation that the proposed accuracy might be too strict and asked GRB to postpone the consideration of this item to the next session. The expert from the Russian Federation agreed with this suggestion. GRB recalled that this issue had already been discussed several times and felt that a final decision should be taken at the next session. Meanwhile, experts from Japan, Russian Federation, ETRTO, as well as from other Contracting Parties were invited to finalize their consultations.

GRB/2014/8 | Proposal for Supplement 7 to the 02 series of amendments to Regulation No. 117 At the 58th GRB session, the expert from ETRTO introduced GRB-58-02, proposing new time measurement accuracy for instrumentation involved in the rolling resistance method (Annex 6 of the UN Regulation). The expert from the Russian Federation introduced GRB-58-13, arguing that this change of accuracy was not needed for Annex 6. This present revised proposal has been prepared the ETRTO and approved by Russia.

13. The expert from IMMA proposed to include the latest version of ISO 10844 on test tracks in UN Regulations Nos. 9, 41 and 63 and to introduce transitional provisions for passing from ISO 10844:1994 to ISO 10844:2011 (GRB-60-07). GRB supported the objective of this proposal and noted that new test tracks based on ISO 10844:2011 could also be used for extension of approvals granted under the previous series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 41. GRB invited IMMA, with the assistance of the secretariat, to revise this proposal using ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2014/2 as an example and to re-submit it as an official proposal to the January 2015 session of GRB.

GRB-60-07 | Proposals for amendments to Regulations Nos. 9, 41 (03 and 04 series of amendments) and 63 This proposal would correct the reference to the latest version of ISO 10844 and introduce transitional provisions for shift of the test track from ISO 10844:1994 to ISO 10844:2011.

GRB/2014/2 | Proposal for Supplement 10 to the 02 series of amendments to Regulation No. 51 Proposal from the International Organization of Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) to update requirements for the noise test track from ISO 19844:1994 (i.e. Annex 8 of this Regulation) to ISO 10844:2011 and to allow for repaving of existing, non-compliant test tracks to meet the ISO 10844:2011 standards.

14. The expert from the Netherlands presented the outcome of a study (GRB-60-08 and Add.1) of the shifts in tyre sound emission levels in his country between 2007 and 2013, i.e. before and after the revision of tyre noise limits in 2009 (EC/661/2009 and UN Regulation No. 117). The study addressed the most common C1, C2 and C3 tyres in terms of size and manufacturer. The reductions in tyre sound levels between 2007 and 2013 were found to be respectively 1.5, 1.4 and 1.1 dB(A) for C1, C2 and C3 tyres.

GRB-60-08 | Tyre noise limits of EC/661/2009 and ECE R117: Evaluation based on sold tyres in the Netherlands Memorandum to the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment in response to its request for research into<ul><li>the effect of the present tyre Regulations on the exterior noise levels of tyres</li><li>comparison of the tyre noise levels in the present distribution with the limit values defined in the tyre Regulations</li><li>definition of the levels of "present-day technology and ambitious technology on base of the distribution of levels found in the present tyre population".</li></ul>

GRB-60-08/Add.1 | Shifts in tyre sound levels between 2007 and 2013 (Addendum)

15. The expert from the Netherlands informed GRB about the results of two studies (GRB-60-03, GRB-60-13, GRB-60-14) commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment with a view to assessing cost savings that could be achieved in the Netherlands and EU by a switch from currently used tyres to high-performance tyres with A-labels on each parameter of the EU tyre label: energy efficiency, wet grip and noise (so called ‘triple-A’ tyres). According to the studies, moving towards ‘triple-A’ tyres could bring considerable potential benefits for the society in terms of energy, safety and noise reduction, which were estimated to be around 1 billion Euros in the Netherlands and 34 billion Euros in EU per year. In addition, individual consumers could also benefits from substantial fuel cost savings.

GRB-60-03 | Potential benefits of Triple-A tyres in the Netherlands "Quick scan" study prepared for the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment to evaluate the potential of "triple A" tyres to improve vehicle safety, noise emssions, fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions. Tyres in the EU are labeled to convey information on their energy efficiency, safety, and noise performance. Triple A refers to tyres receiving the highest ratings across these three criteria.

GRB-60-13 | Presentation on "quiet road surfaces" and their impact on rolling noise

GRB-60-14/Rev.1 | Triple-A tyres – benefits for environment, noise, safety and economy Tyres in the EU are labeled to convey information on their energy efficiency, safety, and noise performance. Triple A refers to tyres receiving the highest ratings across these three criteria. This presentation reviews data collected on the advantages demonstrated by such triple-A tyres.

16. As a first reaction, the experts from ETRTO and OICA pointed out the rather theoretical character of some assumptions used for these studies, as well as the fact that ‘triple-A’ tyres were not yet available on the market. The expert from the Netherlands added that a common objective of these studies, together with the one mentioned in paragraph 22 above, was to shift the society to better tyres, either by introducing stricter limits or by raising the awareness of tyre labels. Finally, GRB agreed to include this issue in the agenda of its next session and invited experts to submit their comments for discussion.

GRB-60-03 | Potential benefits of Triple-A tyres in the Netherlands "Quick scan" study prepared for the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment to evaluate the potential of "triple A" tyres to improve vehicle safety, noise emssions, fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions. Tyres in the EU are labeled to convey information on their energy efficiency, safety, and noise performance. Triple A refers to tyres receiving the highest ratings across these three criteria.

GRB-60-13 | Presentation on "quiet road surfaces" and their impact on rolling noise

GRB-60-14/Rev.1 | Triple-A tyres – benefits for environment, noise, safety and economy Tyres in the EU are labeled to convey information on their energy efficiency, safety, and noise performance. Triple A refers to tyres receiving the highest ratings across these three criteria. This presentation reviews data collected on the advantages demonstrated by such triple-A tyres.

17. The expert from the Russian Federation informed GRB that, as from January 2015, a new regional regulation on internal noise would come into force in the Russian Federation and other countries of the Customs Union. Detailed information on this regulation, together with the internal noise limits, will be presented at the next session of GRB. He recalled a GRB recommendation to develop, with ISO, a test method for interior noise and pointed out that this work had not yet started due to a lack of financing. GRB took note of this information.

18. The expert from the Netherlands introduced GRB-60-04 and Add.1 in which he pointed out that, under urban driving conditions, the rolling noise dominates the overall noise production and is influenced by the properties of the road surface (like surface texture, acoustical absorption and air‐pumping). Thus, improving the surface properties would result in a lower rolling noise level. According to the expert, quiet road surfaces are a valuable measure to reduce traffic noise, either on their own or in combination with other noise reducing strategies, and generally demonstrate a positive cost/benefit ratio.

GRB-60-04 | Dutch Government leaflet on "Quiet Road Surfaces" This leaflet gives a short introduction for those who wants to explore the benefits and common pitfalls of silent road surfaces in urban situations.

GRB-60-04/Add.1 | Quiet road surfaces: Eurocities working group noise

19. The Chair stressed the importance of the tyre-road interaction for sound emissions and noted that, for the time being, GRB has no mandate for regulating road surfaces. GRB agreed to resume this discussion at its next session and looked forward to new studies and presentations on the issue.

GRB-60-04 | Dutch Government leaflet on "Quiet Road Surfaces" This leaflet gives a short introduction for those who wants to explore the benefits and common pitfalls of silent road surfaces in urban situations.

GRB-60-04/Add.1 | Quiet road surfaces: Eurocities working group noise

20. The Chair informed GRB about the proposal of the technical sponsors of IWG on Quiet Road Transport Vehicles (QRTV) for GTR to develop a draft UN Regulation on QRTV under the 1958 Agreement in parallel to a draft GTR on QRTV (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1110, para. 100). GRB agreed with this proposal and decided, subject to WP.29 consent, to establish an IWG to develop a UN Regulation on QRTV under the 1958 Agreement and adopted the Terms of Reference (ToR) (GRB-60-11-Rev.1), as reproduced in Annex VI to this report. The new IWG should work in close cooperation with IWG QRTV for GTR, with the aim to draft the above mentioned UN Regulation based on audible alerts for the safety of vulnerable road users. GRB agreed that the scope of a new UN Regulation would initially cover electric and hybrid electric vehicles of categories M and N. In a second phase, the scope may be extended.

GRB-60-11/Rev.1 | Terms of Reference for a GRB informal group on quiet road transport vehicles under the 1958 Agreement Proposal for an informal working group to proceed with the development of a type-approval regulation for electric and hybrid electric vehicles under the 1958 Agreement in parallel to but separately from the effort to develop a global technical regulation on such vehicles.

21. GRB reviewed GRB-57-12 and GRB-57-18 containing definitions and acronyms in Regulations under the responsibility of GRB and requested OICA and IMMA to update these documents based on the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 51 and the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 59 adopted at the present session (see paras. 5 and 9 above), so that the final versions could be approved at the January 2015 session of GRB.

GRB-57-12 | UN Regulation No. 63: Acronyms and Abbreviations IMMA contribution towards the World Forum project to codify and harmonize technical terms and abbreviations used across its regulations.

GRB-57-18 | Proposal for a list of Acronyms and Abbreviations to Regulation No. 51 List of acronyms and abbreviations contained in Regulation No. 51 prepared by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA).

22. GRB was informed that the Working Party on Lighting and Light-Signalling (GRE) had identified the need to introduce definitions for new categories of vehicles into the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3), such as agricultural trailers and towed machinery. GRB noted several alternative proposals for the new definitions (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2014/25 and GRB-60-02) and invited experts to transmit their comments and suggestions, if any, to the secretariat.

GRB-60-02 | Proposal for amendments to the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3) In document GRSG/2014/25, the AVLI informal group proposed to add classes and definitions for agricultural vehicles to the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles. The proposal raised consistency issues for the EU with respect to vehicle definitions that will be introduced by Regulation (EU) 167/2013 in 2016. Therefore, the EU Commission services have developed two alternative proposals: one in full alignment with the definitions used in the EU regulation and one based on the AVLI group definitions with small changes to achieve consistency with the EU legislation.

23. On behalf the GRB Ambassador to IWVTA, the expert from EC reported on the progress made on Revision 3 of the 1958 Agreement and on the development of UN Regulation No. 0. At its June 2014 session, WP.29 had agreed to freeze the work on Revision 3 and to resume its consideration in November 2014 on the basis of political and legal guidance that the Contracting Parties had been requested to provide, in particular, on outstanding issues of proxy voting and the three-fourth or the four-fifth majority required for taking decisions. WP.29 had also approved a questionnaire on IWVTA which was subsequently distributed. The latest draft of Revision 3 of the 1958 Agreement is contained in ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/53 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/82.

WP.29/2014/53 | Proposal for Revision 3 of the 1958 Agreement Final proposed text to revise and update the 1958 Agreement pursuant to the project to establish an international whole vehicle type approval system.

WP.29/2014/82 | Proposal for amendments to draft Revision 3 to the 1958 Agreement Addition of an article to the agreement stating its preparation in English, French, and Russian with all three languages carrying the same legal power.

24. The secretariat presented draft guidelines on amendments to UN Regulations (WP.29-163-10), including a new term “version of a UN Regulation” and a common commencement date (1 September each year) recommended for new series of amendments to all UN Regulations listed in the annex of UN Regulation No. 0. In this respect, the Chair recalled that for the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 51, the date of entry into force of phase 1 was fixed on 1 July 2016, in order to synchronize it with the entry into force of EU Regulation No. 540/2014 on the sound level of motor vehicles and of replacement silencing systems (see para. 5 above).

WP.29-163-10 | Guidelines on amendments to UN Regulations

25. The secretariat reported on the highlights of the 162nd and 163rd sessions of WP.29 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1108, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1110, GRB-60-05).

GRB-60-05 | General information and WP.29 highlights for the 60th session of the Working Party on Noise

26. The expert from ISO informed GRB about a new standard ISO 362-3 on indoor testing of pass-by noise (GRB-60-09). The objective of this new standard is to provide a basis for the official recognition of an indoor-pass-by-test for type approval of road vehicles of categories M and N. GRB noted that the indoor testing according to ISO 362-3 does not depend on climatic conditions and could become an alternative to the outdoor testing as described in ISO 362-1. GRB decided to revert to this issue at the next session and invited all experts of GRB, as well as of the IWG on UN Regulations Nos. 51 and 59, to consider if a reference to ISO 362-3 could be incorporated into UN Regulation No. 51.

GRB-60-09 | ISO 362-3: Indoor-testing of pass-by noise Presentation on the ISO project to provide a basis for the type approval of vehicles using an indoor pass-by test for noise levels.

27. No issues were considered under this agenda item.

28. For its sixty-first session, scheduled to be held in Geneva from 27 (starting at 2.30 p.m.) to 29 (concluding at 5.30 p.m.) January 2015, GRB noted that the deadline for the submission of official documents to the secretariat was 31 October 2014, twelve weeks prior to the session.

29. In compliance with Rule 37 of the Rules of Procedure (TRANS/WP.29/690 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/690/Amend.1), GRB called for the election of officers. The representatives of the Contracting Parties, present and voting, elected unanimously Mr. Serge Ficheux (France) as Chair and Mr. Andrei Bocharov (Russian Federation) as Vice-Chair for the sessions of GRB scheduled in the year 2015.