1. The Working Party on Noise (GRB) held its sixty-second session from 1 to 3 September 2015 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; Russian Federation; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. An expert from the European Commission (EC) participated. Experts from the following non-governmental organizations also participated: International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences, Inc. (CAETS); 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-62-04 | General information and WP.29 highlights for the 62nd GRB session

GRB/2015/6 | Annotated provisional agenda for the 62nd GRB session

3. The expert from the Russian Federation introduced an updated text of Regulation No. 28, with the aim to align its provisions with the current rulemaking practice. (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2015/7). This proposal received comments from the experts of France, India and OICA (GRB-62-20, GRB-62-18 and GRB-62-21-Rev.1, respectively). In particular, the expert from France proposed to include a modular approach to permit the introduction of other audible signals. GRB invited the expert from the Russian Federation to take these comments into account and to submit a revised document for consideration at the next session.

GRB-62-18 | Comments on ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2015/7 Comments on the draft Supplement 5 to the UN R28. The draft supplement aims to refine definitions, removes the “AWD” abbeviation for “audible warning device” to avoid confusion with its more common use for “all wheel drive”, adds T category agricultural vehicles to the scope, modifies some administrative communications, and proposes three-direction acoustic measurements.

GRB-62-20 | Proposal to correct ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2015/7 Proposal for corrections to the draft Supplement 5 to the regulation. The draft supplement aims to refine definitions, removes the “AWD” abbeviation for “audible warning device” to avoid confusion with its more common use for “all wheel drive”, adds T category agricultural vehicles to the scope, modifies some administrative communications, and proposes three-direction acoustic measurements.

GRB-62-21/Rev.1 | Proposal for amendments to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2015/07 Proposal to amend the draft Supplement 5 to the UN R28. The draft supplement aims to refine definitions, removes the “AWD” abbeviation for “audible warning device” to avoid confusion with its more common use for “all wheel drive”, adds T category agricultural vehicles to the scope, modifies some administrative communications, and proposes three-direction acoustic measurements.

GRB/2015/7 | Proposal for Supplement 5 to Regulation No. 28 Proposal to update and clarify the regulation. The proposal refines definitions, removes the "AWD" abbeviation for "audible warning device" to avoid confusion with its more common use for "all wheel drive", adds T category agricultural vehicles to the scope, modifies some administrative communications, and proposes three-direction acoustic measurements.

4. The expert from IMMA proposed to amend paragraph 8.2. of Regulation No. 41 on the conformity of production (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2015/8), thus formalizing the interpretation agreed upon at the fifty-sixth session of GRB (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/54, para. 5). GRB adopted this proposal and requested the secretariat to submit it to the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) and the Administrative Committee (AC.1) for consideration and vote at their March 2016 sessions as a draft Supplement 4 to the 04 series of amendments to Regulation No. 41.

GRB/2015/8 | Proposal for Supplement 4 to the 04 series of amendments to Regulation No. 41 In response to concerns that approval agencies may not grant manufacturers the additional 1dB for L(wot) on conformity of production tests as changes had been made to Annex 6 of R41-04, GRB issued an interpretation recorded in the report of its 56th session. The proposal formalizes the interpretation as an explicit provision of the regulation.

5. The expert from IMMA proposed to correct minor reference errors in Supplement 2 to the 04 series of amendments to Regulation No. 41 (GRB-62-05). GRB adopted this proposal, as contained in Annex II, and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2016 sessions.

GRB-62-05 | Proposal to correct Supplement 2 to the 04 series of amendments to Regulation No. 41 Correction of two minor reference errors contained in the proposal for Supplement 2 to the 04 series of amendments to Regulation No. 41 which was adopted during the March 2015 session of WP.29.

6. The expert from IMMA also proposed to extend, until 1 January 2018, the 1 dB(A) allowance for motorcycles tested in the second gear (GRB-62-15). Taking into account interventions of the experts from Germany and EC, GRB did not support this proposal.

GRB-62-15 | Proposal for a supplement to UN Regulation No. 41 The current text of UN R41 provides an allowance that increases the noise limit value by 1 dB(A) for motorcycles tested only in second gear under Annex 3. This allowance expires on 1 January 2017. IMMA proposes to extend this allowance until 1 January 2018 in response to the delayed implementation of UN R41-04 in the EU (2016 instead of planned 2014).

7. GRB noted that WP.29 and AC.1, at their June 2015 sessions, had adopted the consolidated proposal for the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No. 51 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2015/62).

WP.29/2015/62 | Proposals for the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No. 51 This proposal further refines and clarifies the 03 series of amendments to UN R51 from Informal Working Group on UN Regulations Nos. 51 and 59. The 03 series was proposed in document GRB/2014/5 which was amended and then adopted by the Working Party on Noise during its 60th session. The proposal includes special provisional limits for Chinese micro-vehicles which are being reviewed by Japan.

8. The expert from OICA proposed to clarify the wording of Annex 3, paragraph 3.1.3. (GRB-62-19-Rev.1). GRB adopted this proposal, as contained in Annex III, and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2016 sessions as a draft Supplement 1 to the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No.51.

GRB-62-19/Rev.1 | Proposal for amendments to Regulation No. 51-03 Proposal to clarify the wording of the 03 series of amendments to UN R51 as adopted by the World Forum in June 2015 (document WP.29/2015/62). The adopted wording could lead to the interpretation that sound levels measured on the left side of the vehicle are mixed by calculation with sound levels measured on the right side of the vehicle. The proposed new wording clarifies that the overall sound emission is assessed individually per vehicle side.

9. No new information was reported under this item.

10. No proposals were considered under this item.

11. No new information was reported under this agenda item.

12. The expert from the Netherlands presented a study (GRB-62-09 and Add.1) on noise emission from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) tyres of a specific size which were found to be around 1 dB(A) lower than the one from replacement tyres of the same size. The expert, thus, proposed to further reduce the limit values for OEM tyres in the 02 series of amendments to Regulation No. 117 (GRB-62-11 and Add.1).

13. The expert from Switzerland expressed his support for the general direction of the Dutch proposal. The experts from Germany and EC were of the view that, at this stage, it would be premature to tighten the tyre noise limits of Regulation No. 117. The expert from France called for a holistic approach to this issue. The experts from ETRTO and OICA expressed doubts about the representativeness of the tyre sample used in the Dutch study. The expert from ETRTO also delivered comments on the proposal for amendments to Regulation No. 117 (GRB-62-17). Finally, GRB invited all experts to further study the Dutch proposal and decided to revert to this issue at the next session.

GRB-62-09 | Statistics of tyre noise label values in Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) tyres At the GRB meeting in January 2015 the Netherlands introduced a justification and proposal for future tyre noise limits (document GRB-61-03). During the discussion, it was suggested to investigate whether difference in performance existed between Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) tyres and replacement tyres, noting that the transitional provisions in EC/661/2009 take into account the earlier introduction of noise limits of OEM tyres mounted on new vehicle types. Therefore, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment asked M+P to investigate the statistics of tyre noise label values in OEM tyres in more detail.

GRB-62-09/Add.1 | Statistics of tyre noise label values in OEM tyres (presentation)

GRB-62-11 | Proposal for amendments to the 02 series of amendments to Regulation 117 Proposal to increase the stringency of tyre noise limits from 1 November 2020.

GRB-62-11/Add.1 | Proposal for amendments to the 02 series of amendments to Regulation 117 (presentation) Presentation in support of the proposal to increase the stringency of tyre noise limits from 1 November 2020.

GRB-62-17 | Comments on tyre noise performance and proposal for higher stringecy ETRTO comments raising concerns over the validity of the Dutch dataset used to support the proposal for higher tyre-noise stringency.

14. The expert from ETRTO introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRRF/2015/27 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRRF/2015/32 which would be considered at the forthcoming session of the Working Party on Brakes and Running Gear (GRRF) (15-18 September 2015). GRB experts were invited to review these documents and to provide their colleagues in GRRF with comments, if any.

GRRF/2015/27 | Proposal for amendment to Regulation No. 54 and Regulation No. 117 Proposal to modify the marking requirements to replace PSI with kilopascals ("kPa"). The intent is to harmonize the pressure indication and avoid confusion between UN Regulation No. 54 and US FMVSS 119 or FMVSS 139.

GRRF/2015/32 | Proposal for amendments to Regulation No. 117 Proposal to: a) Align definitions and content with the other tyre regulations (UN Regulations Nos. 30, 54, 75 etc.); b) Include a definition of “manufacturer” extracted from the resolution “R.E.3”; c) Adopt a common definition and use of the terms “Manufacturer’s name”, “Brand name”, “Trademark”, “Trade description” and “Commercial name” and their links; and d) Add information in the certificate to enable approval authorities to more easily understand the products the certificate addresses.

15. The expert from IMMA proposed collective amendments to Regulations Nos. 9, 41, 63 and 92 to clarify that the provisions on fibrous materials are only applicable if such materials are in contact with exhaust gases (GRB-62-06-Rev.1). Following comments by the experts from Germany and OICA, GRB invited IMMA to revise the proposal and re-submit it to the next session, possibly as an official document.

GRB-62-06/Rev.1 | Proposals to clarify provisions in Regulations Nos. 9, 41, 63 and 92 Proposal to specify that conditioning of exhaust or silencing systems is required only in cases where the fibrous materials are in contact with exhaust gases because there is no possibility for the dispersion of fibrous materials under any other condition.

16. The expert from China briefed GRB on the activities of the China vehicle noise standards working group (GRB-62-10). The experts from Japan informed GRB about the trends of noise regulation in Japan and gave an overview of the future policy for motor vehicle noise reduction (GRB-62-13-Rev.1 and GRB-62-12, respectively). The expert of ISO reported on the activities of his organization on interior noise, with the aim to review ISO 5128 (GRB-62-07). GRB took note of these presentations and felt that some of the issues raised could be included in the programme of work of GRB (see para. 27 below).

GRB-62-07 | ISO Activity on Interior Noise - ISO 5128

GRB-62-10 | Plans for China vehicle noise standards working group Presentation on China's international noise standards working group activities and program for future development of vehicle noise and silencing system durability requirements.

GRB-62-12 | Overview of the "Future Policy for Motor Vehicle Noise Reduction“ Presentation on Japanese vehicle noise activities, including alignment with UN Regulations and subsequent abolition of certain current Japanese regulatory requirements (e.g. cruising noise, etc.).

GRB-62-13/Rev.1 | The trend of noise regulation in Japan Presentation of Japan's plans for phasing in UN R41, UN R51 (Phase 2, but not Phase 3 limits), and UN R117 requirements.

17. The expert from the Netherlands presented a policy indicator for road traffic noise emissions (GRB-62-14 and Add.1) that determines the effect of noise control at source on average noise levels at the dwelling facade and on estimated numbers of annoyed and sleep disturbed people. According to the expert, the indicator had been calculated for the Netherlands, showing a potential reduction of up to 50 per cent in annoyed and sleep disturbed people, if tighter limits for vehicles and tyres were introduced and road surfaces were improved. He also suggested that the policy indicator be applied for the whole EU. The experts from ETRTO and OICA commented on the proposed concept. The Chair proposed to continue the discussion in the future, taking into account comments from the industry.

GRB-62-14 | A Policy Indicator for Road Traffic Noise Emission Paper describing the development and application of a method for determining benefits of tyre noise reduction efforts in terms of the number of people impacted.

GRB-62-14/Add.1 | A Policy Indicator for Road Traffic Noise Emission (presentation) Presentation on the Dutch-developed methodology for assessing the impact of changes to tyre and vehicle noise standards.

18. The expert from the Netherlands briefed GRB on the Dutch public campaign “Choose the Best Tyre” and on potential benefits of energy-efficient tyres and correct tyre pressure maintenance (GRB-62-01 and Add.1, GRB-62-02-Rev.1). The Chair recalled other Dutch studies on this topic and commended the experts from the Netherlands for the considerable work undertaken and interesting results. He also called for a holistic approach and closer cooperation between the governments and industry in this area.

GRB-62-01 | Potential benefits of Triple-A tyres in Rotterdam city

GRB-62-02/Rev.1 | Report on the "Potential benefits of energy-efficient tyres and correct tyre pressure maintenance" for public vehicles in the Netherlands

19. The expert from the Belgian Road Research Centre (BRCC) presented a new solution for noise reducing pavements, namely the poro-elastic road surface which provides for extreme noise reduction in a range from 7 to 12 dB(A) (GRB-62-23). GRB thanked BRCC for this presentation and looked forward to further studies and presentations on the issue.

GRB-62-23 | Traffic noise: can the poro-elastic road surface help? Presentation on low-noise pavements and the PERSUADE (PoroElastic Road SUrface for Avoiding Damage to the Environment) project.

20. The experts from France and Germany, in their capacity of Co-chairs of the Informal Working Group (IWG) on a Quiet Road Transport Vehicles (QRTV) Regulation under 1958 Agreement, presented a draft QRTV Regulation (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2015/9 and GRB-62-22).

GRB-62-22 | Update on the development of a UN Regulation on QRTV

GRB/2015/9 | Proposal for a new Regulation concerning the approval of quiet road transport vehicles

21. The expert from WBU called for shared responsibility of drivers and vulnerable road users for road safety and requested that the Audible Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) of QRTV be “ON” while the vehicle is stationary and that the driver should not be able to deactivate (or pause) AVAS (GRB-62-03). He also referred to a study (GRB-62-16) suggesting that the proposed AVAS level of sound did not seem to make QRTV with AVAS more detectable to the average blind person than was QRTV without AVAS. According to the study, more research would be needed to determine a minimal noise level that would satisfy the desire to reduce noise emissions while remaining safe for pedestrians.

GRB-62-03 | World Blind Union statement on the proposed quiet vehicles regulation WBU and European Blind Union statement critical of the current draft UN Regulation for failing to adequately address the needs of the visually impaired.

GRB-62-16 | Quiet car research Presentation by Dr. Edward C. Bell, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University.

22. GRB recalled that AVAS provisions had been recently adopted in the European Union and were scheduled to be announced in the United States of America in November 2015. Therefore, GRB stressed the urgent need for a QRTV Regulation and decided to adopt ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2015/9, subject to minor editorial corrections. The secretariat was requested to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2016 sessions. At the same time, GRB was of the view that the concerns raised by WBU should be studied further, also bearing in mind recent technologies that improve road safety. To address these issues, GRB agreed that the mandates of both IWG QRTV for a Regulation and IWG QRTV for a GTR should be extended and requested the Chair to seek the WP.29 consent.

GRB/2015/9 | Proposal for a new Regulation concerning the approval of quiet road transport vehicles

23. GRB noted that WP.29, at its March 2015 session, had considered a list of acronyms and abbreviations used in Regulations (WP.29-165-17) and noted that the acronym RESS “Replacement Exhaust Silencing System” is used in Regulation No. 92. However, RESS is widely used as “Rechargeable Energy Storage System”, for example, in Regulations Nos. 10, 12, 94, 95 and 100. For this reason, WP.29 had requested GRB to introduce, in the medium term, an alternative acronym for “Replacement Exhaust Silencing System” in Regulation No. 92 (WP.29-165-16). GRB invited experts and, in particular, IMMA to study this issue and decided to revert to it at the next session.

WP.29-165-16 | Definitions and acronyms/abbreviations in Vehicle Regulations Status report on the work to harmonize definitions and terms.

WP.29-165-17 | Acronyms/abbreviations in Vehicle Regulations Reference prepared by the WP.29 secretariat

24. No proposals were introduced under this item.

25. The secretariat informed GRB about the recent activities of the Subgroup on UN Regulation No. 0, in particular, about its proposal to introduce a new concept of “IWVTA vehicle type” which would group vehicles of a given type and with the same level of conformity.

GRB-62-24 | Definition of a vehicle type for IWVTA and extension of approvals

26. The secretariat reported on the highlights of the 165th and 166th sessions of WP.29 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1114, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1116, GRB-62-04).

GRB-62-04 | General information and WP.29 highlights for the 62nd GRB session

27. The Chair presented a list of possible issues for the future GRB activities prepared at an informal meeting convened by the Chair in July 2015 (GRB-62-08). Various experts expressed their interest in pursuing specific items on the list and/or proposed new subjects. To take these comments into account and to prepare an updated and prioritized list, the Chair informed GRB about his intention to convene a second meeting of stakeholders at the beginning of December 2015, the results of which would be reported to the next session of GRB.

GRB-62-08 | Future GRB topics Table of potential areas for future GRB work prepared during an informal meeting held in Paris during 2-3 July 2015.

GRB-62-08/Rev.1 | GRB subjects for the future GRB-62 post-session review of future noise regulation development based upon the results of the GRB Informal meeting held in Paris during 2-3 July 2015.

28. GRB was informed that Mr. Georges Dimitri (ETRTO) would retire and no longer attend its sessions. GRB thanked him for his contributions and wished him a happy retirement.

29. GRB took note that Mr. Masahito Yamashita (Japan) would no longer attend its sessions. GRB thanked him for his contributions and wished him success in his future career.

30. For its sixty-third session, scheduled to be held in Geneva from 16 (starting at 2.30 p.m.) to 18 (concluding at 5.30 p.m.) February 2016, GRB noted that the deadline for the submission of official documents to the secretariat would be 23 November 2015, twelve weeks prior to the session. The following provisional agenda was adopted:
1. Adoption of the agenda.
2. Regulation No. 28 (Audible warning devices).
3. Regulation No. 41 (Noise of motorcycles): Development.
4. Regulation No. 51 (Noise of M and N categories of vehicles):
(a) Development;
(b) Additional sound emission provisions.
5. Regulation No. 59 (Replacement silencing systems).
6. Regulation No. 92 (Replacement exhaust silencing systems for motorcycles).
7. Regulation No. 117 (Tyre rolling noise and wet grip adhesion).
8. Collective amendments.
9. Exchange of information on national and international requirements on noise levels.
10. Influence of road surface on tyre rolling sound emissions.
11. Quiet road transport vehicles.
12. Acronyms and abbreviations in Regulations under the responsibility of GRB.
13. Proposal for amendments to the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles.
14. Development of the International Whole Vehicle Type Approval (IWVTA) system and involvement of the Working Parties (GRs) in it.
15. Highlights of the November 2015 session of WP.29.
16. Exchange of views regarding the future work of GRB.
17. Other business.
18. Provisional agenda for the sixty-fourth session.

31. 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 for the year 2016.