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.

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 Informal Working Group on Emergency Door Opening (IWG-EDO) will develop amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 11 and 21 and request authorization to amend UN GTR No. 1 and UN GTR No. 14, with a draft for submission to GRSP’s 80th session. In a second step, it will develop amendments for further post-crash extrication requirements for UN Regulations Nos. 94, 95, 135 and 137 and UN GTR No. 1 and 14, with a draft for submission to GRSP’s 82nd session. The group will be chaired by Germany with the Republic of Korea as Vice-Chair and OICA providing the Secretariat.