Revised draft minutes posted on 21 January 2015.

Test procedure proposal updated with comments from the 2nd REG58-QRTV group session.

Presentation of the benefits envisioned by the Netherlands from the use of AAA tyres.

Proposal from Japan, pursuant to the discussion of document GRB/2014/8 during the previous GRB session, to correct perceived inconsistencies in time measurement accuracy in annex 6.

Proposal to correct the Annex 7, paragraph 3.1. “Determination of the anchor point for each gear ratio” and a calculation symbol in paragraph 3.2.1 “Calculation of the slope of the regression line for each gear”.

Pursuant to the introduction of the deceleration method for measuring tire rolling resistance using the dω/dt approach (“Deceleration Calculator”) proposed by NAMI and accepted by GRB, UTAC (France) provides information on the results of tests conducted to confirm repeatability and reproducibility of the new method using different machines.

Draft proposal for minimum sound requirements (via an audible alerting signal) for low noise vehicles (e.g., electric vehicles).

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. However, IMMA believes that industry and agency personnel may still not be aware of the interpretation. Therefore, IMMA proposes to codify the interpretation within UN R41.

Proposal to update and clarify the text of UN R28.

The purpose of this proposal is to update the reference to the latest version of the ISO 10844 and to introduce transitional provisions for the shift of the test track requirements from ISO 10844: 1994 to ISO 10844: 2014. This proposal supersedes document GRB/2015/5.

Draft text that would allow the installation and use of a prescribed “pause button” for the temporary deactivation of an audible vehicle alerting system (AVAS) while prohibiting any other form of deactivation.

Working draft pursuant to the second REG58-QRTV informal working group session.

Proposal to update the test-track references to the recently published ISO 10844:2014.

Proposal for an alternative to the proposal (document GRRF/2015/9) to restore transitional provisions incorrectly deleted by Supplement 6 to the 02 series of amendments.

This proposal is an alternative to that represented in document GRRF/2015/9 and GRRF-79-19.

The overall aim of the study is to propose policy options concerning the use of tyres for improvement of traffic safety. Centrally to this, is the idea that end users need to make the correct assessment in relation to the tyre condition in order to achieve a level of safety as high as possible. Within this context, the tyre condition is considered in relation to technical elements (tyre inflation pressure, tyre tread depth, tyre damage, tyre age, and meteorological influences) and one information element (driver awareness). The study addresses the topics of tyre usage and the impact on road safety (which are the potential safety improvements related to tyre usage from a technical perspective) and how can road users be supported to use tyres that have a better safety performance by policy options.

Working draft version pursuant to the 3rd REG58-QRTV informal working group session.

Update on Russian developments and perspectives regarding the regulation of vehicle interior noise levels.

This document contains the consolidated text of proposals for the 03 series of
amendments to Regulation No. 51, as adopted by GRB at its sixtieth and sixty-first
sessions:
- ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/58, para. 5, based on ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2014/5,
as amended by Annex III to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/58;1 and
- ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/59, paras. 8-10, based on ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2015/3 and Corr.1, as amended by Annex III to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/59.

Following a decision of GRB, this consolidated text will be submitted to the June
2015 session of WP.29 for consideration and possible adoption.

Reference prepared by the WP.29 secretariat

Proposal to update the reference to the latest version of the ISO 10844 and to introduce transitional provisions for the shift of the test track requirements from ISO 10844: 1994 to ISO 10844: 2014.

Proposal to allow vehicles to be run at idle during the test procedures and 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.

Proposal to introduce a calculated engine speed (in addition to measured engine speed) for MT vehicles and for continuously variable transmission (CVT)/automatic transmission (AT) with locked gear mechanism into UN Regulation No. 41 for the tests in Annex 3 and Annex 7 (Additional sound emission provisions – ASEP)

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.

Further refinements to the 02 series of amendments prepared by the Informal Working Group on UN Regulations Nos. 51 and 59. This submission proposes to clarify the amended text of document WP.29/2015/4 which was adopted during the March 2015 WP.29 session.

Proposal to update the reference to the latest version of ISO 10844 and to introduce transitional provisions for the shift of the test track requirements from ISO 10844: 1994 to ISO 10844: 2014.

Proposal for a new time measurement accuracy for instrumentation involved in the rolling resistance method (Annex 6 of the UN Regulation) and to restore transitional provisions incorrectly deleted by Supplement 6 to the 02 series of amendments. The proposal also updates the test-track references to the recently published ISO 10844:2014.

Proposal to prepare an amendment to UN Global Technical Regulation (GTR) No. 16 on tyres in order to introduce provisions concerning wet grip performance, rolling resistance, and qualification of tyres for use under severe snow conditions in accordance with the same provisions introduced recently into UN Regulation No. 117.

Working draft of the proposed regulation to require minimum sound levels for electric and other quiet vehicles as developed during the 4th session of the QRTV informal working group.

“Cleaned-up” version of the draft text as developed during the 3rd session of the QRTV informal group.

Table comparing the provisions of the proposed US Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 141 on minimum sound requirements for electric and hybrid vehicles with the draft UN Regulation on vehicles with reduced audibility.

Presentation of WBU testing of AVAS as proposed by the draft UN Regulation (i.e., 50/56 DBA). Based upon this research, the WBU states the the proposed AVAS requirement would have little impact on the sound-recognition of quiet vehicles.

Final proposal as agreed within the informal working group for presentation to GRB.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WBU and European Blind Union statement critical of the current draft UN Regulation for failing to adequately address the needs of the visually impaired.

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.

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.

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

Presentation supporting documents GRRF/2015/25, /29, and /32 proposing to:
a) Align definitions and content of UN tyre regulations;
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.

Document GRRF/2015/27 proposes 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. This proposal would allow for the use of kPa markings in place of PSI prior to the 1 January 2018 transition date.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Proposal to increase the stringency of tyre noise limits from 1 November 2020.

Presentation in support of the proposal to increase the stringency of tyre noise limits from 1 November 2020.

ETRTO comments raising concerns over the validity of the Dutch dataset used to support the proposal for higher tyre-noise stringency.

Presentation on China’s international noise standards working group activities and program for future development of vehicle noise and silencing system durability requirements.

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.).

Presentation of Japan’s plans for phasing in UN R41, UN R51 (Phase 2, but not Phase 3 limits), and UN R117 requirements.

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.

Presentation on the Dutch-developed methodology for assessing the impact of changes to tyre and vehicle noise standards.

Presentation on low-noise pavements and the PERSUADE (PoroElastic Road
SUrface for Avoiding Damage to the Environment) project.

Presentation by Dr. Edward C. Bell, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University.

Presentation of research conducted by the World Blind Union and National Federation of the Blind in the United States to validate the effectiveness of the proposed minimum sound levels for quiet vehicles at 10 and 20 km/h. The researchers concluded that the proposed sounds levels do not add significantly to the detectability of an approaching vehicle by a blind pedestrian and that internal combustion engine vehicles were detected substantially sooner than quiet vehicles equipped with the proposed acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS).

World Blind Union comments opposing the current provisions of the draft UN Regulation on quiet vehicle minimum sound levels, especially with regard to the effectiveness of the AVAS parameters, inclusion of “pause button”, and absence of stationary (“idling”) vehicle sound requirement.

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. The proposal would also change the measurement units for drum speed from min^-1 to km.h^-1 in alignment with the requirements with other tyre regulations and align the wording in Annex 7, Appendix 1 with the text of the Regulation.

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.

Description of an accident wherein a blind person was killed by a truck backing up with its reverse-mode sound signal deactivated and of possible policy responses in Japan.

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. The proposal also aims to structure the regulation to enable its application to additional sound warning devices not presently regulated at the international level, excluding acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS) which will be subject to a separate regulation on minimum vehicle sound levels.

The EU established Regulation (EU) No 540/2014 concerning vehicle noise in 2014. This regulation includes provisions for acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS) in Annex VIII. This document summarizes Commission objectives and plans with regard to the draft UN Regulation on this same subject.