ID: nht92-1.18

DATE: 12/17/92

FROM: PAUL JACKSON RICE -- CHIEF COUNSEL, NHTSA

TO: DOUGLAS BERG -- PRESIDENT, ASCEND PRODUCTIONS

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 10-12-92 FROM DOUGLAS BERG TO PAUL J. RICE (OCC 7896)

TEXT: This responds to your letter asking whether Standard No. 125, Warning Devices, applies to your product, the "Hazard Helper Safety Sign." In an earlier letter to the agency, you stated that this reversible device attaches to the driver's window and displays either a help needed symbol (a stick figure with extended arms and legs) or a hazard alert symbol (a triangle). In my July 28, 1992 response, I explained that your device was subject to the Standard and that it appeared not to comply with certain provisions in the Standard.

In a subsequent letter, you explain that you have added a cyalume light stick to your product to illuminate the warning sign. As explained below, you are correct in your belief that your warning device containing a light stick would no longer be subject to Standard No. 125.

As you correctly stated, Standard No. 125 applies to "devices, without self-contained energy sources, that are designed to be carried in motor vehicles and used to warn approaching traffic of the presence of a stopped vehicle, except for devices designed to be permanently affixed to the vehicle." (emphasis added; see section S3) In other words, Standard No. 125 does not apply to warning devices with self-contained energy sources. In an August 10, 1982 interpretation to Dwight Hicks, Jr., the agency determined that the phrase "self-contained energy sources" includes such things as cyalume light sticks. Accordingly, a warning device to which a cyalume light stick was added would not be subject to Standard No. 125

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions about NHTSA's safety standards, please feel free to contact Marvin Shaw of my staff at this address or by telephone at (202) 366-2992.

ID: nht92-1.19

DATE: 12/16/92

FROM: PAUL JACKSON RICE -- CHIEF COUNSEL, NHTSA

TO: SHAFI J. KEISLER -- PRESIDENT, ONE MORE RUN, INC.

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 11-24-92 FROM SHAFI J. KEISLER TO PAUL J. RICE (OCC 8069)

TEXT: This responds to your letter of November 24, 1992, with respect to the manufacture of a replacement taillamp lens for the 1966-67 Dodge Charger. You ask for "all safety standards information pertinent to the manufacture of this replacement lens", and inform us that you "will use only "current DOT and SAE safety approved material to build this item."

As Taylor Vinson explained to you, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment was amended effective January 1, 1972, to apply to replacement lighting equipment for motor vehicles manufactured on and after that date (the standard had previously applied only to original equipment on passenger cars manufactured on and after January 1, 1969). This means that replacement taillamps designed specifically for the 1966-67 Dodge Charger have never been covered by a Federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Paragraph S5.1.2 of Standard No. 108 does require that plastic materials used for optical parts such as lenses conform to SAE Recommended Practice J576c, May 1970, with certain exceptions. Although this could be construed as requiring compliance of plastics used in any replacement taillamp lens, we do not interpret this as mandating compliance of plastic materials for a lens in a replacement lamp that is itself not subject to Standard No. 108. However, S5.1.2 is the Federal requirement that you would be obliged to meet were you manufacturing new or replacement taillamp lenses for contemporary motor vehicles. I enclose a copy of S5.1.2 and J576c for your information.

We appreciate your desire to meet current safety requirements.

(ATTACHMENTS OMITTED)

ID: nht92-1.2

DATE: December 30, 1992

FROM: Stephen P. Wood -- Assistant Chief Counsel for Rulemaking, NHTSA; Signature by John Womack

TO: Rodney T. Nash -- Vice President Engineering, Collins Industries, Inc.

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 11/9/92 from Rodney T. Nash to Administrator, NHTSA (OCC 7996)

TEXT:

This responds to your letter to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), received in this office on November 18, 1992, and your telephone conversation of November 30, 1992 with Walter Myers of this office, regarding the proper classification of an ambulance.

You indicated that Wheeled Coach Industries of Orlando, Florida, a subsidiary of Collins Industries, produces ambulances that are built on truck chassis. You stated that in the past those vehicles have been classified as trucks, but that Ford Motor Company auditors told you that they should be classified as multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPV). You said that you needed to know how v m;swl4(FAA@P/O=1[[YCBX[YX\\\YHH]Y[ H\YX] [XTBBH \Y\Y[X[[\H][ \\H\[\Z X\B X\HY[Y [ HHY\[Y[] [ H MK\H[BZ XH] [ ]H\^\HZ[\\YY\H L\B\ X \XYZ] \HX\\] XX[X]\\B\[[\Y\] [ated into Standard No. 108, any device that contains more than three lighted sections, or LEDs, need only comply with the requirements prescribed for three lighted sections.

"(2) Where the above view is acceptable, could we consider the number of lighted section (sic) as 'one' in case of a lamp which contains three LED arrays arranged as shown in the attached drawing, if the circumferenc (sic) of three projected luminous areas does not exceed 150mm both in horizontal and vertical dimension?"

The answer is no under Standard No. 108 as it presently exists. The drawing you have enclosed depicts three "lighted areas of LEDs" with two separations. Your question is based upon SAE J1889, which defines a "one compartment LED lamp" as one whose "maximum projected linear dimension" does not exceed 150mm. Thus, the linear dimension of a two-compartment LED lamp is 151-300mm, and that of a three-compartment LED lamp is 301mm and greater. These dimensional specifications prevent LED lamps from achietion of persons. Accordingly, an ambulance falls within the definition of MPV rather than truck.

I hope this will help clarify this issue for you. Should you have any further questions in this regard, please feel free to contact Mr. Myers at this address or at (202) 366-2992.

ID: nht92-1.20

DATE: 12/16/92

FROM: PAUL JACKSON RICE -- CHIEF COUNSEL, NHTSA

TO: ROBERT R. MCAUSLAND, P.E.

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 10-9-92 FROM ROBERT R. MCAUSLAND (OCC 7854)

TEXT: This responds to your letter asking whether your design of an infant seat would comply with S5.2.4 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, Child Restraint Systems. You state that your infant seat would have a frame made from 1/4 inch thick polyethylene sheet, and that all the edges of the frame are rounded to a radius of 1/8 inch. As discussed below, the design would not comply if the edges of the seat frame are contactable by the infant dummy's head or torso during the standard's dynamic test.

Some background information on Federal motor vehicle safety laws and regulations may be helpful. The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (15 U.S.C. @ 1381 et seq., Safety Act) authorizes this agency to issue safety standards applicable to new motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment. NHTSA, however, does not approve motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment, nor do we endorse any commercial products. Instead, the Safety Act establishes a "self-certification" process under which each manufacturer is responsible for certifying that its products meet all applicable safety standards. The following represents our opinion based on the facts set forth in your letter.

Standard No. 213 specifies requirements for child restraint systems used in motor vehicles and aircraft, to reduce the number of children killed or injured in motor vehicle crashes and in aircraft. S5.2.4, "Protrusion limitation," of Standard No. 213 states:

Any portion of a rigid structural component within or underlying a contactable surface, or any portion of a child restraint system surface that is subject to the requirements of S5.2.3 [the head impact protection requirements for infant seats], shall, with any padding or other flexible overlay material removed, have a height above any immediately adjacent restraint system surface of not more than 3/8 inch and no exposed edge with a radius of less than 1/4 inch. (Emphasis added.)

The term "contactable surface" is defined in S4 of the standard as "any child restraint system surface (other than that of a belt, belt buckle, or belt adjustment hardware) that may contact any part of the head or torso of the appropriate test dummy, specified in S7, when a child restraint system is tested in accordance with S6.1."

Under S5.2.4, any edges of a rigid structural component within or underlying a surface that can be contacted by the head or torso of the appropriate test dummy during Standard No. 213's dynamic test must have a radius of at least 1/4 inch. Since the frame edges of your infant seat have a radius of only 1/8 inch, the seat would not comply with S5.2.4 if the surfaces overlying those edges can be contacted by the infant dummy during the dynamic test.

You ask whether, since side loading is not specified in Standard No. 213, can you conclude that there is no way that the child's head or torso could contact the sides of the frame, i.e., that the surfaces overlying those edges cannot be contacted by the infant dummy during the dynamic test. We assume that you believe the infant's head and torso are unlikely to contact the frame's edges in the 213 dynamic test since, due to the forward motion of the test, the dummy's components are likely to move forward and rearward, rather than laterally.

I note that, for purposes of compliance testing, NHTSA would determine whether the surfaces are contactable surfaces for the purposes of S5.2.4 by observing a dynamic test, conducted according to the procedures in Standard No. 213. With respect to the issue of what information or analysis would be sufficient, for purposes of certification, for you to conclude that the surfaces overlying those edges cannot be contacted by the infant dummy during the dynamic test, manufacturers must have some basis for their certification that a product complies with all applicable safety standards. However, this does not necessarily mean that a manufacturer must conduct the specific tests set forth in an applicable standard. Certifications may be based on, among other things, engineering analyses, actual testing, and computer simulations.

You should be aware, however, that the direction of dummy movement during the Standard No. 213 dynamic test depends on many variables other than the direction of the test, such as the performance of the restraint's belt system. For example, in the event a child seat's upper torso restraint slipped off the dummy's shoulder in the dynamic test, the dummy could move laterally and strike the sides of the restraint system. You should consider all of the variables that could affect the dummy's performance when determining whether frame contact can occur.

I also note that manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment are subject to the defect provisions of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Infant restraints are involved in real-world crashes other than the frontal impacts simulated in Standard No. 213. If data indicated that a child seat exposed occupants to an unreasonable risk of injury, such as sharp edges resulting in injuries in a side crash, the agency might conduct a defect investigation which could lead to a safety recall.

Enclosed is an information sheet which provides additional information for new manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. If you have further questions, please call Ms. Deirdre Fujita of my staff at (202) 366-2992.

ID: nht92-1.21

DATE: 12/16/92

FROM: DALE E. DAWKINS -- DIRECTOR, VEHICLE COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY AFFAIRS, CHRYSLER CORPORATION

TO: MARION C. BLAKEY -- ADMINISTRATOR, NHTSA

TITLE: PETITION FOR TEMPORARY EXEMPTION: LOW EMISSION MOTOR VEHICLE - DATED DECEMBER 4, 1991; GRANT OF PETITION FOR TEMPORARY EXEMPTION FROM THREE FEDERAL MOTOR SAFETY STANDARDS (DOCKET NO. 91-66; NOTICE 2) - DATED JUNE 19, 1992

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 2-18-93 FROM JOHN WOMACK TO DALE E. DAWKINS (A40; PART 555)

TEXT: Chrysler Corporation desires to inform the NHTSA that we will manufacture 10 Chesapeake Consortium Electric Vehicles (CCEV's) that will fall under the temporary exemption that the agency has granted for the TEVan, an electrically powered version of the Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager multipurpose passenger vehicle. The exemptions for these CCEV's are to be coterminous with that granted the TEVan vehicle. This consortium is a joint cooperative effort by Chrysler Corporation, Westinghouse Corporation, the State of Maryland, and Baltimore Gas and Electric Power to develop electrically powered low-emission passenger vehicles under contract to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

These CCEV vehicles will be almost identical to the TEVans except for the propulsion system which will utilize an AC electrical motor, whereas the TEVans will be powered by a DC electrical motor. The CCEV with its AC motor will utilize a unique speed reduction direct drive transaxle, whereas the TEVan with its DC motor will utilize a speed reduction 2-speed transaxle. All compliance and product aspects of the vehicle program remain unchanged per our petition to the Agency on December 4, 1991 and later modified via a docket file submission on March 5, 1992. Based on our engineering judgement, there is no significant difference between the CCEV or TEVan in terms of overall vehicle safety.

We seek no broader temporary exemptions from FMVSS for the development of low emission vehicles than those already granted for the TEVan. The combined volumes of the CCEV and TEVan vehicles will not exceed the maximum units of the petition that was granted by the NHTSA.

The above information allows the NHTSA to clearly understand the content of our electric vehicle development programs and the extent of the exemptions under which these vehicles will be manufactured.

If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact Mr. Len Blazic of my staff at (313) 956-5365.

ID: nht92-1.22

DATE: December 16, 1992

FROM: Bryan D. Patton -- International Automobile Ent. Inc. D.B.A. ERA Replica Automobile

TO: Paul Jackson Rice -- Office of Chief Counsel, NHTSA

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 5-12-93 from John Womack to Bryan D. Patton (A41/ Std. 106)

TEXT: I am writing you in regards to a conversation I had with Zack Fraser, an Engineer in the safety compliance division of NHTSA (Phone 202-366-2830).

I asked Mr. Fraser which US DOT regulations had to be met for tubing used for hydraulic brake lines in an automotive application. Mr. Fraser responded that there were no codes of regulations dealing specifically with these lines in this application.

He did say that in the absence of federal regulations that the SAE standard would generally be used to determine suitability of a material to be used in such an application.

If possible, I would like a statement of fact from NHTSA recognizing that:

1) International Automobile Enterprises Inc. has contacted you in this matter.

2) There are no specific federal codes or regulations regarding the use of tubing for use as automotive hydraulic brake lines.

3) The SAE standard would be used to determine such suitability in the absence of a specific federal code or regulation.

Our purpose for requesting this documentation is to be able to substantiate that International Automobile Enterprises Inc. has made an effort in good faith to research all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards, or any SAE specifications used in place of federal specifications.

Not being an attorney, I suspect the above statements may have to be reworded or altered, but these statements are true to the best of my knowledge based on my conversations with Mr. Fraser.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

ID: nht92-1.23

DATE: 12/14/92

FROM: PAUL JACKSON RICE -- CHIEF COUNSEL, NHTSA

TO: ROBERT F. GAYER -- EQUIPMENT COORDINATOR, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, SALT RIVER PROJECT

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 10-5-92 FROM ROBERT F. GAYER TO NHTSA CHIEF COUNSEL (OCC 7855)

TEXT: This responds to your letter asking whether certain trailers, manufactured in 1989, were required to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 121, Air Brake Systems. (49 CFR @ 571.121). You explained that you disagree with statements by the trailers' manufacturer that "these trailers do not need to comply with '121,' because they are 'Heavy Haul Trailers.'" You further stated that the trailers may not comply with certain provisions in Standard No. 121, including the reservoir requirements in S5.2.1.1 and S5.2.1.5.

I note that we previously responded to a similar letter from Salt River Project concerning certain trailers manufactured in 1987. Our letter (copy enclosed) was sent to Mr. Derral T. Crance on April 3, 1989. We explained that heavy hauler trailers are not excepted from Standard No. 121 unless they have a GVWR of more than 120,000 pounds. Since you indicated that the trailers of current concern have a GVWR of 68,000 pounds, they would not be excepted from the standard as heavy hauler trailers. Moreover, the trailers do not appear to come within any of the other exceptions to Standard No. 121.

Standard No. 121 does, however, include a number of special provisions for heavy hauler trailers, including exceptions from certain requirements. Of particular note, S5.6 sets forth a number of specific parking brake requirements but permits heavy hauler trailers to meet the requirements of either that section, or, at the option of the manufacturer, the requirements of 49 CFR @ 393.43. Part 393 requires commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with various types of equipment, including brakes. Specifically, section 393.43 addresses brake requirements in breakaway and emergency braking situations.

Heavy hauler trailers manufactured in 1989 were generally subject to sections S5.2.1.1 and S5.2.1.5 of Standard No. 121, the provisions about which you specifically asked. Under S5.2.1.1, a reservoir was required to be provided that is capable of releasing the vehicle's parking brakes at least once and that is unaffected by a loss of air pressure in the service brake system. Under S5.2.1.5, each service reservoir was required to be protected against loss of air pressure due to failure or leakage in the system between the service reservoir and its source of air pressure by check valves or equivalent devices.

Notwithstanding the general applicability of S5.2.1.1, certain heavy hauler trailers which complied with the requirements of 49 CFR 393.43 instead of the specific parking brake requirements set forth in S5.6 would not have had to comply with S5.2.1.1. This is so because the vehicle is not required to have parking brakes. However, a braking system is required which applies automatically and promptly upon breakaway from a towing vehicle. Such a vehicle would also be required to carry sufficient chocking blocks to prevent movement when parked, as required by @ 393.41.

Since your letter suggests that you purchased trailers that may not have complied with Standard No. 121, I have referred the matter to our Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance for appropriate action.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions about NHTSA's safety standards, please feel free to contact Marvin Shaw of my staff at this address or by telephone at (202) 366-2992.

ID: nht92-1.24

DATE: 12/14/92

FROM: PAUL JACKSON RICE -- CHIEF COUNSEL, NHTSA

TO: MICHAEL J. MOTZKIN -- PIONEER PLUMBING

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 10-14-92 FROM MICHAEL J. MOTZKIN TO PAUL J. RICE (OCC 7871)

TEXT: This responds to your letter of October 14, 1992 regarding Federal requirements pertaining to brake specifications. In particular you asked whether there are any regulations requiring automotive brake drums and rotors not to be milled beyond manufacturer specifications, and whether manufacturers are required to stamp their specifications on brake drums and rotors. I am pleased to have this opportunity to explain our law and regulations for you.

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (Safety Act) authorizes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue Federal motor vehicle safety standards for new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle equipment. All motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment manufactured or imported for sale in the United States must comply with all applicable safety standards. This agency does not provide approvals of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment. Under the Safety Act, the manufacturer is responsible for certifying that its motor vehicles or equipment meet applicable standards.

NHTSA has issued a number of safety standards which specify performance requirements for new motor vehicle brake systems and certain new brake equipment. The standards do not require manufacturers to stamp specifications on drums or rotors, although it is common practice for manufacturers to do so.

The Federal motor vehicle safety standards do not apply to a motor vehicle after its first sale to a consumer. However, manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or motor vehicle repair businesses modifying a used vehicle are prohibited by section 108(a)(2)(A) of the Safety Act from knowingly rendering inoperative any safety device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment in compliance with a safety standard. The milling or turning of brake drums and rotors is typically performed during the course of repairing a used vehicle with worn brakes. We do not believe that the "render inoperative" provision would ordinarily be relevant to such a situation.

The states may regulate the repair of motor vehicles. We suggest you investigate the laws of Arizona to see whether they affect your situation.

I hope this information is been helpful. If you have any further questions about NHTSA's safety standards, please feel free to contact David Elias of my staff at this address or by telephone at (202) 366-2992.

ID: nht92-1.25

DATE: 12/11/92

FROM: PAUL JACKSON RICE -- CHIEF COUNSEL, NHTSA

TO: GUY MOZZICATO -- MERIDIAN, INC.

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 6-18-81 FROM FRANK BERNDT TO ROY LITTLEFIELD

TEXT: This responds to your telephone conversation with Walter Myers of my staff on November 16, 1992.

You explained to Mr. Myers that your company, Meridian, Inc., exports used tires and casings from the United States to other countries. You stated that although your company endeavors to export only good quality tires, other used tire exporters are not so quality-oriented and export defective or otherwise unserviceable tires. You further stated that as a result of such unscrupulous practices, the country of Venezuela has asked you what the requirements are for importation of used tires into the United States.

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, 15 U.S. Code, @@ 1381 - 1431, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the Safety Act), provides at Section 1397(a)(1)(A): "No person shall . . . import into the United States, any . . . item of motor vehicle equipment manufactured on or after the date any applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard takes effect . . . unless it is in conformity with such standard . . . ." The effect of that language is to require that motor vehicle tires, whether new or used, manufactured on and after the effective date of applicable Federal safety standards must comply with those standards before they can be imported into the United States. Manufacturers must certify such compliance by molding the symbol "DOT" onto the tire sidewalls. Therefore, to be legally imported into the United States motor vehicle tires must either display the DOT symbol or be accompanied by proof that they were manufactured before the effective date of the applicable safety standards.

The only exception to the above requirement is that used truck tires which have less than 2/32 inch of tread remaining and which are being imported for retreading prior to on-road use may be imported without displaying the DOT symbol. This exception is explained in a June 18, 1981 letter addressed to Mr. Roy Littlefield of NTDRA (copy enclosed).

The standards that apply to passenger car tires are Standard 109, New Pneumatic Tires, and Standard 110, Tire Selection and Rims, found at 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 571.109 and 571.110 respectively. The standards applicable to tires for vehicles other than passenger cars are Standard 119, New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars, 49 CFR 571.119; and Standard 120, Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars, 49 CFR 571.110. Other regulatory requirements pertinent to tires are Standard 117, Retreaded Pneumatic Tires; Standard 129, New Non-Pneumatic Tires for Passenger Cars; 49 CFR Part 569, Regrooved Tires; 49 CFR Part 574, Tire Identification and Recordkeeping; and 49 CFR Part 575, Consumer Information Regulations. For your information, I am enclosing a fact sheet prepared by this agency entitled Where to Obtain NHTSA's Safety Standards and Regulations which explains how and from where the full text of our safety standards and regulations may be obtained.

I hope the above information will be helpful to you. If you have any further questions regarding any of these matters, please feel free to contact Mr. Myers at this address or at (202) 366-2992, FAX (202) 366-5830.

ID: nht92-1.26

DATE: 12/11/92

FROM: PAUL JACKSON RICE -- CHIEF COUNSEL, NHTSA

TO: HERR O. SCHMIDT -- HELLA KG HUECK & CO

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 11-20-92 FROM O. SCHMIDT TO RICHARD L. VAN IDERSTINE (OCC 8049)

TEXT: This responds to your letter of November 20, 1992, to Richard L. Van Iderstine of this agency asking for an interpretation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. Please address your future requests for interpretation to the Chief Counsel.

You have asked for confirmation that the requirement that a center highmounted stop lamp "provide access for convenient replacement of the bulb without the use of special tools" does not exclude sealed lamps "where long life light sources like long life bulbs, LED's and neon tubes are provided."

We are pleased to provide the confirmation you request. Although the agency has used the term "the bulb", the term is not meant to exclude more than one bulb, or a light source other than a bulb, for the center lamp. Sealed units (entire lamps) are permissible as long as such a lamp is replaceable without the use of special tools.