Commission Directive 78/632/EEC of 19 May 1978 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 74/60/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (interior parts of the passenger compartment other than the interior rear-view mirrors, layout of controls, the roof or opening roof, the backrest and rear part of the seats)

• Published date: 29 July 1978
• Subject Matter: Approximation of laws,Technical barriers,Internal market - Principles
• Official Gazette Publication: Official Journal of the European Communities, L 206, 29 July 1978

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31978L0632

Commission Directive 78/632/EEC of 19 May 1978 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 74/60/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (interior parts of the passenger compartment other than the interior rear-view mirrors, layout of controls, the roof or opening roof, the backrest and rear part of the seats)

Official Journal L 206 , 29/07/1978 P. 0026 - 0042
Finnish special edition: Chapter 13 Volume 8 P. 0175
Greek special edition: Chapter 13 Volume 7 P. 0155
Swedish special edition: Chapter 13 Volume 8 P. 0175
Spanish special edition: Chapter 13 Volume 8 P. 0225
Portuguese special edition Chapter 13 Volume 8 P. 0225

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE of 19 May 1978 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 74/60/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (interior parts of the passenger compartment other than the interior rear-view mirrors, layout of controls, the roof or opening roof, the backrest and rear part of the seats) (78/632/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (1), as amended by the Act of Accession, and in particular Articles 11, 12 and 13 thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 74/60/EEC of 17 December 1973 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (interior parts of the passenger compartment other than the interior rear-view mirrors, layout of controls, the roof or opening roof, the backrest and rear part of the seats) (2),

Whereas in view of the experience gained and of the state of the art it is now possible to match the requirements more closely to actual test conditions;

Whereas the provisions of this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directives aimed at the Removal of Technical Barriers to Trade in the Motor Vehicle Sector,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

The Annexes to Directive 74/60/EEC are amended as shown in the Annex to this Directive.

Article 2

1. With effect from 1 January 1979 no Member State may on grounds relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (interior parts of the passenger compartment other than the interior rear-view mirrors, layout of the controls, the roof or opening roof, the backrest and rear part of the seats): - refuse in respect of a type of vehicle to grant EEC-type approval, to issue the document referred to in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC, or to grant national type approval ; or

- prohibit the entry into service of vehicles if the interior fittings (interior parts of the passenger compartment other than the interior rear-view mirrors, layout of the controls, the roof or opening roof, the backrest and rear part of the seats) of such type of vehicle or of such vehicles comply with the provisions of Directive 74/60/EEC, as amended by this Directive.

2. With effect from 1 January 1979 Member States: - may no longer issue the document referred to in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC in respect of a type of vehicle of which the interior fittings (interior parts of the passenger compartment other than the interior rear-view mirrors, layout of the controls, the roof or opening roof, the backrest and rear part of the seats) do not comply with the provisions of Directive 74/60/EEC, as amended by this Directive,

- may refuse to grant national type approval in respect of a type of vehicle of which the interior fittings (interior parts of the passenger compartment other than the interior rear-view mirrors, layout of the controls, the roof or opening roof, the backrest (1)OJ No L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1. (2)OJ No L 38, 11.2.1974, p. 2.

and rear part of the seats) do not comply with the provisions of Directive 74/60/EEC, as amended by this Directive.

3. With effect from 1 October 1982 Member States may prohibit the entry into service of vehicles of which the interior fittings (interior parts of the passenger compartment other than the interior rear-view mirrors, layout of the controls, the roof or opening roof, the backrest and rear part of the seats) do not comply with the provisions of Directive 74/60/EEC, as amended by this Directive.

Article 3

The Member States shall bring into force the provisions necessary to comply with this Directive not later than 1 January 1979 and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 19 May 1978.

For the Commission

Étienne DAVIGNON

Member of the Commission

ANNEX AMENDMENTS TO THE ANNEXES TO COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 74/60/EEC OF 17 DECEMBER 1973

ANNEX I DEFINITIONS, APPLICATIONS FOR EEC APPROVAL AND SPECIFICATIONS

Point 2.6 shall read:

"belt line" shall mean the line formed by the transparent lower contour of the side windows of the vehicle;

Point 2.7 shall read:

"convertible vehicle" shall mean a vehicle where in certain configurations there is no rigid part of the vehicle body above the belt line with exception of the front roof supports and/or the roll-over bars and/or the seat-belt anchorage points;

Point 2.8 shall read:

"vehicle with opening roof" shall mean a vehicle of which only the roof or a part of it can be folded back or be open, or may slide, leaving the existing structural elements of the vehicle above the belt line;

Point 2.9 shall read:

"folding (tip-up) seat" shall mean an auxiliary seat intended for occasional use and which is normally folded out of the way;

Point 5.3 shall read:

Other interior fittings in the passenger compartment in front of the transverse plane passing through the torso reference line of the manikin placed on the rearmost seats.

Point 5.3.1 shall read:

Scope

The requirements of point 5.3.2 below shall apply to control handles, levers and knobs and to any other protruding objects not referred to in points 5.1 and 5.2 above (see also under 5.3.2.2).

Point 5.3.2 shall read:

Requirements

If the items referred to in point 5.3.1 are so placed that occupants of the vehicle can contact them, they shall meet the requirements of points 5.3.2.1 to 5.3.4. If they can be contacted by a 165 mm diameter sphere and are above the lowest H point (see Annex IV) of the front seats and forward of the transverse plane of the torso reference line of the manikin on the rearmost seat, and outside the zones defined in points 2.3.1 and 2.3.2, these requirements shall be considered to have been fulfilled if:

Point 5.3.3 shall read:

The requirements of point 5.3.2.3 shall not apply to floor-mounted hand brake control ; for such controls if the height of any part in the released position is above a horizontal plane passing through the lowest H point of the front seats (see Annex IV) the control shall have a cross sectional area of at least 6 75 cm2, measured in a horizontal plane, not more than 6 75 mm from the furthest projecting part (measured in the vertical direction). The radius of curvature must not be less than 3 72 mm.

After point 5.3.4 add: 5.3.4.1. Components mounted on the roof but which are not part of the roof structure, such as grab handles, lights and sun visors, etc., shall have a radius of curvature of not less than 3 72 mm and, in addition, the width of the projecting parts shall not be less than the amount of their downward projection ; alternatively, these components shall pass the energy-dissipation test in accordance with the requirements of Annex III.

Point 5.4.2.1 shall read:

That part of the inner face of the roof which is situated above or forward of the occupants shall exhibit no dangerous roughness or sharp edges, directed rearwards or downwards. The width of the projecting parts shall not be less than the amount of their downward projection and the edges shall have a radius of curvature of not less than 5 mm. In particular, the...