[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 5]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR571.118]

[Page 362-363]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                            OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
            Subpart B--Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
 
Sec. 571.118  Standard No. 118; Power-operated window, partition, and roof panel systems.

    S1. Purpose and scope. This standard specifies requirements for 
power operated window, partition, and roof panel systems to minimize the 
likelihood of death or injury from their accidental operation.
    S2. Application. This standard applies to passenger cars, 
multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks with a gross vehicle weight 
rating of 4536 kilograms or less. The standard's requirements for power-
operated roof panel systems need not be met for vehicles manufactured 
before September 1, 1993.
    S3. Definition. ``Power operated roof panel systems'' mean moveable 
panels in the vehicle roof which close by vehicle supplied power either 
by a sliding or hinged motion, and do not include convertible top 
systems.
    S4. Operating requirements. Except as provided in S5, power operated 
window, partition, or roof panel systems may be closed only in the 
following circumstances:
    (a) When the key that controls activation of the vehicle's engine is 
in the ``ON'', ``START'', or ``ACCESSORY'' position;
    (b) By muscular force unassisted by vehicle supplied power;
    (c) Upon continuous activation by a locking system on the exterior 
of the vehicle;
    (d) Upon continuous activation of a remote actuation device, 
provided that the remote actuation device shall be incapable of closing 
the power window, partition or roof panel from a distance of more than 6 
meters from the vehicle;
    (e) During the interval between the time the locking device which 
controls the activation of the vehicle's engine is turned off and the 
opening of either of a two-door vehicle's doors or, in the case of a 
vehicle with more than two doors, the opening of either of its front 
doors;
    (f) If the window, partition, or roof panel is in a static position 
before starting to close and in that position creates an opening so 
small that a 4 mm diameter semi-rigid cylindrical rod cannot be placed 
through the opening at any location around its edge in the manner 
described in S5(b); or
    (g) Upon continuous activation of a remote actuation device, 
provided that the remote actuation device shall be incapable of closing 
the power window, partition or roof panel if the device and the vehicle 
are separated by an opaque surface and provided that the remote 
actuation device shall be incapable of closing the power window, 
partition or roof panel from a distance of more than 11 meters from the 
vehicle.
    S5. (a) Notwithstanding S4, a power operated window, partition or 
roof panel system may close if it meets the following requirements--
    (1) While closing, the window, partition or roof panel system must 
reverse direction before contacting, or before exerting a squeezing 
force of 100 newtons or more on, a semi-rigid cylindrical rod from 4 mm 
to 200 mm in diameter that has the force-deflection ratio described in 
S5(c), and that is placed through the window, partition or roof panel 
system opening at any location, in the manner described in S5(b); and
    (2) Upon such reversal, the window, partition or roof panel system 
must open to one of the following positions, at the manufacturer's 
option:
    (i) A position that is at least as open as the position at the time 
closing was initiated;
    (ii) A position that is not less than 125 millimeters more open than 
the position at the time the window reversed direction; or
    (iii) A position that permits a semi-rigid cylindrical rod that is 
200 mm in diameter to be placed through the opening at the same contact 
point(s) as the rod described in S5(a)(1).
    (b) The test rod is placed through the window, partition or roof 
panel opening from the inside of the vehicle such that the cylindrical 
surface of the rod contacts any part of the structure with which the 
window, partition or roof panel mates. Typical placements of test rods 
are illustrated in Figure 1.
    (c) The force-deflection ratio of the test rod is at least 65 N/mm 
for a rod 25 mm or smaller in diameter, and at least 20 N/mm for a rod 
larger than 25 mm in diameter.

[[Page 363]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC01AU91.050

[56 FR 15294, Apr. 16, 1991, as amended at 57 FR 23963, June 5, 1992; 57 
FR 28012, June 23, 1992; 58 FR 16785, Mar. 31, 1993; 60 FR 13644, Mar. 
14, 1995]