[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 5]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR571.118]

[Page 371-376]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                   CHAPTER V--NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC
                    SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT
                            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

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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.

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[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]

    Effective Date Notes: 1. At 69 FR 55531, Sept. 15, 2004, Sec. 
571.118 was amended by revising paragraph S2 and by adding paragraph S6, 
effective Nov. 15, 2004. For the convenience of the user, the revised 
and added text is set forth as follows:

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Sec. 571.118  Standard No. 118; Power-operated window, partition, and 
          roof panel systems.

                                * * * * *

    S2. Application. This standard applies to passenger cars, 
multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks with a gross vehicle weight 
rating of 4,536 kilograms or less. This standard's requirements for 
actuation devices, as provided in S6, need not be met for vehicles 
manufactured before October 1, 2008.

                                * * * * *

    S6. Actuation Devices.
    (a) Any actuation device that is mounted in the occupant compartment 
of a vehicle and can be used to close a power-operated window, 
partition, or roof panel, shall not cause such window, partition, or 
roof panel to begin to close from any open position when tested in 
accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c) of S6.
    (b)(1) Using a hemisphere with a smooth, rigid spherical surface and 
a radius of 20 mm  1 mm, place the spherical 
surface of the hemisphere against any portion of the actuation device.
    (2) Apply a force not to exceed 135 Newtons (30 lbs.) to the 
geometric center of and perpendicular ( 3 degrees) 
to the flat face of the hemisphere.
    (3) While this force level is being applied, the plane of the flat 
face of the hemisphere may be at any angle.
    (c) For actuation devices that cannot be contacted by the hemisphere 
specified in S6(b)(1) prior to the application of force, apply a force 
up to the level specified in S6(b)(2) at any angle in an attempt to make 
contact with the actuation device. The hemisphere is directionally 
applied in such a manner that, if unimpeded, it would make contact with 
the actuation device.
    (d) The requirement in S6(a) does not apply to either--
    (1) Actuation devices that are mounted in a vehicle's roof, 
headliner, or overhead console and that can close a window, partition, 
or roof panel only by continuous rather than momentary switch actuation, 
or
    (2) Actuation devices for closing power-operated windows, 
partitions, and roof panels that comply with S5 of this standard.
    2. At 69 FR 55544, Sept. 15, 2004, Sec. 571.118, was amended in S3, 
by revising the heading and adding a definition for ``infrared 
reflectance'' in alphabetical order; by revising S5; and by adding new 
paragraphs S5.1, S5.2, S5.3, S7, S7.1, S7.2, S8, S8.1, S8.2, S8.3, S9, 
Figure 2 and Figure 3, effective Sept. 1, 2005. For the convenience of 
the user, the revised and added text, is set forth as follows:

571.118  Standard No. 118; Power-operated window, partition, and roof 
          panel systems.

                                * * * * *

    S3. Definitions.

                                * * * * *

    ``Infrared reflectance'' means the ratio of the intensity of 
infrared light reflected and scattered by a flat sample of the test rod 
material to the intensity of infrared light reflected and scattered by a 
mirror that reflects 99.99 percent of the infrared radiation incident on 
its surface as measured by the apparatus show in Figure 2.

                                * * * * *

    S5. Automatic reversal systems. A power-operated window, partition, 
or roof panel system that is capable of closing or of being closed under 
any circumstances other than those specified in S4 shall meet the 
requirements of S5.1, S5.2, and, if applicable, S5.3.
    S5.1. While closing, the power-operated window, partition, or roof 
panel shall stop and reverse direction either before contacting a test 
rod with properties described in S8.2 or S8.3, or before exerting a 
squeezing force of 100 newtons (N) or more on a semi-rigid cylindrical 
test rod with the properties described in S8.1, when such test rod is 
placed through the window, partition, or roof panel opening at any 
location in the manner described in the applicable test under S7.
    S5.2. Upon reversal, the power-operated window, partition, or roof 
panel system must open to one of the following positions, at the 
manufacturer's option:
    (a) A position that is at least as open as the position at the time 
closing was initiated;
    (b) A position that is not less than 125 millimeters (mm) more open 
than the position at the time the window reversed direction; or
    (c) A position that permits a semi-rigid cylindrical rod that is 200 
mm in diameter to be placed through the opening at the same location as 
the rod described in S7.1 or S7.2(b).
    S5.3. If a vehicle uses proximity detection by infrared reflection 
to stop and reverse a power-operated window, partition, or roof panel, 
the infrared source shall project infrared light at a wavelength of not 
less than 850 nm and not more than 1050 nm. The system shall meet the 
requirements in S5.1 and S5.2 in all ambient light conditions from total 
darkness to 64,500 lux (6,000 foot candles) incandescent light 
intensity.

                                * * * * *

    S7. Test procedures.

[[Page 375]]

    S7.1. Test procedure for testing power-operated window, partition, 
or roof panel systems designed to detect obstructions by physical 
contact or by light beam interruption: Place the test rod of the type 
specified in S8.1 or S8.2, as appropriate, 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. Attempt to close 
the power window, partition, or roof panel by operating the actuation 
device provided in the vehicle for that purpose.
    S7.2. Test procedure for testing power-operated window, partition, 
or roof panel systems designed to detect the proximity of obstructions 
using infrared reflectance:
    (a) Place the vehicle under incandescent lighting that projects 
64,500 lux (6,000 foot candles) onto the infrared sensor. The light is 
projected onto the infrared sensor by aiming the optical axis of a light 
source outside the vehicle as perpendicular as possible to the lens of 
the infrared sensor. The intensity of light is measured perpendicular to 
the plane of the lens of the infrared sensor, as close as possible to 
the center of the lens of the infrared sensor.
    (b) Place a test rod of the type specified in S8.3 in the window, 
partition, or roof panel opening, with the window, partition, or roof 
panel in any position. While keeping the rod stationary, attempt to 
close the window, partition, or roof panel by operating the actuation 
device provided in the vehicle for that purpose. Remove the test rod. 
Fully open the window, partition, or roof panel, and then begin to close 
it. While the window, partition, or roof panel is closing, move a test 
rod so that it approaches and ultimately extends through (if necessary) 
the window, partition, or roof panel opening, or its frame, in any 
orientation from the interior of the vehicle. For power partitions that 
have occupant compartment space on both sides of the partition, move the 
test rod into the partition opening from either side of the partition.
    (c) Repeat the steps in S7.2(a) and (b) with other ambient light 
conditions within the range specified in S5.3.
    S8. Test rods.
    S8.1. Rods for testing systems designed to detect obstructions by 
physical contact:
    (a) Each test rod is of cylindrical shape with any diameter in the 
range from 4 mm to 200 mm and is of sufficient length that it can be 
hand-held during the test specified in S7 with only the test rod making 
any contact with any part of the window, partition, or roof panel or 
mating surfaces of the window, partition, or roof panel.
    (b) Each test rod has a force-deflection ratio of not less than 65 
N/mm for rods 25 mm or smaller in diameter, and not less than 20 N/mm 
for rods larger than 25 mm in diameter.
    S8.2. Rods for testing systems designed to detect obstructions by 
light beam interruption: Each test rod has the shape and dimensions 
specified in S8.1 and is, in addition, opaque to infrared, visible, and 
ultraviolet light.
    S8.3. Rods for testing systems designed to detect the proximity of 
obstructions using infrared reflection:
    (a) Each rod is constructed so that its surface has an infrared 
reflectance of not more than 1.0 percent when measured by the apparatus 
in Figure 2, in accordance with the procedure in S9.
    (b) Each rod has the shape and dimensions specified in Figure 3.
    S9. Procedure for measuring infrared reflectance of test rod surface 
material.
    (a) The infrared reflectance of the rod surface material is measured 
using a flat sample and an infrared light source and sensor operating at 
a wavelength of 950  100 nm.
    (b) The intensity of incident infrared light is determined using a 
reference mirror of nominally 100 percent reflectance mounted in place 
of the sample in the test apparatus in Figure 2.
    (c) Infrared reflectance measurements of each sample of test rod 
surface material and of the reference mirror are corrected to remove the 
contribution of infrared light reflected and scattered by the sample 
holder and other parts of the apparatus before computation of the 
infrared reflectance ratio.

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15SE04.020

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15SE04.021


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