[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 6]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR571.118]



[Page 415-421]

 

                        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 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.

    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



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a mirror that reflects 99.99 percent of the infrared radiation incident 

on its surface as measured by the apparatus show in Figure 2.

    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. 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.

    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



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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.

    S7. Test procedures.

    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.



[[Page 418]]



    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] TC01AU91.050





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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15SE04.020



[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15SE04.021





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[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; 69 FR 55531, 55544, Sept. 15, 2004]