[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 6]
[Revised as of October 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR571.118]

[Page 408-413]
 
                        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 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 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

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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. Except as provided in paragraph S6(b), 
actuation devices in the occupant compartments of vehicles used to close 
power-operated windows, partitions, and roof panels must meet the 
following requirements:
    (a) An actuation device must not cause a window, partition, or roof 
panel to begin to close from any open position when tested as follows:
    (1) Using a stainless steel sphere having a surface finish between 8 
and 4 micro inches and a radius of 20 mm  0.2 mm, 
place the surface of the sphere against any portion of the actuation 
device.
    (2) Apply a force not to exceed 135 Newtons (30 pounds) through the 
geometric center of the sphere. This force may be applied at any angle 
with respect to the actuation device.
    (3) For actuation devices that cannot be contacted by the sphere 
specified in S6(a)(1) prior to the application of force, apply a force 
up to the level specified in S6(a)(2) at any angle in an attempt to make 
contact with the actuation device. The sphere is directionally applied 
in such a manner that, if unimpeded, it would make contact with the 
actuation device.
    (b) 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 that can close power-operated windows, 
partitions, or roof panels only by continuous rather than momentary 
switch actuation, or
    (2) actuation devices for closing power-operated windows, 
partitions, or roof panels which comply with paragraph S5.
    (c) Any actuation device for closing a power-operated window must 
operate by pulling away from the surface in the vehicle on which the 
device is mounted. An actuation device must operate only when pulled 
vertically up (if horizontally mounted), or out (if vertically mounted), 
or in a direction perpendicular to the surrounding surface if mounted in 
a sloped orientation, in order to cause the window to move in the 
closing direction.
    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.

[[Page 410]]

    (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] 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; 71 FR 18683, Apr. 12, 
2006; 71 FR 25285, Apr. 28, 2006]