Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS

Legal requirements. Government requirements like the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 105 and 135 in the United States and ECE R13 in Europe and South America are normally specified to cover vehicle stopping distance under cold, hot, high-speed, thermal and water fade and recovery conditions, and inoperative power assist. Additional requirements are imposed on the selection of raw materials by health, safety, and environmental regulations. These are the minimum requirements that need to be satisfied by a brake system. 

A motor vehicle may not be operated with tires that carry a weight greater than that marked on the sidewall of the tire or, in the absence of such a marking, a weight greater than that specified for the tires in any of the publications of any of the organizations listed in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119 (49 CFR 571.119, S5.1(b)) unless ... 

Glazing — Glazing material used in windshields, windows, and doors on a motor vehicle manufactured on or after December 25, 1968, must at a minimum meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205 in effect on the date of manufacture of the motor vehicle. The glazing material must be marked in accordance with FMVSS No. 205 (49 CFR 571.205, S6). 

The only internationally used standard concerns the flammability testing of interior materials of motorcars. The US National Highway Transport Safety Administration was the first in regulating this test method when it published its Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS No. 302) in 1972, which was accepted by the International Standard Organization as ISO 3795-1976 (E). 

Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard (FMVSS) 302, Flammability of Materials used in the Occupant Compartments of Motor Vehicles, 1991. 

TABLE 14-1 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) ... 

There are many safety features built into motor vehicles today. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sets safety standards for motor vehicles. They change over time. Table 14-1 is a summary of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) also publishes numerous standards for vehicles, including many safety standards. Vehicles include off-road vehicles and even golf carts. Other Department of Transportation agencies also establish vehicle safety standards. The Urban Mass Transportation Administration has safety standards for buses and rail vehicles and the Federal Highway Administration has safety standards for trucks. Industry associations, such as the Truck Trailer Manufacturer s Association, have also produced safety standards. 

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 302, Test Procedure and Specimen Preparation, Docket 3-3, Notice 6 Federal Regulation 38, No. 95, May 1973. 

Historically, the most significant safety landmark for the passenger compartment was the American Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 201, the crucial feature of which was the head impact test on the instrument panel. More recently, occupant protection legislation has become much more demanding, and specifications such as FMVSS 208 present a wide selection of requirements such as the following ... 

Interior components of a vehicle consist mainly of IPs, door panels, and seats together, these account for the largest share of plastics in a car at 38% [53]. These components are primarily expected to cater to comfort, odor, aesthetic appeal, ergonomic layout, and durability requirements. For example, most interior panels must sport a Class A finish. From a safety perspective, all materials used to make interior components must prescribe to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 302, titled Flammability of Interior Materials. As per this standard, the material shall neither bum nor transmit a flame front across its surface at a rate greater 4 in/min [54]. In addition, interior components are also required to possess fogging [55,56] and acoustic properties [57]. A detailed description of the plastics used for important interior components is given next. 

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 207, 209, and 210—provided for by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under Chapter 301, Title 49, of the U.S. code [92-94]. 

Part 393 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) specifies the required position, color, type of lamps, and reflectors for commercial motor fleet vehicles. All lamps and reflectors for commercial motor vehicles manufactured after March 7, 1989, must meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108 (49 CFR 571.108) in effect on the date of manuficture. Certain trailers manufactured after December 1, 1993, must have retroreflective sheeting or additional reflex reflectors to make them more visible to other motorists imder conditions of reduced visibility. Lamps must light on inspection and when required during regular operation of the vehicle. Permanently secured lamps are required at all times except when temporary lamps are in use. Some examples are a drive-away or tow-away operation or the mounting on projection loads (temporary lamps must be securely attached). When service brakes are applied, all stop lamps on commercial vehicles must be activated. 

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