Interpretation ID: nht90-3.31

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 07/25/90

FROM: JEFF CORNELL -- ENGINEERING, THE BARGMAN COMPANY

TO: TAYLOR VINSON -- LEGAL COUNSEL, NHTSA

TITLE: NONE

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 8-23-90 TO J. CORNELL FROM P. J. RICE; (A36; STD. 108); ALSO ATTACHED TO DOCUMENT SEARCH REPORT (INFORMATION OMITTED)

TEXT:

My company manufactures lighting products for recreational vehicle manufacturers, OEM's. Due to recent customer requests, we are asking for a clarification on the following FMVSS 108 changes published May 15, 1990.

S5.1.1.31 (amended) states: On a motor vehicle, except a passenger car, whose overall width is 80 inches or more, measurements of the functional lighted lens area, and of the photometrics, of a multiple compartment stop lamp, and a multiple compartment turn signal lamp, shall be made for the entire lamp and not for the individual compartments.

Prior to this change, the maximum values increased as the number of lighted compartments Increased. As the new change states above, the photometric requirements are to be on the entire light, does this include the maximums also? If this is the case, a single compartment light must be less than the 300 maximum candlepower, and a 5 compartment light would also need to be less than the 300 value. This was addressed in the second full paragraph on page 20159 of the Federal Register for the minimum requirements, but there is no reference to the maximums. Please clarify.

Here is an example of another question we have:

Let's say a manufacturer is purchasing a single compartment light, that does not meet the new lens area requirement, for use in a molded bumper or fiberglass cap. If he is using 3 of these lights per side as stop lamps, and the combined area of the 3 is greater than the 75 square centimeters (from SAE J1398 MAY85), is this legal per the new requirements? Along the same line, If the vendor making these lights mounts the individual lights in a molded housing, are we correct in assuming that this would now classify as a multiple compartment lamp? If adding a housing to these lights will make it a multiple compartment lamp, then how is it different if it is installed into a molded bumper or fiberglass cap?

At the beginning of the amendment in the summary, it states that the lens area is 12 square inches, however, in the SAE standard J1398 MAY85 it states 75 square centimeters. When the two areas are converted into like units they do not match up. Which area is correct? (75 square centimeters = 11.625 square inches, 12 square inches = 77.42 square centimeters).

We would appreciate your earliest response, as we have customers waiting for answers concerning the above items.