Interpretation ID: aiam3918
Manager
Design Engineering
Abex Corporation
Signal-Stat Division
P.O. Box 438
Somerset
NJ 08873-3492;
Dear Mr. Levy: This is in reply to your letter of February 25, 1985, to Frank Berndt the former Chief Counsel of this agency, asking for clarification of an interpretation of Safety Standard No. 108 that this agency furnished last year to Wesbar Corp.; On May 16, 1984, Wesbar asked whether the correct minimum effectiv luminous lens area on stop lamps and turn signal lamps was 8 square inches or 12 square inches, when intended for use on trailers whose overall width is 80 inches or greater. This office advised Wesbar on July 3, 1984, that as specified in SAE J586c for stop lamps and SAE J588e for turn signal lamps, the answer was 8 square inches. Your letter calls to our attention the fact that these SAE standards require each stop and turn signal lamp to have a minimum of 12 square inches in those vehicle configurations where two stop or turn signal lamps are mounted on the same side of the vehicle and are closer to each other than 22 inches.; Thank you for calling this oversight to our attention. Indeed, SA J586c and J588e establish this exception to the general minimum requirement of 8 square inches. We are furnishing a copy of this letter to Wesbar and apologize for any confusion that the earlier letter has caused.; Sincerely, Jeffrey R. Miller, Chief Counsel