Interpretation ID: nht73-1.36

DATE: 07/26/73

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; R. B. Dyson; NHTSA

TO: Signal-Stat Corporation

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of July 10, 1973, to Mr. Schneider asking which SAE Standard incorporated into Standard No. 108 applies to turn signal operating units, SAE J589 or J589a.

The correct standard is SAE J589. You noted that the tables in the standard refer to J589, while paragraph S5.1 states that subreferenced standards shall be those published in the 1970 edition of the SAE Handbook. The key word in S5.1 is "subreferenced", i.e., referred to only in an SAE standard itself referenced in the Federal standard. J589 is directly referenced, not subreferenced and the number identified is correct. An example of a subreferenced standard would be J575, which is mentioned in J589.

Your truly,

July 10, 1973

Office of Chief Counsel -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Attention: L. Schneider

Gentlemen:

We will appreciate in obtaining your interpretation relative to the testing regulations of the "Turn Signal" operating units.

I. FMVSS#108, paragraph S.5.1 states:

"S5. 1 SAE Standards and Recommended Practices subreferenced by the SAE Standards and Recommended Practices included in Tables I and III and paragraphs S4.1.4 and S4.5.1 are those published in the 1970 edition of the SAE Handbook".

The 1970 SAE edition of SAE Standards contains SAE J-589a for Turn Signal operating units.

II. On the other hand, Tables I & III of FMVSS #108 specifies SAE J-589 for Turn Signal operating units. Is it a conflict between paragraph S5.1 and the Tables I and III of FMVSS #108?

Please inform which of the two mentioned SAE Standards is applicable for 1973, J-589a or J-589.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Very truly yours, SIGNAL-STAT CORPORATION --

Rene Politis, Director, Product Reliability and ASSURANCE DEPT.