Interpretation ID: nht95-2.77

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: May 11, 1995

FROM: John Womack -- Acting Chief Counsel, NHTSA

TO: Scott E. Mack -- Senior Product Manager, Philips Lighting Company

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO 4/24/95 LETTER FROM SCOTT E. MACK TO CHIEF COUNSEL, NHTSA (OCC 10269)

TEXT: Dear Mr. Mack:

This is in reply to your letter of April 24, 1995, requesting a confirmation of your interpretation that "Philips Color Clear (TM) Halogen Headlights . . . are in compliance with FMVSS-108."

The product in questions "appears to be colored when not in use" but "when lighted it produces white light as defined by J579C." You have provided a report from ETL Testing Laboratories which "indicates that the color of the light is identical to that of a standard halogen headlight."

There is no definition of white light in SAE J579c Sealed Beam Headlamp Units for Motor Vehicles, December 1978. We believe you mean SAE J578d Color Specification for Lighting Devices, September 1978 which does contain a definition expressed in chromati city coordinates. The report you supplied indicates that the Philips lamp provides a light within the color coordinates for white when equipped with a red, black, blue, or white insert. As Standard No. 108 contains no requirements for the color of glas s lamp lenses or bulbs, only the light emitted from the lamp, we confirm your conclusion that the Philips Color Clear (TM) headlamp has been designed to conform to the color requirements of Standard No. 108.

We appreciated your visit to NHTSA on April 26 to demonstrate the lamp with its various inserts. I understand that the light produced by the lamp, and by a standard headlamp, appeared identical to the naked eye in a side by side comparison.

If you have any further questions, you may refer them to Taylor Vinson of this Office (202-366-5263).