Interpretation ID: nht74-2.48

DATE: 07/26/74

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; E. T. Driver; NHTSA

TO: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.

COPYEE: L. OWEN

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of July 11 in which you asked what standards will be applied to stop and turn signal lamps after September 1, 1974.

Parking, stop, and turn signal lamps are required by Section S4.1.1.11 and S4.1.1.12 to meet the grouped photometric minimum candlepower requirements specified in Figure 1 of FMVSS No. 108. Prior to September 1, 1974, multiple compartment or multiple lamps need only meet the group value total specified in Figure 1 for a single compartment or single lamp. After that date, however, the higher candlepower values for two and three compartments or lamps specified in Figure 1 are applicable.

Docket 69-19; Notice 3, published in the Federal Register on October 25, 1972, only proposed that SAE (Illegible Word) and (Illegible Word) be referenced in FMVSS No. 108. Until such time as Standard 108 is further amended, SAE J586b, June 1966, and J588d, June 1966, are applicable to stop lamps and turn signal lamps, respectively.

If the new revisions to the SAE standards are included as an amendment to Standard 108, sufficient lead time will be provided to allow the manufacturers to make any changes necessary to meet the new requirements.

Sincerely,

Not Controlled

ATTACH.

STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.

July 11, 1974

E.T. Driver -- Director Office of Operating Systems Motor Vehicle Programs,

U. S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Re: A lamp with two or three lighted compartments used in Stop Lamp and Turn Signal Lamp.

Dear Mr. Driver

According to S 4.1.1.12 in MVSS No. 108 a lamp with two or three lighted compartment is required to meet the minimum photometoric values at each test point specified in table 2 of SAE Standard J575d.

However, after September 1, 1974 a Stop Lamp has to be complied with SAE J586c by P.R. dated October 25, 1972 and SAE J508e for Turn Signal Lamp and further the standards of a lamp with two or three lighted compartments will be applied to a lamp with two or three lighted compartments and by F.R. dated April 9, 1974 the F.R. dated October 25, 1972 has been postponed.

Please let us know what standards will be applied to Stop, Turn Signal Lamp after September 1, 1974, the standards as they are now or the proposal as it is being planned will become effective.

Thanking you in advance for your cooperation,

Very truly yours, H. MIYAZAWA -- Director, Automotive Lighting, Engineering Dept.