MotorVehicleRegs.COM

Canada – Technical Standards Document No. 118, Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems

On May 2, 2009, Transport Canada published a notice in the Canada Gazette announcing that they have revised TSD No. 118, Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems. TC states that the text of the revised TSD, Revision 1, is based on FMVSS 118, Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, as published in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part 571, revised as of October 1, 2008.

Amendments CMVSS 110 and 120 (tire selection and rims)

On September 17, 2009, Transport Canada published a notice in the Canada Gazette Part II (SOR/DORS/2008-258) which seeks to align the Canadian regulatory requirements governing the selection of motor vehicle tires and rims with those in the U.S. Extensive changes are made to CMVSS 110 (Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kg or less) and CMVSS 120 (Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kg). In addition to the changes made to CMVSSs 110 and 120, the notice also adds two low tire pressure warning telltales and a malfunction telltale to CMVSS 101 and makes conforming amendments to the Motor Vehicle Tire Safety Regulations which includes amendments to the Tire Identification Number and Importer Identification Number.

The amendments take effect with publication (i.e., Sep. 17, 2008) with the following two exceptions. Compliance with the revised CMVSS 110 requirements is not required until September 1, 2009. Compliance with the requirement in CMVSS 120 for the label information to be in both English and French does not come into effect until Sep. 1, 2009. Early compliance is permitted.

Transport Canada point of contact: Julie Deschatelets, deschju@tc.gc.ca.

Head Restraints

Transport Canada is proposing to adopt NHTSA's current head restraint requirements contained in FMVSS 202. The proposal was issued Sep. 13, 2008 in the Canada Gazette and comments are due Nov. 27, 2008. The new requirements would go into effect on the date that the final rule is published in the Canada Gazette Part II. As proposed, manufacturers would be permitted to certify against the existing requirements through 8/31/11.

Canada – Low Speed Vehicles

On August 6, 2008, Transport Canada issued a notice that finalizes amendments to the requirements for low-speed vehicles ((LSVs). Among other things, the notice does the following:

• introduces requirements for a slow-moving vehicle emblem to be permanently marked on LSVs;

• clarifies the original reason for establishing the LSV class, which was to allow the use of such vehicles for short trips such as shopping, social and recreational purposes, in limited, planned and controlled environments;

• introduces new wording that, for the first time, allows small trucks to be classified as LSV;

• includes a maximum limit for the mass of LSV to ensure that large trucks and passenger vehicles cannot be improperly classified as LSV; and

• introduces a requirement that the propulsion systems of LSV must be designed for their top speed of 40 km/h.

Canada – Proposed Safety Standards Amendments

On August 2, 2008, Transport Canada published a notice in the Canada Gazette Part I which proposes amendments to several safety standards. The standards being amended include the following:

CMVSS 203 – Driver Impact Protection CMVSS 204 – Steering Column Rearward Displacement CMVSS 212 – Windshield Mounting CMVSS 219 – Windshield Zone Intrusion

Comments on the proposed amendments are due Oct. 16, 2008. A copy of the proposal is available at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2008/20080802/pdf/g1-14231.pdf.

Canadian VIN Requirements

Transport Canada has published a proposal to harmonize its VIN requirements with the recently-revised U.S. requirements. Published August 2, 2008, the proposal would amend Section 115 of Schedule IV of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations.

Once finalized, the revised requirements would apply to vehicles built on or after October 27, 2008, having a model year of 2010 or 2011, and to vehicles having a later model year. Those vehicles having a model year of 2009 or less and those vehicles having a model year of 2010 or 2011, if they are built before October 27, 2008, would be required to comply with the existing VIN system.

The deadline for filing comments on the proposal is September 11, 2008.

The point of contact is Marcin Gorzkowski, Transport Canada, gorzkowm@tc.gc.ca.

Canadian Bumper Requirements

On June 25, 2008, Transport Canada issued an amendment to section 215 of Schedule IV of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations modifying the Canadian safety standard for bumpers via the incorporation by reference of the bumper safety standards of the United States and Europe. This has the effect of aligning the test speeds of the Canadian bumper safety standard with those of Europe and the United States and provides manufacturers the option of meeting the European safety requirements or the safety and no damage provisions of the United States. As a result of this amendment, there is now one consistent set of globally regulated test speeds for the design of bumpers, which simplifies the task of designing bumpers for vehicles destined for the North American and European markets.  This amendment may also help facilitate the introduction in Canada of the impending Global Technical Regulation for pedestrian safety, being developed under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

This amendment will allow vehicles manufactured for the U.S. that were deemed inadmissible due to differing bumper requirements to become admissible since bumper modifications will no longer be required. Until August 31, 2009, manufacturers will be allowed to meet either the bumper testing requirements set out as it read before this amendment or the new requirements established by this amendment. As of September 1, 2009, manufactures will be required to conform to the new requirements in all cases.

 

Child Restraint Anchorages

On April 2, 2008, Transport Canada published a Part II notice in the Canada Gazette (page 510, SOR/DORS/2008-72) amending CMVSS 210, 210.1, 210.2 and 213.4. The amendments are intended to:

• resolve a testing conflict between the user-ready tether anchorage standard (CMVSS 210.1) and the lower anchorage standard (CMVSS 210.2) for convertibles and open-body type vehicles (to be consistent with the U.S. requirement),
• introduce a new owner’s manual statement requirement for convertibles and open-body type vehicles,
• increase the number of tether anchorages in MPVs (to be consistent with the U.S. requirement),
• align several miscellaneous requirements with those of FMVSS 225,
• clarify the requirements for the installation of seat belt anchorages in buses,
• harmonize the definition and the labeling requirements for built-in booster cushions (CMVSS 213.4) with those for add-on booster cushions, and
• resolve several French/English language compatibility issues.

With the exception of the new owner’s manual statement required for convertibles and open-body type vehicles, the amendments took effect March 11, 2008. Compliance with the new owner’s manual statement for convertibles and open-body type vehicles is required September 1, 2009.

Transport Canada contact: Eric Bergevin, (613) 998-2670, bergeve@tc.gc.ca.

Canada – Door Locks (CMVSS 206)

On April 2, 2008, Transport Canada published a Part II notice (SOR/2008-73, page 529) in the Canada Gazette concerning their regulation of door locks and door retention components (CMVSS 206).

With this final rule, the regulation is amended to incorporate by reference the substance of the GTR on door locks and door retentions components contained in the corresponding regulations for the U.S. and the ECE. According to Transport Canada, the rule is in complete harmonization with the U.S. rule that was finalized Feb. 6, 2007. The U.S. rule is adopted through amendment to the 206 TSD. Also, the latest version of ECE Regulation No. 11 is incorporated by reference, as an alternative compliance option. Hence, the Canadian safety standard will be harmonized with both the U.S. and the ECE, and manufacturers have the option of complying with either the provisions of TSD 206 or ECE Reg. No. 11.

With this final rule and as per the U.S. standard, Canada is extending the application of the standard to buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg or less.

As in the U.S., full compliance with the new standards will be required starting Sep. 1, 2009.

Transport Canada contact person: Eric Bergevin, (613) 998-2670, bergeve@tc.gc.ca.

Roof Crush Resistance

On March 22, 2008, Transport Canada published a Part I proposal in the Canada Gazette (page 828) that proposes to amend the Canadian safety standards relating to vehicle roof crush and rollover protection (specifically standards 216 and 220). As proposed, the amendments would:

• Increase the applicable vehicle mass from 2,722 kg to 4,536 kg GVWR;
• Increase the force applied from 1.5 to 2.5 times the unloaded vehicle weight;
• Eliminate the maximum force applicable to passenger vehicles;
• Replace the intrusion performance criteria by one that specifies maintaining headroom for an average-sized male occupant;
• Change the title “Roof Intrusion Protection” to “Roof Crush Resistance.”

Comments on the proposal are due June 5, 2008.