Directive 2009/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (repealed)Show full title

ANNEX II Conditions for testing the strength of a roll-over protection structure and of its attachment to a tractor

1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1.1. Test purposes

Tests made using special rigs are intended to simulate such loads as are imposed on a roll-over protection structure when a tractor overturns. These tests, described in Annex III, must enable the strength of the roll-over protection structure and the attaching brackets to the tractor to be assessed.

1.2. Preparation for test

1.2.1. A roll-over protection structure must be tested on a tractor of the type for which it is designed. It must be attached to the tractor in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the tractor and/or those of the manufacturer of the roll-over protection structure.

1.2.2. For the tests a tractor must be fitted with all structural components of the series production which may influence the strength of the roll-over protection structure or which may be necessary for the strength test.

Components which may create a hazard in the zone of clearance must also be fitted so that they may be examined as to their compliance with the requirements of point 4.1 of this Annex.

1.2.3. Tests shall be made with the tractor stationary.

1.3. Tractor mass

The measured mass W used in the formulae (see Annex III, Parts A and B) to calculate the height of the fall of the pendulum weight and the crushing force, shall be at least that defined in point 2.1.1 of Annex I to Directive 2003/37/EC (i.e. excluding optional accessories but including coolant, oils, fuel, tools and driver) plus the roll-over protection structure and less 75 kg. Not included are optional front or rear ballast weights, tyre ballast, mounted implements, mounted equipment or any specialised components.

2. APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT

2.1. Pendulum weight

2.1.1. A pendulum weight shall be suspended by two chains or wire ropes from pivot points not less than 6 m above the ground. Means shall be provided for adjusting independently the suspended height of the weight and the angle between the weight and the supporting chains or wire ropes.

2.1.2. The weight shall be 2 000 ± 20 kg excluding the weight of the chains or wire ropes which themselves shall not exceed 100 kg. The length of the sides of the impact face shall be 680 ± 20 mm (see Annex IV, fig. 4). The weight shall be filled in such a way that the position of its centre of gravity is constant.

2.1.3. Means shall be provided of pulling the weight back as a pendulum to a height which is determined for each test. A quick-release mechanism shall allow the weight to swing downwards without altering the tilt in relation to the supporting chains or wire ropes.

2.2. Pendulum supports

The pendulum pivot points shall be rigidly fixed so that their displacement in any direction does not exceed 1 % of the height of fall.

2.3. Lashings

2.3.1. The tractor shall be lashed by means of restraining and tensioning devices to ground rails rigidly attached to a non-yielding concrete base. The rails shall be suitably spaced to enable the tractor to be lashed down as illustrated in Annex IV, figs 5, 6 and 7. For each test the tractor wheels and any axle stands used shall rest on the non-yielding base.

2.3.2. Apart from the tensioning devices and ground rail attachments the tractor shall be lashed down with wire rope of the dimensions specified.

This wire rope shall be any round strand, fibre core, construction 6 × 19 in accordance with ISO 2408. The nominal rope diameter shall be 13 mm.

2.3.3. The central pivot of an articulated tractor shall be supported and lashed down as appropriate for the front, rear and side impacts and for the crushing tests and shall, in addition, be propped from the side for the side impact. The front and rear wheels need not be in line if this makes it more convenient to attach appropriate wire ropes.

2.4. Wheel prop and beam

2.4.1. A beam shall be used as a prop for the wheel in the side impact as shown in Annex IV, fig. 7.

2.4.2. A softwood beam of approximately 150 mm × 150 mm shall be clamped to the floor to brace the tyres on the side opposite the impact as shown in Annex IV, figs 5, 6 and 7.

2.5. Props and lashings for articulated tractors

2.5.1. Additional props and lashings shall be used for articulated tractors. Their purpose is to ensure that the section of the tractor on which the roll-over protection structure is fitted is as rigid as that of a rigid tractor.

2.5.2. Additional specific details are given in Annex III for the impact and crushing tests.

2.6. Crushing rig

A rig as shown in Annex IV, fig. 8, shall be capable of exerting a downward force on a roll-over protection structure through a rigid beam approximately 250 mm wide connected to the load-applying mechanism by means of universal joints. Suitable axle stands shall be provided so that the tractor tyres do not bear crushing force.

2.7. Measuring apparatus

2.7.1. For the tests laid down in Annex III, Parts A and B, a device must be used on which a moving friction collar is tightly fitted on a horizontal rod for the purpose of measuring the difference between maximum momentary deflection and residual deflection during a side impact test.

2.7.2. For the tests laid down in Annex III, Part A, measurements shall be made after the laboratory test to determine whether any part of the protection structure has entered the zone of clearance prescribed in point 2 of Annex III, Part A.

2.7.3. For the tests laid down in Annex III, Part B, equipment must be provided — which may include photographic equipment — so that after the laboratory tests it may be established whether any part of the protection structure has, during these tests, entered or come into contact with the zone of clearance prescribed in point 2 of Annex III, Part B.

2.8. Measurement tolerances

The following tolerances shall apply to measurements made during the tests:

2.8.1.

linear dimensions measured during test (except point 2.8.2); protection structure and tractor dimensions, zone of clearance and tyre deflections when lashed for impact tests: ± 3 mm;

2.8.2.

height of pendulum weight set for impact tests: ± 6 mm;

2.8.3.

measured tractor mass: ± 20 kg;

2.8.4.

load applied in crushing tests: ± 2 %;

2.8.5.

angle of weight-supporting chains or wire ropes at the point of impact: ± 2 °.

3. TESTS

3.1. General requirements

3.1.1. Sequence of tests

3.1.1.1. The list and sequence of tests shall be as follows. The item numbers are those in which the tests are described in Annex III, Parts A and B:

1. impact from the rear:	1.1,
2. crushing test at the rear:	1.4,
3. impact from the front:	1.2,
4. impact from the side:	1.3,
5. crushing test at the front:	1.5.

3.1.1.2. If, during the test, any part of the restraining equipment moves or breaks, the test shall be repeated.

3.1.1.3. No repairs or adjustments to the tractor or roll-over protection structure may be carried out during the test.

3.1.1.4. The tractor gear-box shall be in neutral and the brakes off throughout the test.

3.1.1.5. In the case of a tractor with a reversible driving position (i.e. with a reversible seat and steering wheel), the first impact shall be longitudinal and shall be applied at the heaviest extremity (with more than 50 % of the mass of the tractor). It shall be followed by a crushing test at the same extremity. The second impact shall be on the lightest extremity, and the third impact shall be from the side. Lastly, a second crushing test shall be carried out on the lightest extremity.

3.1.2. Track width

A track width setting for the rear wheels shall be chosen such that as far as possible the roll-over protection structure is not supported by the tyres during the tests.

3.1.3. Removal of non-hazard-creating components

All components of the tractor and roll-over protection structure which, as complete units, constitute protection for the driver — including weather protection — shall be supplied with the tractor to be tested. It is permissible to remove front, side and rear windows of safety glass or similar material and any detachable panels, fittings and accessories which have no function of structural strength and which cannot create a hazard in the event of overturning.

3.1.4. Direction of impacts

The side of the tractor on which the side impact is struck shall be that which is likely to give the greatest distortion. The rear impact shall be on the corner furthest from the side impact, and the front impact on the corner nearest the side impact.

3.1.5. Tyre pressures and deflections

Tyres shall not be water ballasted. Pressures and deflections in those tyres which are lashed in the various tests shall be in accordance with the following table:

	Tyre pressure (bar)				Deflection (mm)
	Radial-ply tyres		Diagonal-ply tyres		Front	Rear
	Front	Rear	Front	Rear
Four-wheel drive, front and rear wheels of the same size	1,2	1,2	1,0	1,0	25	25
Four-wheel drive, front wheels smaller than rear	1,8	1,2	1,5	1,0	20	25
Two-wheel drive	2,4	1,2	2,0	1,0	15	25

4. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

4.1. A roll-over protection structure submitted for EC component type-approval shall be considered as having satisfied requirements concerning strength if it fulfils the following conditions:

4.1.1.

it is free from fractures and cracks as described in point 3.1 of Annex III, Parts A and B;

4.1.2.

for Annex III, Part A tests: no part of the zone of clearance is outside the roll-over protection structure;

for Annex III, Part B tests: no part of the zone of clearance has been entered by the roll-over protection structure during any of the impact or crushing tests or is outside the roll-over protection structure, as described in point 3.2 of Annex III, Part B;

4.1.3.

for Annex III, Part A tests: the difference between the maximum momentary deflection and residual deflection, referred to in point 3.3 of Annex III, Part A, does not exceed 15 cm;

for Annex III, Part B tests: during the side impact test the difference between the maximum momentary deflection and the residual deflection, referred to in point 3.3 of Annex III, Part B does not exceed 25 cm.

4.2. There is no other feature presenting a particular hazard to the driver, for example, glass of a type likely to shatter dangerously, insufficient padding inside the roof or where the driver’s head may strike.

5. TEST REPORT

5.1. The test report shall be attached to the EC component type-approval certificate referred to in Annex VII. The presentation of the report shall be as shown in Annex V. The report shall include:

5.1.1.

a general description of the roll-over protection structure’s shape and construction including materials and fixings; external dimensions of tractor with protection structure fitted; main interior dimensions; minimum clearance from steering wheel; lateral distance from steering wheel to protection structure sides; height of protection structure roof above seat or seat reference point and above foot platform if there is one; details of provisions for normal entry and exit and for escape as determined by the protection structure parts; and details of heating and, where appropriate, ventilation system;

5.1.2.

details of any special features such as devices to prevent the continuous rolling of the tractor;

5.1.3.

a brief description of any interior padding intended to minimise head or shoulder injuries or to effect noise reduction;

5.1.4.

a statement of the type of windscreen and glazing fitted.

5.2. The report must identify clearly the tractor type (make, type, commercial description, etc.) used for testing and the types for which the roll-over protection structure is intended.

5.3. If EC component type-approval is being extended for other tractor types, the report must include the exact reference of the report of the original EC component type-approval as well as precise indications regarding the requirements laid down in point 3.4 of Annex I.