Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (“the 1999 Regulations”).

Regulation 3 amends regulation 49 of the 1999 Regulations (gas propulsion systems and gas-fired appliances) by –

(a) inserting new alternative standards (ECE Regulation 67 or 67.01) at the end of paragraph (2); and

(b) inserting a new paragraph (2A) to provide that a vehicle which first used gas as a fuel for its propulsion on or after 13th November 1999 shall comply with the provisions of Schedule 5 (gas systems) or ECE Regulation 67.01.

Regulation 4 makes amendments to Table II (ECE Regulations) in Schedule 1 to the 1999 Regulations by inserting new items 37A and 37B (which include references to ECE Regulation 67 and 67.01).

Regulation 5 amends Schedule 5 to the 1999 Regulations (gas systems) by –

(a) inserting a definition of “electrically operated valve”;

(b) substituting a new paragraph 4(4) (pipelines) to permit flexible hose exceeding 500mm in length to be used in a high pressure pipeline if it complies with Annex 8 of ECE Regulation 67.01 and is approved and marked in accordance with that Regulation; and

(c) inserting new paragraph 4(4A) which imposes a requirement that in the case of a motor vehicle which first used gas as a fuel for its propulsion on or after 25th August 2004 a flexible hose of any length used in a high pressure pipe line shall comply with the requirements of Annex 8 of ECE Regulation 67.01 and be approved and marked in accordance with that Regulation. Such a hose shall be no longer than is reasonably necessary;

(d) substituting a new paragraph 8(2) which provides that where a fixed gas container supplies no gas system other than a gas propulsion system the operation of an electrically operated valve must comply with specified technical specifications.

These Regulations also make minor amendments to regulation 15 (turning circle – buses) and to paragraph 10(1) of Part IV of Schedule 14 to the 1999 Regulations.

These Regulations have been notified to the European Commission pursuant to European Parliament and Council Directive 98/34/EC of 22nd June 1998 (O.J. No. L204, 21.7.98, p. 37) as amended by European Parliament and Council Directive 98/48/EC of 20th July 1998 (O.J. No. L217, 5.8.98, p. 18) laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services.

Copies of the relevant EC Directives and ECE Regulations may be obtained from TSO, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GD.