Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (repealed)Show full title

[F1 3.8.2. In addition to the general criteria referred to in points 3.2 to 3.6, the criteria specified in points 3.8.2.1 to 3.8.2.3.5 shall be met for the categorisation of vehicles for which the compartment where the driver is located and the load are within a single unit (i.e. bodywork ‘ BB ’ ). U.K.

3.8.2.1. The fact that a wall or a partition, complete or partial, is fitted between a seat row and the cargo area shall not rule out the obligation to meet the required criteria. U.K.

3.8.2.2. The criteria shall be as follows: U.K.

(a)

the loading of the goods shall be possible by a rear door, a tailgate or a side-door designed and constructed for that purposes;

(b)

in the case of a rear door or a tailgate, the loading aperture shall meet the following requirements:

(i)

in the case the vehicle is fitted with only one row of seats or with only the driver seat, the minimum height of the loading aperture shall be at least 600 mm;

(ii)

in the case the vehicle is fitted with two or more rows of seats, the minimum height of the loading aperture shall be at least 800 mm and the aperture shall show a surface of at least 12 800  cm ² ;

(c)

The cargo area shall meet the following requirements:

‘ cargo area ’ means the part of the vehicle located behind the row(s) of seats or behind the driver seat when the vehicle is fitted with only one driver seat;

(i)

the loading surface of the cargo area shall be generally flat;

(ii)

where the vehicle is fitted with only one row of seats or with one seat, the minimum length of the cargo area shall be at least 40 % of the wheelbase;

(iii)

where the vehicle is fitted with two or more rows of seats, the minimum length of the cargo area shall be at least 30 % of the wheelbase.

Where the seats of the last row of seats can be easily removed from the vehicle without the use of special tools, the requirements regarding the length of the cargo area shall be met with all the seats installed in the vehicle;

(iv)

the requirements regarding the length of the cargo area shall be met when the seats of the first row or of the last row, as the case may be, are upright in their normal position for use by the vehicle occupants.

3.8.2.3. Specific conditions for measurement U.K.

3.8.2.3.1. Definitions U.K.

(a)

‘ Height of the loading aperture ’, means the vertical distance between two horizontal planes tangent respectively to the highest point of the lower part of the doorway and the lowest point of the upper part of the doorway;

(b)

‘ surface of the loading aperture ’ means the greatest surface of the orthogonal projection on a vertical plane, perpendicular to the centreline of the vehicle, of the maximum aperture permitted when the rear door(s) or tailgate is (are) wide open;

(c)

‘ wheelbase ’, for the purposes of application of the formulae in points 3.8.2.2 and 3.8.3.1, means the distance between:

(i)

the centreline of the front axle and the centreline of the second axle in the case of a two axle vehicle; or

(ii)

the centreline of the front axle and the centreline of a virtual axle equally distant from the second and third axle in the case of a three axle vehicle.

3.8.2.3.2. Seat adjustments U.K.

(a)

the seats shall be adjusted at their rear outermost positions;

(b)

the seat back, if adjustable, shall be adjusted as to accommodate the three-dimensional H-point machine at a torso angle of 25 degrees;

(c)

the seat back, if not adjustable, shall be in the position designed by the vehicle manufacturer;

(d)

When the seat is adjustable in height, it shall be adjusted to its lowest position.

3.8.2.3.3. Vehicle conditions U.K.

(a)

the vehicle shall be in loaded conditions corresponding to its maximum mass;

(b)

the vehicle shall be with its wheels straight ahead.

3.8.2.3.4. The requirements of point 3.8.2.3.2 shall not apply when the vehicle is fitted with a wall or a partition. U.K.

3.8.2.3.5. Measurement of the length of the cargo area U.K.

(a)

When the vehicle is not fitted with a partition or a wall, the length shall be measured from a vertical plane tangent to the rear outermost point of the top of the seat back to the rear internal pane or door or tailgate, in closed position;

(b)

when the vehicle is fitted with a partition or a wall, the length shall be measured from a vertical plane tangent to the rear outermost point of the partition or the wall to the rear internal pane or door or tailgate, as the case may be, in closed position;

(c)

the requirements concerning the length shall be fulfilled at least along an horizontal line situated in the longitudinal vertical plane passing through the centreline of the vehicle, at the level of the load floor.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) No 678/2011 of 14 July 2011 replacing Annex II and amending Annexes IV, IX and XI to Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive) (Text with EEA relevance).