Federal Register/Vol. 68, No. 143/Friday, July 25, 2003/Rules and Regulations
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43964 Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 143 / Friday, July 25, 2003 / Rules and Regulations [FR Doc. 03–18378 Filed 7–24–03; 8:45 am] Federal glazing performance II. Summary of the Notice of Proposed BILLING CODE 4910–62–C requirements for most purposes. Rulemaking (NPRM) In addition, this final rule addresses A. Benefits of Incorporating ANSI/SAE several issues not covered by the 1996 Z26.1–1996 1. Improved Safety DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION American National Standards Institute 2. Harmonization with Foreign Glazing (ANSI) standard. For example, this Standards National Highway Traffic Safety action limits the size of the shade band 3. Streamlining and Clarification Administration that glazing manufacturers place at the B. Proposed Revisions to FMVSS No. 205 top of windshields and clarifies the III. Summary of Comments to the NPRM 49 CFR Part 571 meaning of the phrase ‘‘the most A. Meaning of the ‘‘Most Difficult Part or difficult part or pattern’’ for the fracture Pattern’’ for the Fracture Test [Docket No. NHTSA–03–15712] test in the 1996 ANSI standard. This B. Xenon Light Source for the Weathering Test action also makes minor conforming C. Limiting the Width of the Shade Band RIN 2127–AH08 amendments to the standard on low D. Certification and Verification of DOT speed vehicles. Numbers Federal Motor Vehicle Safety DATES: Effective date: This final rule is E. Other Issues Standards; Glazing Materials; Low effective September 23, 2003. The 1. Applicability of Proposal to MPVs Speed Vehicles incorporation by reference of certain 2. Edge Treatment for Automotive Safety publications listed in this rule is Glass AGENCY: National Highway Traffic 3. Labeling approved by the Director of the Federal 4. Additional Tests Safety Administration (NHTSA), Register as of September 23, 2003. If you Department of Transportation. IV. Agency Discussion of Issues and wish to submit a petition for Response to Comments ACTION: Final rule. reconsideration of this rule, your A. Summary of Changes from the NPRM petition must be received by September B. Meaning of the ‘‘Most Difficult Part or SUMMARY: This rule updates the Federal 8, 2003. Pattern’’ for the Fracture Test C. Xenon Light Source for the Weathering motor vehicle safety standard on glazing ADDRESSES: Petitions for reconsideration materials so that it incorporates by Test should refer to the docket number and D. Limiting the Width of the Shade Band reference the 1996 version of the be submitted to: Administrator, Room industry standard on motor vehicle E. Certification and Verification of DOT 5220, National Highway Traffic Safety Numbers glazing. Currently, the Federal standard Administration, 400 Seventh Street, F. Other Issues references the 1977 version of the SW., Washington, DC 20590. 1. Applicability of Standard to MPVs industry standard and the 1980 2. Edge Treatment for Automotive Safety FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For supplement to that standard. Glass technical and policy issues: Mr. John 3. Labeling Today’s final rule also simplifies Lee, Office of Crashworthiness understanding the Federal glazing 4. Additional Tests Standards, NVS–112, National Highway V. Effective Date performance requirements. The Traffic Safety Administration, 400 VI. Plain Language amendments of the past 20 years have Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC VII. Rulemaking Analyses resulted in a patchwork of requirements 20590. Telephone: (202) 366–4924. Fax: VIII. Regulatory Text in the Federal standard that must be (202) 366–4329. I. Background read alongside the industry standard in For legal issues: Nancy Bell, Attorney order to gain a comprehensive Advisor, Office of the Chief Counsel, By letter dated August 12, 1997, the understanding of the overall NCC–112, National Highway Traffic American Automobile Manufacturers requirements of the Federal standard. Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Association (AAMA) (which has since The incorporation by reference of the Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. evolved into the Alliance of Automobile 1996 version of the industry standard Telephone: (202) 366–2992. Fax: (202) Manufacturers) petitioned us to amend permits the deletion of most of the 366–3820. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard existing text of the Federal standard. (FMVSS) No. 205, ‘‘Glazing Materials’’ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This change to the Federal standard (49 CFR 571.205), to incorporate the means that the industry standard will Table of Contents most recent update of the American henceforth provide a single source of I. Background National Standards Institute (ANSI) VerDate Jan<31>2003 15:04 Jul 24, 2003 Jkt 200001 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\25JYR1.SGM 25JYR1 ER25JY03.015</GPH> Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 143 / Friday, July 25, 2003 / Rules and Regulations 43965 standard: American National Standard A. Benefits of Incorporating ANSI/SAE Transfer Advancement Act), which for Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Z26.1–1996 requires use of voluntary consensus Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle NHTSA tentatively concluded that standards unless such use is infeasible Equipment Operating on Land incorporating ANSI/SAE Z26.1–1996 or otherwise inconsistent with law. • Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Highways—ANSI/SAE Z26.1–1996 would be beneficial for (1) improved Standard No. 205, ‘‘Glazing Materials,’’ (‘‘ANSI/SAE Z26.1–1996’’). AAMA safety, (2) harmonization with foreign already incorporates ANSI/SAE Z26.1– stated in its petition that incorporating glazing standards, and (3) streamlining 1996. Therefore, we would achieve ANSI/SAE Z26.1–1996 would improve and clarification. safety, achieve international closer harmonization of our Standard harmonization, streamline and clarify 1. Improved Safety No. 205 and Canadian Standard No. 205. FMVSS No. 205, and eliminate wire ANSI Z26.1 requires a fracture test glass as an approved safety glazing (Test No. 7) of a 305 mm (12 in.) square, 3. Streamlining and Clarification option. On January 2, 1998, we granted flat sample of glazing. In contrast, ANSI/ the AAMA’s petition. The proposed incorporation by SAE Z26.1–1996 requires the use of a reference of ANSI/SAE Z26.1–1996 FMVSS No. 205 specifies performance full-size production piece of vehicle would permit the deletion of most of the requirements for the types of glazing window glass. Paragraph 5.7.2 of ANSI/ existing text of FMVSS No. 205. The that may be installed in motor vehicles. SAE Z26.1–1996 states that the amendments of the past 20 years have It also specifies the vehicle locations in specimens of glazing selected for testing resulted in a patchwork of requirements which the various types of glazing may ‘‘’shall be of the most difficult part or that must be read in conjunction with be installed. The standard incorporates pattern designation within the model the ANSI Z26.1 in order to gain a by reference ANSI Standard Z26.1, number.’’ NHTSA stated that it comprehensive understanding of the ‘‘Safety Code for Safety Glazing interpreted this to mean the portion of overall requirements of FMVSS No. 205. Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles glazing which we consider most likely Adoption of the proposal would Operating on Land Highways,’’ as to fail the test. simplify FMVSS No. 205, consistent 1 amended through 1980 (‘‘ANS Z26.1’’). ANSI/SAE Z26.1–1996 also improves with our regulatory reform efforts. The requirements in ANS Z26.1 are safety by eliminating wire glass as an specified in terms of performance tests approved glazing material. Wire glass is B. Proposed Revisions to FMVSS No. that the various types or ‘‘items’’ of flat-rolled glass reinforced with wire 205 glazing must pass. There are 21 ‘‘items’’ mesh. Wire glass is known to shatter NHTSA discussed some proposed of glazing for which requirements are more readily at lower impact speeds and revisions to FMVSS No. 205, as currently specified in FMVSS No. 205. is more lacerative than laminated glass. described below. The Society of Automotive Engineers Wire glass was used in past automotive First, NHTSA discussed the general (SAE) Glazing Materials Standards applications. However, this practice has nature of the textual changes to ANSI Committee, acting under the been discontinued and, to our Z26.1. We stated that our substitution of sponsorship of ANSI, has revised the knowledge, no company currently the 1996 version for the 1980 version of ANSI standard periodically. However, produces wire glass for vehicle use. the ANSI standard would not make since the FMVSS cannot be changed 2. Harmonization with Foreign Glazing many substantive changes to our except through rulemaking, revisions to Standards standard since our current standard the ANSI standard do not become part already contains many provisions of the of FMVSS No. 205 unless we expressly Incorporating ANSI/SAE Z26.1–1996 1996 version. They were directly added identify and incorporate them through a will improve harmonization between to our standard in various rulemaking rulemaking. SAE previously petitioned US, Canadian, and European glazing proceedings between 1977 and 1996 to us to upgrade ANS Z26.1 with 1983 and standards in the following ways: supplement the 1977 version of the • 1990 revisions. However, we denied The test fixture for the impact, ANSI standard.2 Therefore, the practical those petitions. fracture and penetration resistance tests effect of our incorporation by reference (Tests 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and of the 1996 ANSI standard is that it In addition to incorporating some of 26) is identical to the support frame the revisions of the ANSI standard, we would enable us to eliminate the required in Economic Commission for provisions added to our standard have occasionally updated FMVSS No. Europe (ECE) Regulation R43. 205 directly by adding provisions between 1977 and 1996. • The equipment used for the Second, NHTSA proposed to modify similar or identical to those in various abrasion test (Tests 17 and 18) is similar the application section of FMVSS No. revisions of the ANSI standard. to that used under ECE R43.