Vehicle Anti-Theft Legislation

95/56/EC, ECE R97.01,R18.02 and R116.00

European Directive 95/56/EC, amends directive 74/61/EEC to provide essential security protection requirements for vehicles and security devices intended to be fitted to vehicles. It ensures that vehicles operate safely while at the same time being provided with an essential level of security. Directive 74/61/EEC required the fitment of a "device to prevent unauthorised use". The requirements of this old directive for the fitment of steering locks, transmission locks, or gearshift locks, and the performance of them, have been enhanced by the amendments of directive 95/56/EC.

ECE Regulation 97.01 together with ECE Regulation 18.02 are essentially the same as 95/56/EC so approvals to these ECE Regulations and the EC directive may take place as a combined procedure to the benefit of the equipment manufacturer. Regulation 116 combines both R97.01 and R18.02 to bring the ECE Regulation into line with 95/56/EC.

Regulation 116 is ratified by more member states that Regulation 97 and it is therefore advisable to apply for Regulation 116 for all future approvals.

Directive 95/56/EC requires the manufacturer to submit samples of their products to a Member State's Approval Authority for testing by their Technical Service. Test houses of adequate automotive experience may be approved by an Approval Authority as a Technical Service for 95/56/EC. As such the test house carries out all the assessment and technical work required to show a product complies with the directive. This information enables the Approval Authority to issue an approval certificate with an approval number to the manufacturer through the Technical Service. This allows the manufacturer to affix an "e" mark to the product.

Approval procedure

The directive applies to vehicles defined as "any vehicle intended for use on the road, being complete or incomplete, having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, and its trailers, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails and of agricultural and forestry tractors and all mobile machinery". Vehicles outside of this definition do not have to comply with directive 95/56/EC, but it can be considered as reasonable guidance for their security systems.

Directive 95/56/EC's scope also includes electronic immobilisers and alarms intended for fitment to all categories of vehicles. This includes both aftermarket equipment and original equipment. Equipment is defined as:

Component, a device which is automotive type approved for fitment to all vehicles to become part of the vehicle.

Separate Technical Unit, a device which is automotive type approved for fitment to specified vehicles.

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95/56/EC

This directive has a number of detailed requirements to achieve the necessary combination of vehicle safety and reliability as well as security, with implementation timings to meet the needs of the European vehicle manufacturers. The implementation timings are summarised below:

• Vehicles and products on the market before 1 January 1997 may continue to be sold until 1 October 1998 without having to meet the requirements of 95/56/EC.
  New type vehicles and new type equipment must meet the requirements from 1 January 1997.
• Aftermarket components had the option, until 1 October 1998, of continuing to meet the requirements of the country in which they are being sold, or of meeting the requirements of 95/56/EC.

The essential application requirements are given below:

• M1 and N1 category vehicles (cars and light commercial vehicles) must fit a "device to prevent unauthorised use".
• M1 category vehicles must fit an electronic immobiliser.
• If any category of vehicle is fitted with a "device to prevent unauthorised use", an immobiliser, or an alarm, then the requirements of 95/56/EC must be met.

Where "XXXX" is the approval number for anti-theft and "yy" is the number of the country issuing the certificates.

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Type Approval to 95/56/EC and ECE Regulations 97, 18.02

The Type Approval procedure is the same for a vehicle as for an aftermarket component. This procedure is described below. As the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 97 (ECE Regulation 97) is essentially the same as 95/56/EC it is normal for both approvals to be applied for together as this reduces the cost to the equipment manufacturer.

To obtain type approval it is necessary to apply to a Technical Service. The Technical Service issues a "job number" and informs the relevant approval authority (VCA or NSAI). Conformity of Production (CoP) assessment of the client is then initiated by either the Approval Authority or MIRA (if NSAI is the selected Approval Authority).

The client provides a specified set of documents and sample products for assessment and testing. The documentation required is defined in the directive and it has to be supplied to enable the assessment of the vehicle or security device to occur.

A worst case analysis is carried out and this is assessed in a "worst case review" meeting with the Technical Service. Where the product is a single product this meeting may simply be a document exchange. Where a number of products are derived from a basic design they are analysed to identify a worst case version for testing in order to limit the amount of test work to be carried out. A documented assessment is produced for the approval body as a record of the agreement. From this work a test plan is agreed which identifies the "worst case" version(s) of the product for testing.

The test phase is carried out on the sample product(s) by the approved test service and witnessed on behalf of the approval authority.

The directive defines the test methods and the test severity levels that are required to be used for both vehicles and components.

Some additional tests may be identified by the approval authority to ensure that the vehicle or equipment complies with the general requirements of the directive. These tests are also subject to independent witnessing.

The approval authority carries out a Conformity of Production assessment at the manufacturer's premises.

Subject to satisfactory evidence on each of the points above the approval authority will issue a Type Approval certificate which authorises the manufacturer to affix the "e" mark on the product(s).
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