Brake Directives

Vehicle Braking and ABS Systems: 71/320/EEC as amended and EC Regulation 13.09

Replacement Brake Linings: 71/320/EEC Annex XV and EC Regulation 90.01

Braking Devices of Wheeled Agricultural or Forestry Tractors: 76/432/EEC

As Technical Service MIRA provides the complete approval service for braking systems.

71/320/EEC and UN ECE Regulations 13.09 and 13H

These are the European Directive and ECE Regulation relating to braking systems for cars and commercial vehicles.

Each requires braking performance tests to be carried out by the Technical Service. The brake system is checked against the design specification. Where appropriate, adhesion utilisation calculations are performed to ensure that the specified brake system meets the requirements for wheel lock sequence.

A thorough static examination is conducted to ensure that the system is soundly engineered and will continue to work effectively for the life of the vehicle. Pneumatic systems are also subject to response time tests, to ensure that the brakes are applied quickly enough after the driver has operated the braking control.

Dynamic tests are conducted to ensure that stopping distances are met in the laden and un-laden conditions. A fade test is also conducted and the performance of the braking system is checked while the brakes are still hot. The performance of the parking brake and secondary braking system are also determined. For vehicles fitted with ABS there are a number of other tests that are also performed, assessing the braking efficiency and stability when the system is invoked.

The directive requires the electronic control units to comply with directive 95/54/EC.

The ECE Regulations require the electronic control units to comply with ECE Regulation 10.02.

Where electronic systems are involved in controlling the braking system operation the system is also subject to an assessment to ensure it functions correctly in all operating modes. For ECE R13.09 this is known as an annex 18 assessment.

Requirements of 76/432/EEC - Braking Devices of Wheeled Agricultural or Forestry Tractors

A through static examination is conducted to ensure that the system is soundly engineered and will continue to work effectively for the life of the vehicle.

Dynamic tests are conducted to ensure that stopping distances are met. A drag test is also conducted and the performance of the braking system is checked while the brakes are still hot. The performance of the parking brake system is also determined.

Requirements of 71/320/EEC Annex XV and EC Regulation 90.01 - Replacement Brake Linings

There are requirements for the physical characteristics, braking performance and packaging for replacement lining assemblies. The replacement linings are tested against the original equipment linings to ensure that they match the performance within certain tolerance bands. Certain tests can be conducted either on a dynamometer or on a representative vehicle and MIRA can arrange for either tests to be conducted using the method chosen by the customer.