Car windscreen wiper and washer systems

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) No 1008/2010 — type-approval requirements for windscreen wiper and washer systems of certain motor vehicles

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

• It lays down rules concerning windscreen wiper* and washer systems* of motor vehicles.
• The aim is to adapt current requirements to developments in scientific and technical knowledge.

KEY POINTS

The regulation establishes type-approval requirements for windscreen wiper and washer systems of motor vehicles. It forms part of the implementation of the Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 on type-approval requirements for the safety of motor vehicles.

Type of vehicle concerned

This regulation applies to vehicles of category M1, i.e. vehicles designed and built for passenger transport, seating not more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver.

Requirements concerning windscreen wipers and washer systems

Manufacturers must equip motor vehicles with:

• windscreen wipers consisting of wiper arms. The windscreen wiper system must have at least 2 sweep frequency settings. The windscreen wiper field must cover at least 98 % of vision area A and 80 % of vision area B (these areas are defined in paragraphs 2.2 and 2.4 respectively of Annex 18 of UNECE Regulation No 43);
• washer system to spray fluid onto the target area of the windscreen without any leakage, disconnection of any tubing or malfunctioning of any nozzle. This system must deliver sufficient fluid to clear at least 60 % of vision area A.

The regulation also establishes test procedures to check compliance of devices.

Applyingfor EUtype-approval

The vehicle manufacturer must submit an application for type-approval to the competent authority. The manufacturer has 2 options:

• to submit an application for type-approval for each type of vehicle concerning its windscreen wiper and washer systems; or
• to submit an application for type-approval, as a technical unit, for a type of windscreen washer system.

The EU application must contain the following information:

• the make and type of vehicle;
• a detailed technical description of the wiper and washer system;
• a description of the method of operation of the wiper and washer systems.

If the competent authority considers that the vehicle satisfies all of the requirements concerning windscreen wiper and washer systems, it grants EU type-approval and issues a type-approval number in line with Directive 2007/46/EC.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 30 November 2010.

* KEY TERMS

MAIN DOCUMENT

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1008/2010 of 9 November 2010 concerning type-approval requirements for windscreen wiper and washer systems of certain motor vehicles and implementing Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor (OJ L 292, 10.11.2010, pp. 2-20)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 1008/2010 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 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) (OJ L 263, 9.10.2007, pp. 1-160)

See consolidated version.

Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor (OJ L 200, 31.7.2009, pp. 1-24)

See consolidated version.

last update 27.10.2016