Uniform rules concerning the approval of retrofit emission control devices (REC)

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation No 132 of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations — rules for the approval of retrofit emission control devices for heavy-duty vehicles, agricultural and forestry tractors and non-road mobile machinery equipped with compression ignition engines

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

This United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) regulation harmonises procedures for classifying, evaluating and approving retrofit emission control (REC)* devices for heavy-duty vehicles, agricultural and forestry tractors and non-road mobile machinery equipped with compression ignition engines*.

It provides a set of rules for approving REC devices for different purposes and a corresponding range of environmental performance levels that must be met.

KEY POINTS

The legislation applies to REC devices to be fitted to the following diesel-driven motors:

vehicles with over 8 passenger seats but under 5 tonnes, such as minibuses (known as M2 vehicles);
vehicles with over 8 passenger seats and weighing more than 5 tonnes, such as buses (M3 vehicles);
goods vehicles (N vehicles);
agricultural and forestry tractors and their trailers (T vehicles);
off-road mobile machinery.

REC manufacturers seeking approval of their product must provide the following:

name or trade mark;
make of the REC and its identifying number, year of manufacture and intended use;
instruction manual for installing the retrofit correctly;
user’s service and maintenance manual;
declaration of the REC system, when used and correctly maintained, will have a normal operating life of:
- for category M2 and M3 vehicles: 200 000 km or 6 years, whichever occurs first
- for all other uses: 4000 operating hours or 6 years;
proof they have carried out a 1000-hour durability test on a combined engine and REC;
notice to the relevant authorities if they no longer produce an REC device.

RECs must:

display the manufacturer’s trade mark or name and a visible and durable label containing the approval mark they receive;
be designed, constructed and able to be installed in line with legislation;
withstand corrosion, oxidation, vibration and mechanical stress under normal use;
include an on-board warning system to alert drivers to any malfunction;
meet a wide range of performance criteria on emission limits and reduction levels;
avoid any safety risk to operators or bystanders.

It is illegal to fit a device to by-pass or reduce the efficiency of an REC.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 22 January 2015.

BACKGROUND

The UNECE provides a regulatory framework for technological innovations that improve vehicles’ safety and environmental performance. The EU builds on this with more detailed legislation for specific forms of transport or machinery.

REC devices limit the emissions of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen to prevent them from damaging human health and polluting the atmosphere. In this way, they help to meet the EU’s clean air targets.

For more information, see:

Emissions in the automotive sector (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Retrofit emission control (REC): equipping a vehicle or machine already in use with a device, such as a catalytic converter, to remove dangerous exhaust emissions.

Compression ignition engine: a diesel engine. The fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber, is ignited by mechanical compression raising air temperature in the cylinder.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation No 132 of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UNECE) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of retrofit emission control devices (REC) for heavy-duty vehicles, agricultural and forestry tractors and non-road mobile machinery equipped with compression ignition engines [2018/630] (OJ L 109, 27.4.2018, pp. 100-154)