Commission Regulation (EU) No 109/2011Show full title

Article 2 Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)

‘spray-suppression system’ means a system intended to reduce the pulverisation of water thrown upwards by the tyres of a vehicle in motion and which is made up of a mudguard, rain flaps and valances equipped with a spray-suppression device;

(2)

‘mudguard’ means a rigid or semi-rigid component intended to trap the water thrown up by tyres in motion and to direct it towards the ground and which may entirely or partially form an integral part of the vehicle bodywork or other parts of the vehicle such as the lower part of the load platform;

(3)

‘rain flap’ means a flexible component mounted vertically behind the wheel, on the lower part of the chassis or the loading surface, or on the mudguard and which must also reduce the risk of small objects, in particular pebbles, being picked up from the ground by the tyres and thrown upwards or sidewards towards other road users;

(4)

‘spray-suppression device’ means part of the spray-suppression system, which may comprise an air/water separator and an energy absorber;

(5)

‘air/water separator’ means a component forming part of the valance and/or of the rain flap through which air can pass whilst reducing pulverised water emissions;

(6)

‘energy absorber’ means a component forming part of the mudguard and/or valance and/or rain flap which absorbs the energy of water spray, thus reducing pulverised water spray;

(7)

‘outer valance’ means a component located approximately within a vertical plane that is parallel to the longitudinal plane of the vehicle and which may form part of a mudguard or of the vehicle bodywork;

(8)

‘steered wheels’ means the wheels actuated by the vehicle’s steering system;

(9)

‘self-tracking axle’ means an axle pivoted about a central point in such a way that it can describe a horizontal arc;

(10)

‘self-steered wheels’ means wheels not actuated by the vehicle’s steering device, which may swivel through an angle not exceeding 20° owing to the friction exerted by the ground.;

(11)

‘retractable axle’ means an axle as defined in point 2.15 of Annex I to Directive 97/27/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(1);

(12)

‘unladen vehicle’ means a vehicle in running order as stated in point 2.6 of Annex I to Directive 2007/46/EC;

(13)

‘tread’ is the part of the tyre as defined in point 2.8 of Annex II to Council Directive 92/23/EEC(2);

(14)

‘type of spray-suppression device’ means devices which do not differ with respect to the following main characteristics:

(a)

the physical principle adopted in order to reduce emissions (water-energy absorption, air/water separator),

(b)

materials,

(c)

shape,

(d)

dimensions, in so far as they may influence the behaviour of the material;

(15)

‘semi-trailer towing vehicle’ means a towing vehicle as defined in point 2.1.1.2.2 of Annex I to Directive 97/27/EC;

(16)

‘technically permissible maximum laden mass (M)’ means the maximum technically permissible maximum laden mass stated by the manufacturer as described in point 2.8 of Annex I to Directive 2007/46/EC;

(17)

‘vehicle type with regard to spray suppression’ means complete, incomplete or completed vehicles, which do not differ with respect to the following aspects:

• type of spray suppression device installed on the vehicle,

• manufacturer’s spray suppression system type designation.

(1)

OJ L 233, 25.8.1997, p. 1.

(2)

OJ L 129, 14.5.1992, p. 95.