Regulation (EU) No 540/2014 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

5. SPECIFICATIONS U.K.

5.1. General specifications U.K.

5.1.1. The replacement silencing system, or components thereof, shall be designed, constructed and capable of being mounted so as to ensure that the vehicle complies with this Regulation under normal conditions of use, notwithstanding any vibrations to which it may be subject. U.K.

5.1.2. The silencing system, or components thereof, shall be designed, constructed and capable of being mounted so that reasonable resistance to the corrosion phenomenon to which it is exposed is obtained having regard to the conditions of use of the vehicle. U.K.

5.1.3. Additional prescriptions related to tamperability and manually adjustable multi-mode exhaust or silencing systems U.K.

5.1.3.1. All exhaust or silencing systems shall be constructed in a way that does not easily permit removal of baffles, exit-cones and other parts whose primary function is as part of the silencing/expansion chambers. Where incorporation of such a part is unavoidable, its method of attachment shall be such that removal is not facilitated easily (e.g. with conventional threaded fixings) and shall also be attached such that removal causes permanent/irrecoverable damage to the assembly. U.K.

5.1.3.2. Exhaust or silencing systems with multiple, manually adjustable operating modes shall meet all requirements in all operating modes. The reported sound levels shall be those resulting from the mode with the highest sound levels. U.K.

5.2. Specifications regarding sound levels U.K.

5.2.1. Conditions of measurement U.K.

5.2.1.1. The noise test of the silencing system and the replacement silencing system has to be executed with the same normal tyres, as defined in paragraph 2 of UNECE Regulation No 117. At the request of the manufacturer, the tests shall not be done with traction tyres, special use tyres or snow tyres, as defined in paragraph 2 of UNECE Regulation No 117. Such tyres could increase the sound level of the vehicle or would have a masking effect on the noise reduction performance comparison. The tyres may be of used condition but shall satisfy legal requirements for in-traffic use. U.K.

5.2.2. The noise reduction performance of the replacement silencing system, or components thereof, shall be verified by means of the methods described in point 1 of Annex II. In particular, for the application of this point, reference shall be made to the amendment level of this Regulation which was in force at the time of type-approval of the new vehicle. U.K.

(a)

Measurement with running vehicle

When the replacement silencing system, or components thereof, is mounted on the vehicle described in point 1.3.3, the sound levels obtained shall satisfy one of the following conditions:

(i)

the value measured (rounded to the nearest integer) shall not exceed by more than 1 dB(A) the type-approval value obtained under this Regulation with the type of vehicle concerned;

(ii)

the value measured (before any rounding to the nearest integer) shall not exceed by more than 1 dB(A) the noise value measured (before any rounding to the nearest integer) on the vehicle described in point 1.3.3., when this is fitted with a silencing system corresponding to the type fitted to the vehicle when submitted for type-approval under this Regulation.

Where back-to-back comparison of the replacement silencing system with the original system is chosen, for the application of point 4.1.2.1.4.2 and/or point 4.1.2.2.1.2 of Annex II, it is allowed to have a gear change to higher accelerations and the use of electronic or mechanical devices to prevent this downshift is not mandatory. If under these conditions the sound level of the test vehicle becomes higher than the COP values, the technical service will decide on the representativeness of the test vehicle.

(b)

Measurement with stationary vehicle

When the replacement silencing system, or components thereof, is mounted on the vehicle described in point 1.3.3, the sound levels obtained shall satisfy one of the following conditions:

(i)

the value measured (rounded to the nearest integer) shall not exceed by more than 2 dB(A) the type-approval value obtained under this Regulation with the type of vehicle concerned;

(ii)

the value measured (before any rounding to the nearest integer) shall not exceed by more than 2 dB(A) the noise value measured (before any rounding to the nearest integer) on the vehicle described in point 1.3.3, when this is fitted with a silencing system corresponding to the type fitted to the vehicle when submitted for type-approval under this Regulation.

5.2.3. Further to the requirements of Annex II, any replacement silencing system, or components thereof, has to fulfil the applicable specifications of Annex VII. For replacement silencing systems intended for vehicles type approved in accordance with Directive 70/157/EEC the requirements of Annex VII as well as the specifications of points 5.2.3.1 to 5.2.3.3 of this Annex do not apply. U.K.

5.2.3.1. Where the replacement silencing system, or components thereof, is a system or components with variable geometry, in the application for type-approval the manufacturer shall provide a statement in conformity with the Appendix to Annex VII that the silencing system type to be approved complies with the requirements of point 5.2.3 of this Annex. The approval authority may require any relevant test to verify the compliance of the silencing system type to the additional sound emission provisions. U.K.

5.2.3.2. Where the replacement silencing system, or components thereof, is not a system with variable geometry, it is sufficient in the application for type-approval that the manufacturer provides a statement in conformity with the Appendix to Annex VII that the silencing system type to be approved complies with the requirements of point 5.2.3 of this Annex. U.K.

5.2.3.3. The compliance statement shall read as follows: ‘(Name of the manufacturer) attests that the silencing system of this type complies with the requirements of point 5.2.3 of Annex IX to Regulation (EU) No 540/2014. (Name of the manufacturer) makes this statement in good faith, after having performed an appropriate engineering evaluation of the sound emission performance over the applicable range of operating conditions.’ U.K.

5.3. Measurement of the vehicle performances U.K.

5.3.1. The replacement silencing system, or components thereof, shall be such as to ensure that vehicle performance is comparable with that achieved with the original equipment silencing system or components thereof. U.K.

5.3.2. The replacement silencing system or, depending on the manufacturer's choice, the components of that system shall be compared with an original silencing system, or components thereof, which are also in new condition, successively mounted on the vehicle mentioned in point 1.3.3. U.K.

5.3.3. The verification shall be carried out by measuring the back pressure pursuant to point 5.3.4. U.K.

The value measured with the replacement silencing system shall not exceed the value measured with the original silencing system by more than 25 % under the conditions mentioned below.

5.3.4. Test method U.K.

5.3.4.1. Test method with engine U.K.

The measurements shall be conducted on the engine referred to in point 1.3.4 coupled to a dynamometer. With the throttle completely open, the bench shall be adjusted so as to obtain the engine speed (S) corresponding to the rated maximum power of the engine.

For the measurement of back pressure, the distance at which the pressure tap shall be placed from the exhaust manifold is indicated in Appendix 5.

5.3.4.2. Test method with vehicle U.K.

The measurements shall be carried out on the vehicle referred to point 1.3.3. The test shall be conducted either on the road or on a roller dynamometer.

With the throttle completely open, the engine shall be loaded so as to obtain the engine speed corresponding to the rated maximum power of the engine (engine speed S).

For the measurement of back pressure, the distance at which the pressure tap shall be placed from the exhaust manifold is indicated in Appendix 5.

5.4. Additional specifications regarding replacement silencing systems, or components thereof, containing acoustically absorbing fibrous materials U.K.

5.4.1. General U.K.

Sound absorbing fibrous materials may only be used in silencing systems, or components thereof, where any of the following conditions are fulfilled:

(a)

the exhaust gas is not in contact with the fibrous materials;

(b)

the silencing system, or the components thereof, are of the same design family as systems, or components thereof, for which it has been proven, in the course of the type-approval process in accordance with the requirements of this Regulation, that they are not subject to deterioration.

Unless one of those conditions is fulfilled, the complete silencing system, or components thereof, shall be submitted to conventional conditioning using one of the three installations and procedures described below.

For the purposes of point (b) of the first subparagraph, a group of silencing system or silencing system components thereof shall be considered as being of the same design family when all of the following characteristics are the same:

(a)

the presence of net gas flow of the exhaust gases through the absorbing fibrous material when in contact with that material;

(b)

the type of the fibres;

(c)

where applicable, binder material specifications;

(d)

average fibre dimensions;

(e)

minimum bulk material packing density in kg/m³;

(f)

maximum contact surface between the gas flow and the absorbing material;

5.4.1.1. Continuous road operation for 10 000 km U.K.

5.4.1.1.1. 50 ± 20 % of this operation shall consist of urban driving and the remaining operation shall be long-distance runs at high speed; continuous road operation may be replaced by a corresponding test-track programme. U.K.

The two speed regimes shall be alternated at least twice.

The complete test program shall include a minimum of 10 breaks of at least three-hour duration in order to reproduce the effects of cooling and any condensation which may occur.

5.4.1.2. Conditioning on a test bench U.K.

5.4.1.2.1. Using standard parts and observing the manufacturer's instructions, the silencing system, or components thereof, shall be fitted to the vehicle referred to in point 1.3.3 or the engine referred to in point 1.3.4. In the first case the vehicle shall be mounted on a roller dynamometer. In the second case, the engine shall be coupled to a dynamometer. U.K.

5.4.1.2.2. The test shall be conducted in six six-hour periods with a break of at least 12 hours between each period in order to reproduce the effects of cooling and any condensation which may occur. U.K.

5.4.1.2.3. During each six-hour period, the engine shall be run under the following conditions in turn: U.K.

(a)

five minutes at idling speed;

(b)

one-hour sequence under 1/4 load at 3/4 of rated maximum speed (S);

(c)

one-hour sequence under 1/2 load at 3/4 of rated maximum speed (S);

(d)

10-minute sequence under full load at 3/4 of rated maximum speed (S);

(e)

15-minute sequence under 1/2 load at rated maximum speed (S);

(f)

30-minute sequence under 1/4 load at rated maximum speed (S).

Each period shall comprise two sequenced sets of those conditions in consecutive order from (a) to (f).

5.4.1.2.4. During the test, the silencing system, or components thereof, shall not be cooled by a forced draught simulation normal airflow around the vehicle. U.K.

Nevertheless, at the request of the manufacturer, the silencing system, or components thereof, may be cooled in order not to exceed the temperature recorded at its inlet when the vehicle is running at maximum speed.

5.4.1.3. Conditioning by pulsation U.K.

5.4.1.3.1. The silencing system, or components thereof, shall be fitted to the vehicle referred to in point 1.3.3 or to the engine referred to in point 1.3.4. In the first case, the vehicle shall be mounted on a roller dynamometer, and, in the second case, the engine shall be mounted on a dynamometer. U.K.

5.4.1.3.2. The test apparatus, a detailed diagram of which is shown in Figure 1 of the Appendix to Annex IV shall be fitted at the outlet of the silencing system. Any other apparatus providing equivalent results is acceptable. U.K.

5.4.1.3.3. The test apparatus shall be adjusted in such a way that the exhaust gas flow is alternately interrupted and re-established by the quick action valve for 2 500 cycles. U.K.

5.4.1.3.4. The valve shall open when the exhaust gas back pressure, measured at least 100 mm downstream of the intake flange, reaches a value of between 35 and 40 k_Pa. It shall close when this pressure does not differ by more than 10 % from its stabilized value with the valve opened. U.K.

5.4.1.3.5. The time-delay switch shall be set for the duration of gas exhaust resulting from the provisions laid down in point 5.4.1.3.4. U.K.

5.4.1.3.6. Engine speed shall be 75 % of the speed (S) at which the engine develops maximum power. U.K.

5.4.1.3.7. The power indicated by the dynamometer shall be 50 % of the full-throttle power measured at 75 % of engine speed (S). U.K.

5.4.1.3.8. Any drain holes shall be closed off during the test. U.K.

5.4.1.3.9. The entire test shall be completed within 48 hours. If necessary, one cooling period will be observed after each hour. U.K.

5.4.1.3.10. After conditioning, the sound level is checked pursuant to point 5.2. U.K.