ECE R65 RegulationLeave a comment

What is the ECE R65 regulation?

The ECE R65 regulation is a European standard certifying a controlled and verified light signalling for priority and intervention vehicles for use on roadways. This regulation published and applied by the United Nations concerns all the elements of light signalling for vehicles such as beacons, beacon ramps, penetration lights as well as the fixing of the latter in order to deploy them on an intervention or service vehicle in a quick and ergonomic way.

What does the ECE R65 regulation control?

This European regulation intended to validate the conformity of a light signalling product for vehicles controls various characteristics thanks to scientific measurement tests. The tests carried out for these light signalling products to ensure that they comply with the European regulations in force are :

• Conformity of the minimum and maximum luminous power of the lamp (measured in Candelas) ;
• The good distribution of the light beam for a homogeneous and conform light diffusion;
• The fixing system of the flashing lights, signal and beaconing ramps as well as the penetration lights in order to ensure a perfect resistance and adherence on the vehicle equipped with them;

In order to be sure of the conformity of your light signalling product, all tested products are marked with an "E" to ensure the conformity of the light signalling element in question.

What do the Classes and Categories related to ECE R65 mean?

ECE R65 approved lamps are divided into two classes and two separate categories: Classes 1 and 2 as well as categories A and B.

Class 1 ECE R65 approved lamps are luminous equipment consisting of a single level of luminous intensity. These Class 1 approved lamps are used by vehicles for danger or warning signals on the lanes and can be deployed by private or public vehicles without government authorization.

ECE R65 Class 2 lamps have a higher luminous intensity and have two controllable luminous intensity levels, such as day and night mode. ECE R65 Class 2 approved lights are intended for emergency vehicles such as Police, Gendarmerie, Ambulance and Fire Brigade vehicles as well as all public vehicles with government approval.

These regulated Class 1 or Class 2 fires must also meet a categorization index: a Class A and a Class B product rating.

• Category A: Category A products are intended for priority general interest vehicles such as Police, Gendarmerie and Fire Brigade vehicles, as well as EMS with Mobile Hospital Unit (MHU) intervention vehicles.
• Category B: Light-signalling devices in this category are reserved for vehicles of general interest with easy passage. Vehicles that can use ECE R65 category B approved products are ambulances for medical transport, vehicles of medical associations contributing to the permanence of care or vehicles of departmental doctors on duty, EDF and GDF intervention vehicles, vehicles of the surveillance service personnel of the SNCF, cash transports and escorts of the Banque de France, management services of motorways and roads with two separate carriageways as well as winter service vehicles.

These traffic lights are listed in separate classes and categories in order to provide you with adequate signalling according to your profession and your safety and warning signalling needs.

Category X, T and HT: their meaning and characteristics.

In addition to being classified and categorized, signal lamps intended to be deployed on a vehicle are also divided into three other categories based on the angle of diffusion of the light beam of the product. There are three distinct categories: category X, category T and category HT.

• Category X: Signalling lamps meeting category X emits light with an angularity of approximately 80°, this is the category of directional lamps with direct cornering signalling. Products meeting this category are penetration lamps as a general rule.
• Category T: Responding to a luminous angularity similar to that of rotating beacons, this category emits a 360° beam of light, illuminating an entire area and the vehicle being equipped with it.
• Category HT: This third and last category lists products emitting 135° of light signalling, often used to signal the presence of the vehicle at the rear in order to indicate the presence of the vehicle to the next user.

This categorisation concerning the luminous angularity of signalling products intended for intervention vehicles allows the selection of a luminous element adapted to your signalling needs and thus ensures you of the control of the latter for a successful vehicle light signalling adapted to all situations.

ECE R65 and Proteclight approval.

All the products of light signalling intended for vehicles of interventions proposed by Proteclight meet the European regulation ECE R65 as well as the Standards of Electromagnetic Compatibility EMC R10 thus ensuring a protection of the waves which can disturb your vehicle and the external electromagnetic waves. Proteclight offers you a wide range of products of all categories and classes. Do not hesitate any more, discover and order on our online site the product adequate to your needs!