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Directive 94/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (repealed)Show full title

Directive 94/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 1994 relating to the mechanical coupling devices of motor vehicles and their trailers and their attachment to those vehicles (repealed)

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EU Directives are being published on this site to aid cross referencing from UK legislation. After IP completion day (31 December 2020 11pm) no further amendments will be applied to this version.

  1. Introductory Text

  2. Article 1.. . . . . . . . . ....

  3. Article 2.. . . . . . . . . ....

  4. Article 3.. . . . . . . . . ....

  5. Article 4.. . . . . . . . . ....

    1. ANNEX I

      1. 1. SCOPE

        1. 1.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 1.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 1.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

      2. 2. DEFINITIONS

        1. 2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          1. 2.1.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 2.1.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 2.1.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 2.1.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

          5. 2.1.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

          6. 2.1.6. . . . . . . . . . ....

          7. 2.1.7. . . . . . . . . . ....

          8. 2.1.8. . . . . . . . . . ....

          9. 2.1.9. . . . . . . . . . ....

          10. 2.1.10. . . . . . . . . . ....

          11. 2.1.11. . . . . . . . . . ....

          12. 2.1.12. . . . . . . . . . ....

          13. 2.1.13. . . . . . . . . . ....

          14. 2.1.14. . . . . . . . . . ....

          15. 2.1.15. . . . . . . . . . ....

          16. 2.1.16. . . . . . . . . . ....

            1. 2.1.16.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

            2. 2.1.16.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

            3. 2.1.16.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

            4. 2.1.16.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

          17. 2.1.17. . . . . . . . . . ....

          18. 2.1.18. . . . . . . . . . ....

          19. 2.1.19. . . . . . . . . . ....

          20. 2.1.20. . . . . . . . . . ....

          21. 2.1.2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          22. 2.1.22. . . . . . . . . . ....

      3. 3. EEC TYPE-APPROVAL FOR A COMPONENT

        1. 3.1. Application for EEC type-approval

          1. 3.1.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 3.1.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 3.1.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

            1. 3.1.3.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

            2. 3.1.3.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

            3. 31.3.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 3.2. Marking of specimen

          1. 3.2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 3.2.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 3.2.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 3.2.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 3.3. Granting of EEC type-approval

          1. 3.3.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 3.3.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 3.3.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 3.3.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

            1. 3.3.4.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

            2. 3.3.4.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

            3. 3.3.4.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          5. 3.3.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

          6. 3.3.6. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. 3.4. Modification of the type of mechanical coupling device and extension...

          1. 3.4.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

      4. 4. EEC TYPE-APPROVAL FOR A VEHICLE

        1. 4.1. Application for EEC type-approval

          1. 4.1.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 4.1.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 4.1.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

            1. 4.1.3.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

            2. 4.1.3.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 4.2. Granting of EEC type-approval

          1. 4.2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 4.2.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 4.2.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 4.3. Modification of the type of vehicle and extension of EEC...

          1. 4.3.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 4.3.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

            1. 4.3.2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

            2. 4.3.2.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

            3. 4.3.2.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 4.3.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

      5. 5. REQUIREMENTS

        1. 5.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 5.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 5.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. 5.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. 5.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

        6. 5.6. . . . . . . . . . ....

        7. 5.7. . . . . . . . . . ....

        8. 5.8. . . . . . . . . . ....

        9. 5.9. Loading requirements

          1. 5.9.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 5.9.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        10. 5.10. . . . . . . . . . ....

        11. 5.11. . . . . . . . . . ....

      6. 6. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION

        1. 6.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 6.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

    2. ANNEX II

      1. (a) Specimen EEC approval marking for a drawbar coupling

      2. (b) Specimen EEC approval marking for a drawbar eye

      3. (c) Specimen EEC approval mark for a fifth wheel coupling

      4. (d) Specimen EEC approval marking for a fifth wheel coupling pin...

      5. (e) Specimen EEC approval marking for a coupling ball and towing...

      6. (f) Specimen EEC approval marking for a coupling head

      7. (g) Specimen EEC approval marking for a drawbar

    3. ANNEX III

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

    4. ANNEX IV

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

      2. . . . . . . . . . ....

      3. Appendix I

    5. ANNEX V

      Requirements for mechanical coupling devices

      1. 1. COUPLING BALLS AND TOWING BRACKETS

        1. 1.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 1.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 1.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. 1.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. 1.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

          1. 1.5.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 1.5.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 1.5.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

      2. 2. COUPLING HEADS

        1. 2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 2.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 2.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. 2.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

      3. 3. DRAWBAR COUPLINGS

        1. 3.1. Load requirements

        2. 3.2. Suitable drawbar eyes

        3. 3.3. Automatic operation

        4. 3.4. Jaw

        5. 3.5. Minimum freedom of movement of the coupled drawbar eye

        6. 3.6. Minimum angle for coupling-up and uncoupling

          1. 3.6.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 3.6.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 3.6.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        7. 3.7. Locking to prevent inadvertent uncoupling

        8. 3.8. Hand levers

        9. 3.9. Special requirements for standard drawbar couplings of Class C 50-1...

          1. 3.9.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 3.9.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 3.9.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 3.9.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

          5. 3.9.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

      4. 4. DRAWBAR EYES

        1. 4.1. General requirements for drawbar eyes

        2. 4.2. Special requirements for drawbar eyes of Class D 50-A

        3. 4.3. Special requirements for drawbar eyes of Class D 50-B

        4. 4.4. Special requirements for drawbar eyes of Class D 50-C

        5. 4.5. Load values for standard drawbar eyes

      5. 5. DRAWBARS

        1. 5.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 5.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 5.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. 5.4. Height adjusting devices for hinged drawbars

          1. 5.4.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 5.4.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 5.4.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 5.4.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. 5.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

        6. 5.6. . . . . . . . . . ....

      6. 6. MOUNTING FRAMES

        1. 6.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 6.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 6.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

      7. 7. FIFTH WHEEL COUPLINGS AND STEERING WEDGES

        1. 7.1. Suitable fifth wheel coupling pins

        2. 7.2. Automatic operation

        3. 7.3. Guides

        4. 7.4. Minimum free movement of the fifth wheel coupling with the...

          1. 7.4.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 7.4.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 7.4.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. 7.5. Locking devices to prevent uncoupling of fifth wheel couplings

        6. 7.6. Operating devices

        7. 7.7. Surface finish

        8. 7.8. Load requirements

        9. 7.9. Steering wedges

          1. 7.9.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 7.9.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        10. 7.10. Special requirements for standard fifth wheels couplings

          1. 7.10.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 7.10.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 7.10.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 7.10.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

      8. 8. FIFTH WHEEL COUPLING PINS

        1. 8.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 8.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

      9. 9. MOUNTING PLATES

        1. 9.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 9.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 9.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

      10. 10. DEVICES FOR REMOTE INDICATION AND REMOTE CONTROL

        1. 10.1. General requirements

        2. 10.2. Remote indication

          1. 10.2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 10.2.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 10.2.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 10.2.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

          5. 10.2.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

          6. 10.2.6. . . . . . . . . . ....

          7. 10.2.7. . . . . . . . . . ....

          8. 10.2.8. . . . . . . . . . ....

          9. 10.2.9. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 10.3. Remote control

          1. 10.3.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 10.3.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 10.3.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 10.3.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

          5. 10.3.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

          6. 10.3.6. . . . . . . . . . ....

          7. 10.3.7. . . . . . . . . . ....

    6. ANNEX VI

      TESTING OF MECHANICAL COUPLING DEVICES

      1. 1. GENERAL TESTING REQUIREMENTS

        1. 1.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 1.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 1.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. 1.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. 1.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

        6. 1.6. . . . . . . . . . ....

      2. 2. TEST PROCEDURES

        1. 2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 2.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 2.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. 2.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. 2.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

        6. 2.6. . . . . . . . . . ....

      3. 3. SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS IN ANNEX VI

      4. 4. SPECIFIC TESTING REQUIREMENTS

        1. 4.1. Coupling balls and towing brackets

          1. 4.1.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 4.1.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 4.1.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 4.1.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

          5. 4.1.5. . . . . . . . . . ....

          6. 4.1.6. . . . . . . . . . ....

            1. 4.1.6.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

            2. 4.1.6.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

            3. 4.1.6.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

              1. 4.1.6.3.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

              2. 4.1.6.3.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

              3. 4.1.6.3.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 4.2. COUPLING HEADS

          1. 4.2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 4.2.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 4.2.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 4.3. Drawbar couplings and draw beams

          1. 4.3.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 4.3.2. Drawbar couplings for hinged drawbars (S=0)

          3. 4.3.3. Drawbar couplings for use with centre-axle trailers (S > 0)....

            1. 4.3.3.1. Centre-axle trailer masses up to and including 3,5 tonnes

            2. 4.3.3.2. Centre-axle trailer masses exceeding 3,5 tonnes

          4. 4.3.4. Static test on coupling pin locking device

        4. 4.4. Drawbar eyes

          1. 4.4.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 4.4.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. 4.5. Drawbars

          1. 4.5.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 4.5.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 4.5.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        6. 4.6. Fifth wheel couplings

          1. 4.6.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 4.6.2. Static tests

            1. 4.6.2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

            2. 4.6.2.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 4.6.3. Dynamcic test

            1. 4.6.3.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

            2. 4.6.3.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

            3. 4.6.3.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        7. 4.7. Mounting plates for fifth wheel couplings

        8. 4.8. Fifth wheel coupling pins of semi-trailers

          1. 4.8.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 4.8.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

    7. ANNEX VII

      REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE TYPE-APPROVAL OF THE VEHICLE TYPE WITH REGARD TO THE OPTIONAL ATTACHMENT OF MECHANICAL COUPLING DEVICES TO THIS VEHICLE.

      1. 1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

        1. 1.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 1.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 1.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

        4. 1.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

      2. 2. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

        1. 2.1. Attachment of coupling balls and towing brackets

          1. 2.1.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 2.1.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 2.1.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 2.1.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

        2. 2.2. Attachment of coupling heads

          1. 2.2.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 2.2.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        3. 2.3. Attachment of drawbar couplings and mounting blocks

          1. 2.3.1. Mounting dimensions for standard drawbar couplings

          2. 2.3.2. Need for remote controlled couplings

          3. 2.3.3. Easy and safe coupling operation

          4. 2.3.4. Accessibility

          5. 2.3.5. Clearance for the hand lever

          6. 2.3.6. Clearance for free movement of drawbar coupling

          7. 2.3.7. Admissibility of drawbar couplings with a special joint for vertical...

        4. 2.4. Attachment of drawbar eyes and drawbars on trailers.

          1. 2.4.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 2.4.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

        5. 2.5. Attachment of fifth wheel couplings, mounting plates and coupling pins...

          1. 2.5.1. . . . . . . . . . ....

          2. 2.5.2. . . . . . . . . . ....

          3. 2.5.3. . . . . . . . . . ....

          4. 2.5.4. . . . . . . . . . ....

    8. ANNEX VIII

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

      2. . . . . . . . . . ....

      3. . . . . . . . . . ....

    9. ANNEX IX

      1. . . . . . . . . . ....

      2. . . . . . . . . . ....

      3. Appendix I

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