The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 1996

New regulation 17A (couplings on trailer pneumatic braking systems)

5.  After regulation 17, there shall be inserted the following—

“Couplings on trailer pneumatic braking systems

17A.—(1) In this regulation—

“BS coupling” means a coupling which—

(a)is of the type shown in figure 1, 4 or 5 of the British Standard specification; and

(b)complies with the dimensions shown in that figure;

“the British Standard specification” means the British Standard specification for dimensions of ‘contact’ type couplings for air pressure braking systems on trailers and semi-trailers and their towing vehicles, and the arrangements of these couplings on articulated and drawbar combinations, published by the British Standards Institution under reference number BS AU 138a: 1980;

“coupling”, “emergency line”, “secondary line” and “service line” have the same meanings as in the British Standard specification;

“EEA Agreement” means the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on the 2nd May 1992 as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993(1); and

“EEA State” means a state which is a Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a relevant coupling is a coupling that is physically capable of being connected to a BS coupling.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (6) and (7), no service line comprised in a pneumatic braking system fitted to a trailer shall be equipped with a relevant coupling unless that coupling—

(a)is of the type shown in figure 2 of the British Standard specification;

(b)complies with the dimensions shown in that figure; and

(c)complies with paragraph 3.4.3 of that specification (except so far as it requires it to be of a type shown in that figure).

(4) Subject to paragraphs (6), (7) and (8) no emergency line comprised in a pneumatic braking system fitted to a trailer shall be equipped with a relevant coupling unless that coupling—

(a)is of the type shown in figure 3 of the British Standard specification; and

(b)complies with the dimensions shown in that figure.

(5) Subject to paragraphs (6), (7) and (8) no secondary line comprised in a pneumatic braking system fitted to a trailer shall be equipped with a relevant coupling unless that coupling—

(a)is of the type shown in figure 6 of the British Standard specification; and

(b)complies with the dimensions shown in that figure.

(6) For the purposes of paragraphs (3), (4) and (5), a reference to the dimensions shown in a figure in the British Standard specification does not include any dimension marked “M22×1.5”.

(7) Paragraph (3) shall not apply to a relevant coupling which fulfils the requirements of—

(a)a standard or code of practice of a national standards body or equivalent body of any EEA State;

(b)any international standard recognised for use as a standard by any EEA State; or

(c)a technical specification or code of practice which, whether mandatory or not, is recognised for use as a standard by a public authority of any EEA State,

where the standard, code of practice, international standard or technical specification provides, in relation to couplings, a level of safety and compatibility with a BS coupling of the type shown in figure 1 of the British Standard specification equivalent to that provided by the British Standard specification as modified in accordance with paragraph (6).

(8) Paragraph (7) shall have effect—

(a)in relation to paragraph (4), as if for the words “paragraph (3)” there were substituted the words “paragraph (4)” and for the words “figure 1” there were substituted the words “figure 4”; and

(b)in relation to paragraph (5), as if for the words “paragraph (3)” there were substituted the words “paragraph (5)” and for the words “figure 1” there were substituted the words “figure 5”.”.