Replaceable Light Source Dimensional Information Submission Requirements For Motor Vehicle Equipment 49 Cfr 564

Manufacturers of motor vehicles headlamp light source must provide performance and interchangeability information to NHTSA and the public in order to assure reliable and respectable performance of original and field replaced headlamp bulbs. Title 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30112, and 30117 authorize the issuance of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and the collection of data which supports their implementation. The agency, in prescribing a FMVSS, is to consider available relevant motor vehicle safety data, and to consult with other agencies as it deems appropriate. Further, the Title 49 U.S.C. mandates, that in issuing any FMVSS, the agency consider whether the standard is "reasonable, practicable and appropriate for the particular type of motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment for which it is prescribed," and whether such standards will contribute to carrying out the purpose of Title 49 U.S.C. Using this authority, the agency issued the initial FMVSS No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment," specifying requirements for vehicle lighting for the purposes of reducing traffic accidents and their tragic results by providing adequate roadway illumination, improved vehicle conspicuity, appropriate information transmission through signal lamps in day, night, and other conditions of reduced visibility. The standard has been amended numerous times in order to permit new headlighting designs. In recent years, the standard had become burdensome to both regulators and regulated parties in that the standard has not been able to fully accommodate the styling needs of motor vehicle designers, while at the same time assuring the safety on the highways. This has resulted in numerous burdensome petitions for rulemaking to be submitted by the vehicle and lighting manufacturers to change the design restrictive language. The reason for this burden was that as originally adopted, the standard was more equipment design oriented, rather than performance oriented. Recent amendments have helped to rectify this situation. The requirement for replaceable light source dimensional information has resulted in a further extension of that effort to make the standard more performance oriented, and reduce the burden of petitioning for amendments to the Standard. The standard now allows headlamp light sources (bulbs) that are specified in the standard as well as those listed in Part 564 to assure proper photometric performance upon replacement of the light source upon failure of the original. The original bulb manufacturer may not be the same as that of the aftermarket replacement; consequently, headlamp bulbs regardless of where they are manufactured are required to be standardized by inclusion of their interchangeability dimensions and other fit and photometric aspects. To accomplish this, all identical type bulbs must be manufactured to those pertinent interchangeability specifications. Implementation of Part 564 reduces the burden to manufacturers and users of new light sources by eliminating the 18 month petitioning process and substituting a 1 month agency review. Upon completion of that review, the new bulb's interchangeability information is listed in Part 564 and the new bulbs may be used 1 month later on new vehicles.

The latest form for Replaceable Light Source Dimensional Information Submission Requirements For Motor Vehicle Equipment 49 Cfr 564 expires 2021-08-31 and can be found here.