Brake testing South Africa

ECE90 Brake Testing (Pty) Ltd is a company that was established with the objective of providing a test and certification service for replacement brake lining assemblies. This being primarily to the requirements of the Economic Commission for Europe ECE Regulation 90 but also other national, international and industry specifications used in the brake friction industry.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Dynamometer testing

As part of our ongoing explanation about Brake testing, we take a look this week at the reasons behind the testing of brake lining assemblies.

Overview
It is mandatory that all replacement brake lining assemblies in South Africa complies with a minimum specification as is published in the Government Gazette No. 22014 of 2 February 2001. This specification is also known as VC8053.

The above specification is regulated by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).

In addition to this, a new and more stringent specification will soon be adopted and is referred to as ECE Regulation 90. This regulation is already in place in Europe. Any South African manufacturer that wishes to export to Europe and who complies with this regulation will obviously be favoured.

In principal ECE Regulation 90 tests uses some portions of the VC8053 specification but, in addition, specifies road tests. ECE Regulation 90 is also vehicle or reference specific. It does not, however, provide the manufacturer with generic compliance, as is the case with VC8053.

Next time we will take a look at the test design.