Specifications
Brake assessment manual Ver 1.0 Published October 2013 16 (48 pages)
MB Forward-Control Passenger Vehicle - a passenger vehicle, not being an off-road passenger
vehicle, having up to 9 seating positions, including that of the driver, and in which the centre of
the steering wheel is in the forward quarter of the vehicle‘s total length.
MC Off-Road Passenger Vehicle - a passenger vehicle having up to 9 seating positions,
including that of the driver and being designed with special features for off-road operation.
MD Light Omnibus - a passenger vehicle having more than 9 seating positions, including that of
the driver and with a Gross Vehicle Mass not exceeding 5.0 tonnes.
Manufacturer - the name of the person or company who accepts responsibility for
compliance with the Australian Design Rules and to whom the ‘Compliance Plate’ approval
certificate is issued, or, for an individually constructed vehicle, the person in whose name the
vehicle is registered.
†
Maximum Loaded Test Mass (MLTM) - the mass of the Unladen vehicle together with a full
capacity of lubricating oil and coolant and at least 75% capacity of fuel plus additional mass
equivalent to 68 kg located in each unoccupied seating position.
N Category Vehicles
NA Light Goods Vehicle - a goods vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass not exceeding
3.5 tonnes.
NB1 Medium Goods Vehicle - a goods vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass between 3.5
tonnes and 4.5 tonnes.
Goods Vehicle - a motor vehicle constructed primarily for the carriage of goods and
having at least 4 wheels; or 3 wheels and a Gross Vehicle Mass exceeding 1.0 tonne.
Parking Mechanism - a component or sub-system of the drive train that locks the drive train
when the transmission control is placed in the ‘park’ position or other gear position and the
ignition key is removed.
Pedal Effort - the force applied to the service brake Control. The force may be measured by
a force transducer located centrally on the brake pedal pad.
* Restored vehicle - a vehicle that is being or has been restored to its manufacturer’s
specifications, so far as it is reasonably practicable to meet those specifications.
Note: This definition is from the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2007.
Split Service Brake System - a brake system consisting of two or more sub-systems actuated
by a single Control and so designed so that a leakage-type failure of a pressure component
in a single sub-system (except structural failure of a housing that is common to all sub-
systems) shall not impair the operation of any other sub-systems.
Stored Energy - energy stored in a device such as a pressure vessel, vacuum chamber,
spring or battery.
†
Unladen Mass - the mass of the vehicle in its operational configuration, unoccupied and
unladen with all fluid reservoirs filled to nominal capacity including fuel.
Variable Proportioning Brake System - system that automatically adjusts the braking force at
the Axles to compensate for vehicle static Axle Load and/or dynamic weight transfer between
Axles during deceleration.
In addition, the definitions below apply for the purposes of the tests. These are not italicised
in the text.
* May indicates an option that is permissible and which does not affect compliance with a test
whether or not it is used.
* Must indicates that something is an essential part of, or essential to, the test.
* Shall indicates something that is a mandatory part of a test procedure.
* Should indicates something that is recommended, but is not necessary to ensure
compliance with a test.