FMVSS 215 Standard Method for Buffer Efficiency Analysis

EUROLAB, with its state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, provides precise and fast testing services within the scope of FMVSS 215 testing. The main purpose of this standard is to evaluate the effectiveness of crash protective automobile bumpers as required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 215-Exterior Protection, Passenger Vehicles.

This study focused on three different versions of the standard:

• The first 1973 regulations requiring compliance with the barrier test;
• Regulations after 1974 requiring both pendulum and raised barrier testing, and;
• Limited total vehicle damage as a result of regulations pendulum and barrier tests after 1978.

An extensive database provided by State Farm Insurance Company was categorized by vehicle model years and vehicle size classes, representing four time periods (1972, 1973, 1974-1978, and 1979).

Using the reported claims and the average cost of those claims as a measure of effectiveness, it has been shown that model years with more protective bumper systems experienced significantly lower rates of bumper-related claims compared to all property damage claims. However, overall, these model years also had higher average repair costs. The declining percentages of bumper-related claims can be attributed to decreased claims that primarily involve bumper replacement rather than just bumper-repair claims.

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with FMVSS 215 test compliance. Our test experts, with their professional working mission and principles, provide you, our manufacturers and suppliers, the best service and controlled testing process in our laboratories. Thanks to these services, businesses receive more effective, high-performance and quality testing services and provide safe, fast and uninterrupted service to their customers.