{"id":"F2006L01318","name":"Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 2/00 – Side Door Latches and Hinges) 2006","slug":"vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-2-00-side-door-latches-and-hinges-2006","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":58805,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006L01318-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 2/00 – Side Door Latches and Hinges) 2006","content":"![](image.001.png)![](image.002.png)\n\nVehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 2/00 – Side Door Latches and Hinges) 2006\n\nMade under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989\n\nCompilation: 2 (up to and including Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Amendment Instrument 2021 (No.1))\n\nCompilation Date: 14 May 2021\n\nCompiled by: Vehicle Safety Policy and Partnerships, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications\n\nCONTENTS\n\n2.0. legislative provisions.............................................3\n\n2.0.1. NAME OF STANDARD..........................................3\n\npurpose and scope......................................................3\n\nAPPLICABILITY......................................................3\n\n2.1. DEFINITIONS..................................................5\n\n2.2. REQUIREMENTS...............................................5\n\n2.3. TEST PROCEDURES............................................6\n\n2.4. ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS....................................7\n\nNOTES ..............................................................8\n\n \n\n2.0. legislative provisions\n\n2.0.1. NAME OF STANDARD\n\n2.0.1.1. This Standard is the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 2/00 – Side Door Latches and Hinges) 2006.\n\n2.0.1.2. This Standard may also be cited as Australian Design Rule 2/00 — Side Door Latches and Hinges.\n\npurpose and scope\n\nThis Australian Design Rule (ADR) is part of the Australian motor vehicle standards system and is a vehicle standard for the purposes of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.\n\nThe function of this Australian Design Rule is to specify requirements for side door retention components including latches, hinges, and other supporting means to minimise the likelihood of occupants being thrown from a vehicle as a result of impact.\n\nAPPLICABILITY\n\n![](image.003.png)This ADR applies to the design and construction of vehicles as set out in the table hereunder.\n\nThe Package 17 issue of /00 deletes the applicability of the Rule to LEM vehicles and removes reference to ‘only applies if fitted with side door(s)’ from front page.\n\nVehicles certified to ADR 2/01 or a later version need not comply with this vehicle standard.\n\nMD, NB and NC category vehicles need not comply with this vehicle standard after 10 May 2006.\n\n \n\n```html\n

Vehicle Category

ADR Category Code

UNECE Category Code

Manufactured on or After

Acceptable Prior Rules

Moped 2 wheels

LA

L1

N/A

Moped 3 wheels

LB

L2

N/A

Motor cycle

LC

L3

N/A

Motor cycle and sidecar

LD

L4

N/A

Motor tricycle

LE

L5

LEM

N/A

LEP

1 Mar 1991

Nil

LEG

1 Mar 1991

Nil

Passenger car

MA

M1

1 July 1988

Nil

Forward-control passenger vehicle

MB

M1

1 July 1988

Nil

Off-road passenger vehicle

MC

M1

1 July 1988

Nil

Light omnibus

MD

M2

up to 3.5 tonnes ‘GVM’ and up to 12 seats

MD1

1 July 1988

Nil

up to 3.5 tonnes ‘GVM’ and more than 12 seats

MD2

1 July 1988

Nil

over 3.5 tonnes and up to 4.5 tonnes ‘GVM’

MD3

N/A

over 4.5 tonnes and up to 5 tonnes ‘GVM’

MD4

N/A

Heavy omnibus

ME

M3

N/A

Light goods vehicle

NA

N1

1 July 1988

Nil

Medium goods vehicle

NB

N2

over 3.5 tonnes up to 4.5 tonnes ‘GVM’

NB1

1 July 1988

Nil

over 4.5 tonnes up to 12 tonnes ‘GVM’

NB2

1 July 1988

Nil

Heavy goods vehicle

NC

N3

1 July 1988

Nil

Very light trailer

TA

O1

N/A

Light trailer

TB

O2

N/A

Medium trailer

TC

O3

N/A

Heavy trailer

TD

O4

N/A

\n```\n\n \n\n1. DEFINITIONS\n\nRefer to Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005.\n\n1. REQUIREMENTS\n\n2.2.0. Side door components referred to herein shall comply with this Rule if any portion of a 90-percentile 2-dimensional manikin as described in the SAE document J826, “Manikins For Use In Defining Vehicle Seating Accommodation”, November 1962, or 95 percentile as per SAE document J826a, August 1970, at the discretion of the ‘Manufacturer’ when positioned at any ‘Seating Reference Point’, projects into the door opening area on the side elevation or profile view. Components on folding doors, roll-up doors and on doors that are designed to be easily attached to or removed, without the aid of tools, from motor vehicles manufactured for operation without doors need not comply with this Rule.\n\n1. Hinged Doors, Except ‘Goods-type Doors’\n 1. Door latches - Each door latch and striker assembly shall be provided with 2 positions, consisting of a fully latched position and a secondary latched position.\n 1. Longitudinal load - The door latch and striker assembly, when in the fully latched position, shall not separate when a longitudinal load of 11.11 kN is applied. When in the secondary latched position, the door latch and striker assembly shall not separate when a longitudinal load of 4.44 kN is applied.\n 2. Transverse load - The door latch and striker assembly, when in the fully latched position, shall not separate when a transverse load of 8.89 kN is applied. When in the secondary latched position, the door latch and striker assembly shall not separate when a transverse load of 4.44 kN is applied.\n 3. Inertia load - The door latch shall not disengage from the fully latched position when a longitudinal or transverse inertia load of 30 times the acceleration due to gravity is applied to the door latch system (including the latch and its actuating mechanism with the locking mechanism disengaged).\n 2. Door hinges - Each door hinge system shall support the door and shall not separate when a longitudinal load of 11.11 kN is applied. Similarly, each door hinge system shall not separate when a transverse load of 8.89 kN is applied.\n 3. Door locks - Each door shall be equipped with a locking mechanism with an operating means in the interior of the vehicle.\n 1. Front door locks - When the locking mechanism is engaged, the outside door handles or other outside latch release control shall be inoperative.\n 2. Rear door locks - In passenger cars (MA), when the locking mechanism is engaged, both the outside and inside door handles or other latch release controls shall be inoperative; or\n\nthe outside door handles shall be designed to remain inoperative in the event of vehicle impact or rollover, and the inside door handles shall be inoperative by engagement of the ‘Child Safety Locks’.\n\n1. Hinged ‘Goods-Type Doors’\n 1. Door latches\n 1. Longitudinal load - Each latch system, when in the latched position, shall not separate when a longitudinal load of 11.11 kN is applied.\n 2. Transverse load - Each latch system, when in the latched position, shall not separate when a transverse load of 8.89 kN is applied. When more than one latch system is used on a single door, the load requirement may be divided among the total number of latch systems.\n 2. Door Hinges - Each door hinge system shall support the door and shall not separate when a longitudinal load of 11.11 kN is applied, and when a transverse load of 8.89 kN is applied.\n2. Sliding Doors\n\nThe track and slide combination or other supporting means for each sliding door shall not separate when a total transverse load of 17.8 kN is applied, with the door in the closed position.\n\n1. TEST PROCEDURES\n 1. Hinged Doors, Except ‘Goods-Type Doors’\n 1. Door latches\n 1. Longitudinal and transverse loads - Compliance with Clauses 2.2.1.1.1 and 2.2.1.1.2. shall be demonstrated in accordance with paragraph 4 of SAE document J839b, “Passenger Car Side Door Latch Systems”, May 1965 or January 1972 (Editorial changes only).\n 2. Inertia load - Compliance with Clause 2.2.1.1.3 shall be demonstrated by ‘Approved’ tests or in accordance with paragraph 5 of the SAE document referred to in Clause 2.3.1.1.1.\n 2. Door hinges - Compliance with Clause 2.2.1.2 shall be demonstrated in accordance with paragraph 4 of SAE document J934 “Vehicle Passenger Door Hinge Systems”, July 1965, or paragraph 5 of either J934a - September 1969 or J934 JUL82. For piano-type hinges, the hinge spacing requirements of these 3 SAE documents shall not be applicable, and arrangement of the test fixture shall be altered as required so that the test load will be applied to the complete hinge.\n 2. Hinged ‘Goods-Type Doors’\n \n 1. Door latches - Compliance with Clause 2.3.2.1 shall be demonstrated in accordance with paragraphs 4.1 and 4.3 of the SAE document referred to in Clause 2.3.1.1.1. An equivalent static test fixture may be substituted for that shown in Figure 2 of that SAE document if required.\n \n 1. Door hinges \\- Compliance with Clause 2.2.2.2 shall be demonstrated in accordance with paragraph 4 of the 3 SAE documents referred to in Clause 2.3.1.2. For piano type hinges, the hinge spacing requirement of the above SAE documents shall not be applicable and arrangement of the test fixture shall be altered as required so that the test load will be applied to the complete hinge. Where more than 2 hinge assemblies comprise a hinge system, individual hinge assemblies may be tested in accordance with paragraph 5 of SAE document J934a - September 1969 or J934 JUL82 provided it is demonstrated that the hinge system will support the load specified in Clause 2.2.2.2.\n 3. Sliding Doors\n\nCompliance with Clause 2.2.3 shall be demonstrated by applying an outward transverse load of 8.89 kN to the load bearing members at the opposite edges of the door (17.8 kN total). The demonstration may be performed either in the vehicle or with the door retention components in a bench test fixture.\n\n1. ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS\n\nThe technical requirements of ECE R 11/00 to 11/02 “Door Latches and Hinges” shall be deemed to be equivalent to the technical requirements of Clauses 2.2.1.1, 2.2.1.1.1, 2.2.1.1.2, 2.2.1.1.3, 2.2.1.2 (for hinged doors, except ‘Goods-type Doors’) and 2.2.3 (for sliding doors) of this Rule.\n\nNOTES\n\nThis compilation of Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 2/00 – Side Door Latches and Hinges) 2006 includes all the instruments set out in the Table of Instruments. The Table of Amendments provides a history of clauses that have been amended, inserted or deleted.\n\nTable of Instruments\n\n| Name of Instrument | Registration Date | Commencement Date |\n| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- |\n| Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 2/00 – Side Door Latches and Hinges) 2006 | 10/05/06 | 11/05/06 |\n| Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 2/00 – Side Door Latches and Hinges) 2006 Amendment 1 | 22/01/07 | 23/01/07 |\n| Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Amendment Instrument 2021 (No.1) | 13/05/21 | 14/05/21 |\n\nTable of Amendments\n\n| Clause affected | How affected | Amending instrument |\n| --------------- | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 2.0.2. | del | Legislation Act 2003 – section 48D |\n| 2.0.3. | del | Legislation Act 2003 – section 48C |\n| 2.0.3.2 | am | Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 2/00 – Side Door Latches and Hinges) 2006 Amendment 1 |\n| 2.1.0. | del | Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Amendment Instrument 2021 (No.1) |\n| 2.2.0. | ad | Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Amendment Instrument 2021 (No.1) |\n\nad = added or inserted\n\nam = amended\n\ndel = deleted or removed\n\nrr = removed and replaced\n\n = clause renumbered. This takes the format of old no.  new no.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose: setting strength and safety requirements for side door retention components. While the 2021 amendment streamlined definitions by removing the local definitions clause and referencing the central ADR Definitions instrument instead, and earlier amendments removed applicability to certain vehicle categories (LEM, MD/NB/NC after 2006), these changes represent technical maintenance and scope refinement rather than mission creep. The core regulatory scope—preventing occupant ejection through door hardware standards—has remained consistent since 2006."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple vehicle category codes (ADR codes like MA, MB, MD1-4, NA, NB1-2, etc.) with different applicability dates","Extensive cross-referencing to external technical standards (SAE J826, J839b, J934, J934a, ECE R 11/00-11/02)","Dual measurement systems (kilonewtons for force, percentile manikins for occupant size)","Nested conditional logic: different rules apply based on door type (hinged vs sliding vs goods-type), vehicle type, and manufacturing date","Technical exemptions and phase-outs (MD/NB/NC categories exempt after 10 May 2006; LEM vehicles removed in Package 17)","Incorporation by reference of international standards without reproducing their full text"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets mandatory safety standards for car-side door hardware (latches, hinges and locks) sold in Australia to keep doors closed during crashes and rollovers, reducing occupant ejection. It applies to manufacturers of cars, light trucks and buses built for the Australian market from specified dates.\n\nBy requiring robust two-stage latching, high load and inertia resistance and rear child locks, the rule directly reduces death and serious injury in collisions."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument’s scope has been narrowed and clarified by amendments. The compilation notes that Package 17 deleted applicability to LEM vehicles and removed wording on door fitting; the text states vehicles certified to ADR 2/01 or later need not comply, and MD, NB and NC category vehicles need not comply after 10 May 2006. These changes introduce category‑specific and date‑specific exemptions that alter the original coverage."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple numeric mechanical thresholds for different load directions and positions (e.g. longitudinal 11.11 kN, transverse 8.89 kN, secondary and inertia requirements) increasing technical specificity (Clauses 2.2.1.1.1–2.2.1.1.3, 2.2.2.1–2.2.3).","Cross-references to several SAE test procedures (J826, J839b, J934 and amendments) and allowance for ‘Approved’ tests, which require technical interpretation and access to external standards (Clauses 2.2.0; 2.3.1–2.3.3).","Detailed vehicle-category applicability table mapping ADR and UNECE codes with manufacture dates and transitional exemptions, creating conditional coverage and date-driven compliance obligations (Applicability table and notes).","Manufacturer discretion in applicability through choice of manikin percentile (SAE J826/J826a) affects whether a vehicle falls within the Rule (Clause 2.2.0 first paragraph).","Alternative standards provision allowing deemed-equivalence to ECE R11 introduces an interoperability pathway but requires verification of technical equivalence (Clause 2.4).","Historic amendments and deletions recorded in the Table of Amendments create legacy exceptions and transitional rules that must be checked for specific vehicle categories and dates."],"plain_english_summary":"This standard prescribes mechanical strength, locking and testing requirements for side‑door latches, hinges and sliding‑door supports on applicable vehicles. It sets numeric static and inertia loads and requires SAE or approved tests to demonstrate compliance.\n\nIt applies to vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers who must design, test and certify doors (or rely on equivalent ECE R11 tests). The instrument also fixes compliance dates and category exemptions (for example, vehicles certified to ADR 2/01 and certain MD/NB/NC categories)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-2-00-side-door-latches-and-hinges-2006","history":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-2-00-side-door-latches-and-hinges-2006/history","analysis":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-2-00-side-door-latches-and-hinges-2006/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-2-00-side-door-latches-and-hinges-2006/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-2-00-side-door-latches-and-hinges-2006/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-2-00-side-door-latches-and-hinges-2006/documents"}}