109Supply of air or vacuum to brakes

109 Supply of air or vacuum to brakes

(1)  In this regulation –

air brake compressor, of a vehicle, means a compressor for supplying air to the vehicle’s air brakes;

compressed air reserve, of a vehicle, means compressed air stored on the vehicle for supplying the vehicle’s braking system;

condensate drain valve means a device used to remove water from the compressed air reserve for a vehicle fitted with air brakes;

governor cut-out pressure, of a vehicle, means the air pressure at which the vehicle’s air brake compressor stops supplying air to the vehicle’s air brake reservoir;

spring brake means a brake using one or more springs to store the energy needed to operate the brake;

vacuum reserve, in relation to a vehicle, means air at a low pressure stored on the vehicle for supplying the vehicle’s braking system.

(2)  If air brakes are fitted to a vehicle –

(a) the vehicle’s air brake compressor must be able to build up air pressure to at least 80% of the vehicle’s governor cut-out pressure, in not more than 5 minutes after the compressed air reserve is fully used up; and

(b) there must be an automatic or manual condensate drain valve at the lowest point of each air brake reservoir in the vehicle’s braking system; and

(c) any spring brake fitted to the vehicle must not operate before the warning specified in regulation 116(3)(a) has been given.

(3)  If vacuum brakes are fitted to a vehicle, the vacuum supply must be able to build up vacuum –

(a) to the level when the warning signal specified in regulation 116(3)(a) no longer operates within 30 seconds after the vacuum reserve is fully used up; and

(b) to the normal working level within 60 seconds after the vacuum reserve is fully used up.