Revised Brake Standard is in ASABE’s Court

Last week, while many of our members were busy getting equipment and displays ready for major farm shows, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) held their annual Technology Conference in Louisville. The conference included more than two dozen committee meetings focused on various design standards that could affect our industry.

One in particular—the meeting addressing brakes on ag equipment—was standing room only. 

We have followed conversations on towed implement braking for longer than two years. At times, the conversation included the possibility that current braking standards could be modified to mirror European standards. We have asked:

• Who and what is driving this issue, and why should equipment built in North America, for use in North America, be subject to European standards?
   
• What would the impact be on shortline manufacturers?

Thanks to the work of several members, the standard project proposed to ASABE for towed implements seems to have taken a more reasoned direction. That said, we are still concerned with the lack of a cost-benefit analysis.

Based on our reading of the proposal, brakes would not be required if the fixed-weight, towed implement’s maximum design speed is less than or equal to 20 mph and the maximum transport mass ratio is less than or equal to 1.5 times the tractor mass.

Take the maximum design speed up to 25 mph, and you would need brakes at 0.6 times the tractor mass, and anything designed for speeds over 25 mph gets brakes regardless of the size of the tractor pulling the implement. Limits would be less for variable load implements such as forage wagons, gravity wagons, and manure tanks/spreaders.

The type of service brakes are not specified in this proposed standard, but the performance requirements of the braking systems are defined in great detail.

Parking brakes are not required on a towed implement if, in an un-energized state (lowered), it can meet the performance requirements at the maximum permissible mass of holding stationary in both forward and reverse directions on a 20 percent grade. For small equipment, this can be met by blocks or wheel chocks. Larger equipment could require the ability to actuate the parking brake from the operator station, which suggests the need for a mechanical parking brake.

With the proposed changes now in the hands of ASABE, the entire adoption process is now open and transparent to the public. The committee will have to address all objections and alternatives to the proposal before it can be approved.

It’s important that the ASABE committee looking at this proposal be well-balanced in its approach. It must represent not only multi-national tractor manufacturers but also shortline equipment manufacturers. And, it’s important for shortline manufacturers to offer feedback.

We encourage members to first read the proposed standard and then become involved as a voting or observing member of the committee. Either position will provide you and your engineers access to the process and the greatest impact if you find parts of the proposal need amending.

We all support standards that improve the safety of farm equipment, and we all deserve to be part of the conversation when those standards are developed.