ISO 1176:1990

Overview

ISO 1176:1990 - Road vehicles - Masses - Vocabulary and codes defines a standardized, bilingual (English/French) vocabulary and coding system for masses of road vehicles as referenced in ISO 3833. Intended for use at first manufacture (complete or incomplete vehicles), the standard enables consistent vehicle mass data exchange and electronic processing. It does not prescribe measurement procedures, units or tolerances. This second edition (1990) replaces the 1974 edition and introduces the ISO‑M… code system.

Key topics

• Scope and exclusions
  • Applies to road vehicles described in ISO 3833.
  • Excludes specially designed non-transport vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds (see ISO 6726), and towed caravans (see ISO 7237).
• Bilingual terms and codes
  • Defines mass-related terms in English and French and assigns machine‑readable codes (ISO‑M01 … ISO‑M15, etc.).
  • Examples: ISO‑MO1 (bare chassis dry mass), ISO‑MO6 (complete vehicle kerb mass), ISO‑M15 (maximum authorized tyre load).
• Mass definitions
  • Distinguishes dry masses (chassis dry, chassis+cab dry), kerb/shipping masses (with specified consumables and optional items), and payload figures (design vs. authorized).
  • Defines axle and tyre loads: design vs authorized, and minimum/maximum axle loads.
• Coding conventions
  • Codes may be extended with axle identification numbers (axle No.1 = foremost axle) for per‑axle distributions (e.g., ISO‑MO61, ISO‑MO62).
  • Manufacturers must indicate when optional elements are fitted or omitted and state whether driver mass is included.
• Operational notes
  • Vertical loads from trailers/fifth wheels are to be included in total mass calculations when significant; semi‑trailer fifth‑wheel loads are considered by administrative authorities.

Applications

ISO 1176:1990 is practical for:

• Vehicle manufacturers declaring mass data and publishing technical specifications (ISO‑M codes).
• Regulatory and administrative bodies performing type approval, registration, and enforcement of maximum authorized masses and axle loads.
• Fleet managers and transport planners for load planning, axle‑load compliance and route selection.
• Road authorities and tolling systems that rely on standardized mass definitions for infrastructure protection and charging.
• Software developers and vehicle data systems needing a consistent, machine‑readable schema for exchange and electronic processing of vehicle mass data.

Related standards

• ISO 3833: vehicle types, terms and definitions (primary reference)
• ISO 6726: motorcycles and mopeds (exclusion)
• ISO 7237: towed caravans (exclusion)
• Prepared by ISO/TC 22 (Road vehicles)

Keywords: ISO 1176:1990, road vehicle masses, ISO‑M codes, vehicle mass vocabulary, kerb mass, axle load, maximum authorized total mass, ISO 3833.