ICS 43.040.60
CCS T 26
National Standard of the People’s Republic of China
GB 48001-2026
Safety technical requirements for automotive door handle
汽车车门把手安全技术要求
(English translation)
Issue date: 2026-01-28 Implementation date: 2027-01-01
Issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People's Republic of China
the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China
1 Scope
This document specifies the technical requirements, test methods, and same type judgment for automotive door handle.
This document is applicable to the door handles of vehicles of Categories M1 and N1 as well as of multi-purpose trucks, and may serve as a reference for the door handles of other vehicles.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition (including any amendments) applies.
GB 11551 The protection of the occupants in the event of a frontal collision for motor vehicle
GB 15086 Motor vehicles’ door locks and retention components performance requirements and test methods
GB 38031 Electric vehicles traction battery safety requirements
3 Terms and definitions
For the purpose of this document, the terms and definitions given in GB 11551, GB 15086 and GB 38031 and the following apply.
3.1
doors
swing-opening and sliding doors on the sides or rear of a vehicle, which can be opened and closed for passenger entry and exit
Note: Excluding folding doors, roll-up doors, or simple doors which are easily installed or removed.
[Source: GB 15086-2013, 2.1, modified]
3.2
door handle
operating mechanism for opening and closing doors
Note: This includes only outer door handles and inner door handles.
3.3
unlatch
disengage of the door lock from the fully latched or partially latched position, achieving separation between the lock body and the striker (or catch)
Note 1: The engaged state of the door lock refers to the restraint imposed by the lock on the door, allowing the door to be opened by operating the door handle.
Note 2: Unlatching includes electrical unlatching and mechanical unlatching. Electrical unlatching refers to the door lock disengaging through an electrically driven mechanical mechanism; mechanical unlatch refers to the door lock disengaging solely via mechanical mechanisms.
3.4
outer door handle
operating mechanism with a handle-like form, located on or near the door or door frame, used to unlatch the door lock device from outside the vehicle
Note: According to the connection method between the outer door handle and the door lock, it can be categorized into electrically unlatched outer door handles and mechanically unlatched outer door handles.
3.5
inner door handle
operating mechanism located on or near the door or door frame, used to unlatch the door lock device from inside the vehicle
Note: According to the connection method between the inner door handle and the door lock, it can be categorized into electrically unlatched inner door handles (including electronic button type) and mechanically unlatched outer door handles.
4 Technical requirements
4.1 General
4.1.1 Outer door handle
4.1.1.1 Each door (excluding the back door) shall be equipped with a mechanically unlatched outer door handle. The vehicle's safety design shall ensure that in the event of irreversible restraint device deployment or thermal runaway of the power battery, the doors can be opened using the mechanically unlatched outer door handle without the need for tools. For vehicles equipped with electronically controlled or automatically activated door locking devices, when the locking device is in the locked state, in the event of irreversible restraint device deployment or thermal runaway of the power battery, the doors can be opened using the mechanically unlatched outer door handle without the need for tools.
4.1.1.2 The outer door handle shall be located within the shaded area specified in Annex A, or in an area adjacent to the shaded area on the door or near the door frame. The shaded area for sliding doors is shown in Figure A.1, the shaded area for upward-swinging doors is shown in Figure A.2, and the shaded area for other types of doors is shown in Figure A.3.
4.1.1.3 The outer door handle, in any state, shall provide sufficient hand clearance relative to the vehicle body surface to operate mechanical unlatching, and this clearance shall be sufficient to accommodate the module shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 Schematic diagram of hand clearance module
4.1.2 Inner door handle
4.1.2.1 Each door (excluding the back door) shall be equipped with at least a mechanically unlatched inner door handle. When a single door is equipped with multiple mechanically unlatched inner door handles, the door shall be capable of being opened by independently operating any one of the inner door handles.
4.1.2.2 Each door (excluding the back door) shall have at least a mechanically released inner door handle that is easily identifiable by occupants inside the vehicle. It shall be installed:
a) at an unobstructed position, clearly visible from the corresponding occupant's seat;
b) on the door or within a distance of no more than 300 mm from the edge of the door (the edge of visible area when the door is closed);
c) when the lock body is on the door, the longitudinal center of the mechanically unlatched inner door handle shall be located in front of the R-point of the same-row seat adjacent to the door, and its vertical center shall be within the area from 0 mm to 680 mm above the R-point, as shown in Figure A.4.
4.1.2.3 Inner door handles (excluding straight-handle, loop-handle, or vertical-handle types with mechanical unlatching and a single, fixed operating direction) shall be equipped with permanent markings that meet the following requirements:
a) Based on the door opening method, the symbol are as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 3. Mirror imaging of the symbol is permitted. The dimensions of the symbol shall be at least 10 mm × 7 mm. Adjustments may be made to the line thickness, spacing, proportions, arc curvature, and corner details of the symbol, provided that the essential components, such as the door, vehicle body, and front/rear windshield, remain unchanged and the identifiability during use is not compromised. Chinese descriptions may be added;
b) Located in an unobstructed position, clearly indicating the location of the inner door handle;
c) The color of the symbol shall contrast sharply with the background color and be easily recognizable;
d) Clearly visible in low lighting such as at nighttime (including but not limited to backlighting, interior lighting, etc.).
4.1.2.4 For inner door handles (excluding electronic button-type inner door handles and straight-handle, loop-handle, or vertical-handle types with mechanical unlatching and a single, fixed operating direction), Chinese text or graphic instructions indicating the opening method (e.g., operation direction or number of operations) shall be added near the marking specified in 4.1.2.3 or near the inner door handle. The height of the Chinese text or graphic shall be no less than 6 mm and clearly visible from the corresponding occupant's seat.
Figure 2 Schematic diagram of swing-opening door
Figure 3 Schematic diagram of sliding door
4.1.3 Instructions for use
Instructions for use shall include instructions for using the door handles, covering at least the following information:
a) The location and operating instructions for the door handles under normal conditions;
b) The instructions for operating door handles in emergency situations.
4.2 Special requirements
4.2.1 Performance requirements
4.2.1.1 For vehicles capable of electrically unlatching the door lock from outside, after testing according to the methods specified in 5.1 or 5.2, the door (excluding the back door) shall be capable of being opened by a single or repeated action of the mechanically unlatched outer door handle without the need for tools.
4.2.1.2 After testing according to the methods specified in 5.3, the door (excluding the back door) shall be capable of being opened by a single or repeated action of the mechanically unlatched inner door handle without the need for tools.
4.2.2 Strength requirements
When tested according to the method specified in 5.4, the door handle (excluding the back door) shall not break or detach during the test, and after the test, the door handle shall remain capable of opening the door.
Contents
Foreword Ⅲ
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Technical requirements
5 Test methods
6 Same type judgment
7 Standard implementation
Annex A (Normative) Placement of door handle
Annex B (Normative) Test loading positions for door handle strength
