Articles, containing gas, intended to function as shock absorbers, including impact energy absorbing devices, or pneumatic springs are not subject to these Instructions provided:

a) each article has a gas space capacity not exceeding 1.6 litres and a charge pressure not exceeding 280 bar where the product of the capacity (litres) and charge pressure (bars) does not exceed 80 (i.e. 0.5 litre gas space and 160 bar change pressure, 1 litre gas space and 80 bar charge pressure. 1.6 litre gas space and 50 bar charge pressure, 0.28 litre gas space and 280 bar charge pressure);

b) each article has a minimum burst pressure of 4 times the charge pressure at 20 °C for products not exceeding 0.5 litre gas space capacity and 5 times charge pressure for products greater than 0.5 litre gas space capacity;

c) each article is manufactured from material which will not fragment upon rupture;

d) each article is manufactured in accordance with a quality assurance standard acceptable to the appropriate national authority.; and

e) the design type has been subjected to a fire test demonstrating that pressure in the article is relieved, by means of a fire degradable seal or other pressure relief device such that the article will not fragment and the article does not rocket.