ISO 3832:2002

Passenger cars - Luggage compartments - Method of measuring reference volume

ISO 3832 specifies a method of measuring the reference volume of the luggage compartments of passenger cars.

Voitures particulières — Coffres à bagages — Méthode de mesure du volume de référence

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 12-Jun-2002
• ICS: 43.040.60 - Bodies and body components
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 22 - Road vehicles
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 22 - Road vehicles
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 03-Mar-2025
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO 3832:1991 - Passenger cars - Luggage compartments - Method of measuring reference volume
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2008

Overview

ISO 3832:2002 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that defines a method for measuring the reference volume of passenger car luggage compartments. This internationally recognized procedure provides a consistent and comparable measurement for the internal volume of luggage spaces, assisting manufacturers, regulators, and consumers in assessing car storage capacity accurately.

The standard applies to passenger cars of various types, including hatchbacks and vehicles with luggage compartments both closed and open to passenger cabins. ISO 3832 helps ensure transparency and uniformity in automotive design specifications, ultimately supporting better vehicle comparisons and design optimizations.

Key Topics

• Measurement Methodology
  ISO 3832 specifies how to fill the luggage compartment strictly with standardized unit modules to determine the largest possible capacity. These unit modules are rectangular parallelepipeds of defined dimensions and volumes, accounting for design complexities such as rounded edges.

• Unit Modules Specification
  The standard defines several types of unit modules (Type A, B, C1, C2, C3) with precise dimensions, which are used to fill the luggage compartment during measurement for accurate volume calculation.

• Measurement Procedures

  • For closed luggage compartments without direct connection to passenger areas (e.g., hatchbacks), the upper limit is defined by the parcel shelf or a similar panel.
  • For open luggage compartments connected to passenger cabins, the measurement includes several loading limits defined by seat backrests, folded seats, and roof headlining to ensure consistent volume determination.

• Reference Volume Calculation and Codes
  The combined volume of all unit modules fitted into the compartment determines the reference volume, expressed in cubic decimeters (dm³). This volume is assigned a specific code based on the luggage compartment type and seating/loading configurations for standardization.

• Designation Format
  Reference volumes are designated by a combination of the volume value, the ISO standard reference, and a code reflecting the measurement configuration to facilitate clear communication and comparisons.

Applications

• Automotive Design and Development
  Car manufacturers use ISO 3832 to design luggage compartments that maximize usable space while adhering to recognized measurement practices, aiding product innovation.

• Vehicle Specifications and Marketing
  Standardized luggage volume data allow for reliable, transparent presentations of storage capacity in brochures, technical documents, and sales materials, improving consumer trust.

• Regulatory and Compliance Testing
  Regulatory bodies and testing organizations adopt ISO 3832 to verify and validate vehicle internal space claims, ensuring compliance with industry standards.

• Comparative Analysis
  By applying a uniform standard, consumers and industry analysts can accurately compare luggage capacities across different passenger car brands and models.

Related Standards

• ISO/TC 22: Road Vehicles
  ISO 3832 is managed by ISO Technical Committee 22, which oversees standards related to terms, dimensions, and masses in road vehicles.

• ISO 12345 (Example)
  Other ISO standards within the automotive sector may cover additional vehicle feature measurements or safety standards, complementing luggage volume data.

• SAE J1100 - Vehicle Terms
  The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) provides related automotive vocabulary standards, helping align terminology across regional markets.

---

Keywords: ISO 3832, luggage compartment volume, passenger car storage, automotive standards, measurement method, reference volume, vehicle design, ISO standards passenger cars, luggage space measurement

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 3832
Third edition
2002-06-15
Passenger cars — Luggage
compartments — Method of measuring
reference volume
Voitures particulières — Coffres à bagages — Méthode de mesure du
volume de référence
Reference number
©
ISO 2002
PDF disclaimer
This PDF file may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, this file may be printed or viewed but shall not
be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In downloading this
file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat accepts no liability in this
area.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Details of the software products used to create this PDF file can be found in the General Info relative to the file; the PDF-creation parameters
were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the file is suitable for use by ISO member bodies. In the unlikely event
that a problem relating to it is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the address given below.

©  ISO 2002
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or ISO's member body
in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail [e-mail]
Web www.iso.ch
Printed in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2002 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO
member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted
by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 3832 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 22, Road vehicles, Subcommittee SC 6, Terms and
definitions of dimensions and masses.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 3832:1991), which has been technically revised.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 3832:2002(E)

Passenger cars — Luggage compartments — Method of
measuring reference volume
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method of measuring the reference volume of the luggage compartments of
passenger cars.
2 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this International Standard, the following terms and definitions apply.
2.1
unit module
rectangular parallelepiped, with rounded edges of maximum radius 10 mm and of the dimensions and volume
specified in Table 1
Table 1 — Unit modules
Unit module Length Width Height Volume
mm mm mm
dm
Type A 8
400 ± 1 200 ± 1 100 ± 1
Type B 200 ± 1 100 ± 1 50 ± 1 1
Type C1 4
200 ± 1 200 ± 1 100 ± 1
Type C2 4
400 ± 1 100 ± 1 100 ± 1
Type C3 4
400 ± 1 200 ± 1 50 ± 1
2.2
reference volume of luggage compartment
sum total of the volumes of unit modules that can be placed in a luggage compartment
See clause 3.
NOTE The reference volume, expressed in cubic decimetres, can be used for comparison of different passenger cars (see
clause 5).
3 Procedures
3.1 Measurement of volume of closed luggage compartment without direct connection with
passenger compartment
For vehicles with tailgates (hatchbacks), the parcel-shelf in its normal position defines the upper limit of the
compartment, and the volume may be measured according to this procedure.
The luggage compartment shall contain all fittings installed in production by the car manufacturer (spare wheel,
jack, etc.). Other features, either not installed or only optional, such as first-aid-kit or fire extinguisher, shall not be
considered.
a) Fill the luggage compartment with the number of unit modules representing the largest capacity using unit
modules according to Table 1, as specified by the manufacturer. Piling up of unit modules shall not impede
closing of the compartment.
b) Calcula
...