Clarification regarding the use of i-Size child restraints
10th June 2016
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It would appear that there is still some uncertainty in relation to the use of i-Size child restraints and the Baby Products Association would like to provide some clarification.
UN Regulation No. 129 came into force on 9th July 2013. It sets out performance requirements and test methods for integral ISOFIX child restraint systems, in which the child is restrained by means of a harness or shield that is coupled to a child seat. In addition, it introduces the “i-Size” concept for child restraint to car compatibility, a stature-based system of classification (for child restraints), a new family of child dummies (the Q-Series) and a side impact test procedure.
With regards to compatibility, a parent that buys an i-Size child restraint system is assured that it will fit in any i-Size seating position in any car. Even today, relatively few cars on the road have i-Size seating positions, although the number is increasing all the time. Child restraint manufacturers provide a list therefore to specify which other cars and (ISOFIX) seating positions their i-Size child restraint can be used in. There is no legal barrier to doing this, and it ensures that as many children as possible can benefit from the increase in safety that the new Regulation is likely to bring.
UN Regulation No. 129 does state that i-Size child restraints are for use in i-Size seating positions and this simply helps to define what an i-Size child restraint is. However, this has been misinterpreted and so in the proposed 01 Series of Amendments (of UN Regulation No. 129), this was re-worded to say they are primarily designed for use in i-Size seating positions. This amendment has one more stage of voting to pass through later this month and it is likely to come into force in January 2017.
Although not in force yet, it illustrates clearly the thinking of regulators about the use of i-Size child restraints. More recently, the very latest proposal to amend Regulation No. 129 clarifies this even further. To avoid any doubt, the following has been added “The instructions of a forward facing i-Size integral ECRS that utilise a top tether as the anti-rotation device may declare that the ECRS can be used in any ISOFIX seating positions. The instructions of other i-Size integral ECRS may declare that the ECRS can be used in ISOFIX seating positions specified in a car fitting list”. This addition is contained in the proposed 02 Series of Amendments, which have their final voting stage in November 2016, and are likely to be in force by July 2017.
UN Regulation No. 129 came into force on 9th July 2013. It sets out performance requirements and test methods for integral ISOFIX child restraint systems, in which the child is restrained by means of a harness or shield that is coupled to a child seat. In addition, it introduces the “i-Size” concept for child restraint to car compatibility, a stature-based system of classification (for child restraints), a new family of child dummies (the Q-Series) and a side impact test procedure.
With regards to compatibility, a parent that buys an i-Size child restraint system is assured that it will fit in any i-Size seating position in any car. Even today, relatively few cars on the road have i-Size seating positions, although the number is increasing all the time. Child restraint manufacturers provide a list therefore to specify which other cars and (ISOFIX) seating positions their i-Size child restraint can be used in. There is no legal barrier to doing this, and it ensures that as many children as possible can benefit from the increase in safety that the new Regulation is likely to bring.
UN Regulation No. 129 does state that i-Size child restraints are for use in i-Size seating positions and this simply helps to define what an i-Size child restraint is. However, this has been misinterpreted and so in the proposed 01 Series of Amendments (of UN Regulation No. 129), this was re-worded to say they are primarily designed for use in i-Size seating positions. This amendment has one more stage of voting to pass through later this month and it is likely to come into force in January 2017.
Although not in force yet, it illustrates clearly the thinking of regulators about the use of i-Size child restraints. More recently, the very latest proposal to amend Regulation No. 129 clarifies this even further. To avoid any doubt, the following has been added “The instructions of a forward facing i-Size integral ECRS that utilise a top tether as the anti-rotation device may declare that the ECRS can be used in any ISOFIX seating positions. The instructions of other i-Size integral ECRS may declare that the ECRS can be used in ISOFIX seating positions specified in a car fitting list”. This addition is contained in the proposed 02 Series of Amendments, which have their final voting stage in November 2016, and are likely to be in force by July 2017.
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