Regulation 16.08 Consolidated to Supplement 3 Part 7

8.1.8.2 Every passenger seating position which is fitted with a frontal protection airbag shall be provided with a warning against the use of a rearward-facing child restraint in that seating position. This information shall consist of a label containing clear warning pictograms as indicated below:

Figure 1 – Warning Label

The overall dimensions of the label shall be at least 120 x 60 mm or the equivalent area.

The label may be adapted in such a way that the layout differs from the example shown here; however, the content shall meet the precise prescriptions. Furthermore, no other type of information shall be included on the label unless it is placed outside a clearly marked rectangle with at least the overall dimensions as required above. In derogation to the aforementioned, a part number, bar code or similar identification mark not exceeding 8 mm x 35 mm or the equivalent area may be placed on the label.

It shall also be ensured that no deviations in the shape and orientation of the provided pictograms are permitted, notably that any customised appearance of the prescribed pictogram images shall be prohibited, with the exception of the hand with pointing index finger and the open face booklet with letter 'i' on its right page provided that they are clearly recognisable as such.

Small irregularities concerning line thickness, label imprinting and other relevant production tolerances shall be accepted.

Figure 2 - Pictogram according to ISO 2575:2004 - Z.01 that shall be used and that shall have an outer diameter of at least 38 mm

Figure 3 - Pictogram depicting airbag deployment danger that shall be used and that shall measure 40 mm in width and 28 mm in height or proportionally larger

The requirements of this paragraph do not apply to vehicles of which all passenger seating positions are equipped with a device which automatically deactivates the frontal protection airbag assembly when any rearward facing child restraint is installed.

8.1.9. In the case of seats capable of being turned to or placed in other orientations, designed for use when the vehicle is stationary, the requirements of paragraph 8.1.1. above shall only apply to those orientations designated for normal use when the vehicle is travelling on a road, in accordance with this Regulation.

8.2. General requirements

8.2.1. Safety-belts, restraint systems, and ISOFIX child restraint systems, as well as i-Size child restraint systems according to Annex 17, Appendix 3, shall be fixed to anchorages and in case of i-Size child restraint systems, supported by a vehicle floor contact surface, conforming to the specifications of UN Regulation No. 14 or UN Regulation No. 145, such as the design and dimensional characteristics, the number of anchorages, and the strength requirements.

8.2.2. The safety-belts, restraint systems and child restraint systems recommended by the manufacturer according to Annex 17 -Appendix 3, shall be so installed that they will work satisfactorily and reduce the risk of bodily injury in the event of an accident. In particular, they shall be so installed that:

8.2.2.1. The straps are not liable to assume a dangerous configuration;

8.2.2.2. The danger of a correctly positioned belt slipping from the shoulder of a wearer as a result of his/her forward movement is reduced to a minimum.

8.2.2.3. The risk of the strap deteriorating through contact with sharp parts of the vehicle or seat structure, and child restraint systems recommended by the manufacturer according to Annex 17 - Appendix 3, is reduced to a minimum.

8.2.2.4. The design and installation of every safety-belt provided for each seating position shall be such as to be readily available for use. Furthermore, where the complete seat or the seat cushion and/or the seat back can be folded to permit access to rear of the vehicle or to goods or luggage compartment, after folding and restoring those seats to the seating position, the safety-belts provided for those seats shall be accessible for use or can be easily recovered from under or behind the seat, by one person, according to instructions in the vehicle users handbook, without the need for that person to have training or practice;

8.2.2.5. The Technical Service shall verify that, with the buckle tongue engaged in the buckle:

8.2.2.5.1. The possible slack in the belt does not prevent the correct installation of child restraint systems recommended by the manufacturer, and

8.2.2.5.2. In the case of three-point belts, a tension of at least 50 N can be established in the lap section of the belt by external application of tension in the diagonal section of the belt, when positioned:

(a) On a 10-year manikin as specified in Annex 8, Appendix 1 to UN Regulation No. 44 and set in accordance with Annex 17, Appendix 4 to the present Regulation;

(b) Or on the fixture specified in Annex 17, Appendix 1, Figure 1 to the present Regulation for the seats that enable the installation of a child restraint device of universal category.

8.3. Special requirements for rigid parts incorporated in safety-belts or restraint systems

8.3.1. Rigid parts, such as the buckles, adjusting devices and attachments, shall not increase the risk of bodily injury to the wearer or to other occupants of the vehicle in the event of an accident.

8.3.2. The device for releasing the buckle shall be clearly visible to the wearer and within his easy reach and shall be so designed that it cannot be opened inadvertently or accidentally. The buckle shall also be located in such a position that it is readily accessible to a rescuer needing to release the wearer in an emergency.

The buckle shall be so installed that, both when not under load and when sustaining the wearer's mass, it is capable of being released by the wearer with a single simple movement of either hand in one direction.

In the case of a safety-belts or restraint systems for front outboard seating positions, except if these are harness belts, the buckle shall also be capable of being locked in the same manner.

A check shall be made to ensure that, if the buckle is in contact with the wearer, the width of the contact surface is not less than 46 mm.

A check shall be made to ensure that, if the buckle is in contact with the wearer, the contact surface satisfies the requirements of paragraph 6.2.2.1. of this Regulation.

8.3.3. When the belt is being worn, it shall either adjust automatically to fit the wearer or be so designed that the manual adjusting device is readily accessible to the wearer when seated and is convenient and easy to use. It shall also be possible for it to be tightened with one hand to suit the build of the wearer and the position of the vehicle seat.

8.3.4. Safety-belts or restraint systems incorporating retractors shall be so installed that the retractors are able to operate correctly and stow the strap efficiently. In case of both a belt adjusting device and a flexible shoulder adjustment device for height, in at least their highest and their lowest position, checks shall be made that the retractor automatically adjusts the strap to the shoulder of the concerned wearer after buckling, as well as that the tongue-plate rolls up in case of an unbuckling.

8.3.5. In order to inform vehicle user(s) of the provisions made for the transport of children, vehicles of Categories M1, M2, M3 and N1 shall meet the information requirements of Annex 17. Any vehicle of Category M1 shall be equipped with ISOFIX positions, in accordance with the relevant prescriptions of UN Regulation No. 14 or UN Regulation No. 145.

The first ISOFIX position shall allow at least the installation of one out of the three forward-facing fixtures as defined in Appendix 2 of Annex 17; the second ISOFIX position shall allow at least the installation of one rear-facing fixture as defined in Appendix 2 of Annex 17. For this second ISOFIX position, in case where the installation of the rear-facing fixture is not possible on the second row of seats of the vehicle due to its design, the installation of one fixture is allowed in any position of the vehicle.

8.2.4. Any i-Size seating position shall allow the installation of the ISOFIX child restraint fixture "ISO/F2X", "ISO/R2", and the support leg installation assessment volume as defined in Appendix 2 of Annex 17, as well as the booster seat fixture "ISO/B2" as defined in Appendix 5 of Annex 17, without the ISOFIX attachments (see detail B). It shall be possible to occupy all adjacent i-Size seating positions simultaneously. This is deemed to be demonstrated when the vertical median planes of individual adjacent positions are at least 440 mm apart.

8.4. Safety-belt reminder equipment.

 8.4.1. Requirements per specific seating position and exemptions

8.4.1.1. The seating position of the driver of M and N categories of vehicles10 as well as the seating positions of the occupants of seats in the same row as the driver seat of M and N categories of vehicles shall be equipped with a safety-belt reminder satisfying the requirements of paragraph 8.4.3.

8.4.1.2. All seating positions of the rear seat row(s) of M1 and N1 category vehicles9[R1608r10-5] shall be equipped with a safety-belt reminder satisfying the requirements of paragraph 8.4.4.

Where the vehicle manufacturer provides a safety-belt reminder system on a rear seating position in another category of vehicle, the safety-belt reminder system may be approved according to this Regulation.

8.4.1.3. A safety-belt reminder is not compulsory on folding seats (i.e. normally folded and designed for occasional use, e.g. foldable crew seats in the buses and coaches) as well as seating positions fitted with an S-type belt (including Harness belt).

Notwithstanding paragraphs 8.4.1.1. and 8.4.1.2. above, safety belt reminders are also not required for rear seats in ambulances, hearses, and motor-caravans as well as for all seats for vehicles used for transport of disabled persons, vehicles intended for use by the armed services, civil defence, fire services and forces responsible for maintaining public order.

8.4.2. General requirements

8.4.2.1. Visual warning

8.4.2.1.1. The visual warning shall be so located as to be readily visible and recognisable in the daylight and at night time by the driver and distinguishable from other alerts.

8.4.2.1.2. The visual warning shall be a steady or flashing tell-tale.

facing forward as seated on the driver seat, any seating position in which the safety-belt is unfastened. For vehicles that have information on the occupancy status of the rear seats, the visual warning does not need to indicate unfastened safety-belts for unoccupied seating positions. For seats, which can be fixed to different designated seating positions within the vehicle (e.g. floor rail mounted), the visual warning shall at least indicate when any rear safety belt is unfastened[R16.08s2-6].

8.4.4.3. The colour of the visual warning may be other than red and the symbol of the visual warning for safety- belts covered by paragraph 8.4.1.2 may contain different symbols other than defined in UN Regulation No.121. In addition, the first level warning of seating positions covered by paragraph 8.4.1.2 may be cancellable by the driver.

8.4.4.4. A common tell-tale may be used for safety-belts covered by paragraphs 8.4.1.1 and 8.4.1.2.

8.4.4.5. The second level warning shall be activated when a safety-belt becomes unfastened while the vehicle is in normal operation and while, at the same time, any one condition or any combination of the conditions, at the choice of the manufacturer, set out in paragraphs 8.4.2.4.1.1. to 8.4.2.4.1.3. is satisfied.

8.4.5. The safety-belt reminder may be designed to allow deactivation.

8.4.5.1 In the case that a short term deactivation is provided, it shall be significantly more difficult to deactivate the safety-belt reminder than buckling the safety-belt on and off (i.e. it shall consist of an operation of specific controls that are not integrated in the safety-belt buckle) and this operation shall only be possible when the vehicle is stationary. When the ignition or master control switch is deactivated for more than 30 minutes and activated again, a short-term deactivated safety-belt reminder shall reactivate. It shall not be possible to provide short term deactivation of the relevant visual warning(s).

8.4.5.2.  In the case that a facility for a long term deactivation is provided, it shall require a sequence of operations to deactivate, that are detailed only in the manufacturer's technical manual and/or which requires the use of tools (mechanical, electrical, digital, etc.) that are not provided with the vehicle. It shall not be possible to provide long term deactivation of the relevant visual warning(s).

 

9. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION

The conformity of production procedures shall comply with those set out in the Agreement, Schedule 1 (E/ECE/TRANS/505/Rev.3), with the following requirements:

9.1. Every vehicle type or safety-belt or restraint system approved under this Regulation shall be so manufactured as to conform to the type approved by meeting the requirements set forth in paragraphs 6. 7. and 8. above.

9.2. The minimum requirements for conformity of production control procedures set forth in Annex 14 to this Regulation shall be complied with.

9.3. The Type Approval Authority which has granted type approval may at any time verify the conformity control methods applied in each production facility. The normal frequency of these verifications shall be twice a year.

 

10. PENALTIES FOR NON-CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION

10.1. The approval granted in respect of a vehicle or a type of belt or restraint system may be withdrawn if the requirement laid down in paragraph 9.1. above is not complied with, or if the safety-belt(s) or restraint system(s) selected have failed to pass the checks prescribed in paragraph 9.2. above.

10.2. If a Contracting Party to the Agreement applying this Regulation withdraws an approval it has previously granted, it shall forthwith so notify the other Contracting Parties applying this Regulation by means of a communication form conforming to the model in Annex 1A or Annex 1B to this Regulation (as appropriate).

 

11. MODIFICATIONS AND EXTENSION OF APPROVAL OF THE VEHICLE TYPE OR SAFETY-BELT OR RESTRAINT SYSTEM TYPE

11.1. Every modification of the vehicle type or the belt or restraint system or both which affects its technical performance and/or documentation as required in this Regulation shall be notified to the Type Approval Authority which approved the vehicle type or safety-belt or restraint system type. The Authority may then either: [R1608s1-7]

11.1.1. Consider that the modifications made are unlikely to have an appreciable adverse effect and that in any case the vehicle or safety-belt or restraint system still complies with the requirements; or

11.1.2. Require a further test report from the Technical Service responsible for conducting the tests.

11.2. Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 11.1. above, a variant of the vehicle whose mass in the running order is less than that of the vehicle subjected to the approval test shall not be regarded as a modification of the vehicle type.