7. UN Regulation No. 17 (Strength of seats)

11. The expert from OICA introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2020/12 to clarify the test procedure for the height of head restraints in the case of vehicles having a low roof construction. He added that the current provisions were design restrictive and that the proposal was addressing only integrated head restraints. However, the expert from Japan expressed the following concerns through a presentation (GRSP-68-31-Rev.1) to the proposal:

1. The range of exempted vehicles addressed exemption applicable to bucket-type seats. However, considerations from the expert from Japan shows that this exemption could be applied to any integrated headrest seat. Therefore, not only sport-vehicles but also vehicles with high hoods and low roofs (e.g., low roof sedans, high and/or long hood vehicles and SUVs) would be exempted at manufacturer’s choice.
2. Safety risk to tall occupants. Specifically, in the case of an occupant taller than the average, the safety level of the occupant in the event of a collision would likely decrease.

12. The expert from OICA further argued that the proposal would guarantee safety performances since all other static requirements would remain in place and by foreseeing dynamic tests in case of application of this exemption provision. He reminded GRSP that the current provisions required a lower limit of the head restraint height to guarantee the safety performance of taller passengers. The expert from the Netherlands and Germany requested a time reservation to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2020/12. Finally, GRSP agreed to resume discussion on this subject at its May 2021 session.

4.8.1. Proposal for the 10 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 17 (Strength of seats, their anchorages and head restraints)

6. UN Regulation No. 17 (Strength of seats)

12. The expert from Japan introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2020/8 in a presentation (GRSP-67-17) on behalf of the Task Force on aligning UN Regulation No. 17 with UN GTR No. 7, Phase 2 provisions. The expert from Italy requested a delay on transitional provision for all new vehicles (paragraphs. 13.13.2 and 13.13.3). Finally, GRSP adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2020/8, as amended by Annex IV to the session report. The secretariat was requested to submit the proposal as the draft 10 series of amendment to UN Regulation No. 17, for consideration and vote at the November 2020 sessions of WP.29 and AC.1. At the same time, the expert from CLEPA withdrew ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2019/9.

13. Moreover, the expert from OICA introduced GRSP-67-28, to clarify the test procedure for the height of head restraints in the case of vehicles of low roof construction. The expert from EC requested a study reservation. Finally, the secretariat was requested to distribute GRSP-67-28 with an official symbol at its December 2020 session.

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