GRSP-56-07
Proposal to amend UN Regulation No. 17

Proposal to expand the application area of the energy absorption criteria for seating in order to facilitate the optimization of seat-belt load limiters by allowing limited occupant contact with these seat areas.

UNECE server
Excerpts from session reports
GRSP | Session 57 | 18-22 May 2015

19. Referring to the discussion held under agenda item 7 (see para. 13 above), the expert from the Netherlands introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2015/14, calling for increased energy absorption capabilities on the rear part of seat backs, taking into account the increased forward displacement of the rear occupants restrained by new safety-belts equipped with improved load limiter devices. However, he proposed to defer the discussion at the December 2015 session of GRSP, since the proposal would involve a parallel amendment to UN Regulation No. 16 to extend contact requirements of occupants against rear seats backs. GRSP agreed to resume discussion at its next session on the basis of a new proposal as an outcome of an exchange of views among the experts from the Netherlands, CLEPA, OICA and other interested parties.

GRSP | Session 56 | 9-12 Dec 2014

22. Referring to the discussion under agenda item 7 (see para. 16), the expert from the Netherlands introduced GRSP-56-07, proposing a possible amendment to cover the issue of occupant displacement due to the presence of safety-belt load limiters installed on seats other than front seats. He announced the intention to submit a new proposal on this subject for the May 2015 session of GRSP.

GRSP | Session 58 | 8-11 Dec 2015

26. The expert from CLEPA introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2015/18, aimed at clarifying the provisions for dynamic testing of the rear seat restraint systems. She explained that the proposal aimed at updating requirements that were originally designed for seating positions that did not yet require three-point safety-belts; she added that the situation had developed with the introduction of load limiters that allowed for further displacement of occupants. Comments from GRSP experts on the proposal were incorporated into GRSP-58-35 during discussion. The expert from the Netherlands introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2015/27 that was also linked to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2015/18 because the of displacement of occupants due to safety belt load limiters that were installed on seats other than front seats. He explained that the proposal needed corresponding amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 21, 25 and 80. The expert from OICA argued that the proposal should address just those seating positions that needed energy absorption requirements. The expert from CLEPA also underlined the need to focus the energy dissipation tests on the parts of back seats where actual impacts occur.

27. Finally, GRSP agreed to establish a group of interested experts, led by the expert from the Netherlands, on new restraint system technology to develop provisions on this matter for all the relevant UN Regulations. GRSP agreed to resume discussion on this subject at its May 2016 session and to refer ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2015/18, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2015/27 and GRSP-58-35 to the group of interested experts.