Proposal to amend UN Regulation No. 17
Document GRSP-56-07
2 December 2014

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.

Submitted by Netherlands
Status: Superseded
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Previous Documents, Discussions, and Outcomes
7. | Regulation No. 16 (Safety-belts)

13. The expert from CLEPA introduced a presentation (GRSP-57-25) to explain ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2015/16 and GRSP-57-03 (superseding ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2015/4) aimed at clarifying the provisions for dynamic testing of rear seat system and advanced restraint system approval. The expert from Japan argued that the proposal was not assessing the air-bag performance through UN Regulation No. 94 because it was addressing other occupants than those seating in lateral frontal positions. The expert from France clarified that the proposal was addressing the concept of restraint systems to other seating positions than front outboard positions. The expert from EC suggested aligning the proposed provisions with those of UN Regulation No. 21, concerning the speed of impact of seating position protected by an air-bag. Accordingly, the expert from CLEPA introduced GRSP-57-28 incorporating the comments received during the discussion. The experts from France and Japan raised study reservations on the proposal. Moreover, the expert from the Netherlands noted that the proposal would affect not only the safety-belt component but also the vehicle. The experts from EC and OICA stated that the proposal should be discussed as a full package with the corresponding amendment to UN Regulation No. 17, namely ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2015/14 (see para. 19 below). GRSP agreed to resume discussion on this subject at its December 2015 session and requested the secretariat to distribute GRSP-57-28 with an official symbol.

8. | Regulation No. 17 (Strength of seats)

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.

8. | Regulation No. 17 (Strength of seats)

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.

Related and Previous Documents
GRSP/2015/14
Relates to UN R17 |