i-Size New regulation for the CRS

What is i-Size?

A committee of experts designated by the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) was given the task of adapting

Standard 44 for child safety seats to the new advances made in safety issues as well as making the seats completely compatible with cars.

As these changes were very important, they took the decision to create a new regulation, completely different from and incompatible with the current R44/04. It was given the name of “i-Size” since it was designed so that child safety seats could be classified by the height of the user instead of their age or weight. Regulation ECE R129, also known as “i-Size”, is the new European regulation for child safety seats. It will run in parallel to the current Safety Standard R44/04 for the next few years.

Main aspect of the new R129 (isize) regulation

• Obligations to install the seat in the rear facing position until the child is 15 months old (the current regulations sets the limit at 9 months).

• The ISOFIX anchoring system must be used and the side impact test is introduced.

• Side impact test is included.

• Additionally, parents can choose the correct safety seat based simply on the child’s height.

Main aspects of the ECE R44/04 regulation

With the new i-Size regulation:

• The new i-Size regulation joins together the compatibility criteria between vehicle and child safety seat manufacturers. The i-Size safety seats will be completely compatible with the vehicle seats that are also i-Size, it will no longer be necessary to consult the compatibility lists. The combination of CRS and i-Size vehicle seat will be classed as “Universal”.

• When children reach 15 months it will no longer be compulsory for them to travel in the rear facing position although the new regulation, like the current one, allows for the possibility of designing rear facing safety seats for children up to approximately 4 years old (Currently 18Kg.). With the i-Size regulation, the seat + occupant can weigh a maximum of 33Kg.

How does the new i-Size regulation improve safety?

1. Travelling in the rear facing position is the safest way to travel as the spine, head and neck are all equally protected and better supported than when travelling facing forwards.

2. Additionally, the obligation to use the ISOFIX system significantly reduces the risk of misuse of the CRS. The 7th Jané-RACC Study presented in November 2012, highlighted the fact that 36% of CRS are badly installed. This percentage lowers drastically for those equipped with the ISOFIX system.

3. Lastly, the introduction of the side impact test guarantees a remarkable improvement in safety since the majority of traffic accidents involve these circumstances. According to the study carried out in 2010 by Jané and the RACC, 70% of accidents involve side impacts

4. i-Size introduces the use of the new “Q” dummy series, which increases the reliability of the crash test results. Additionally, as well as the chest acceleration results, other data can be collected like the accelerations of the head and the neck tension force.

How can parents recognise an i-Size CRS?

Under the new regulation, the safety seats will indicate the guideline height and age range of the seat user.

This makes it easier to choose the correct safety seat for the child and makes it easier for parents to see when they need to replace their safety seat. The safety seat and the vehicle will also be marked with a specific i-Size label.

When does this new regulation come into effect?

The new i-Size regulation came into effect on 9th July 2013. This new regulation will run in parallel with the current 44/04 standard until round about the end of 2018. It is not expected to come into force for vehicles until June 2014. This new regulation will run in parallel with the current 44/04 standard until round about the end of 2018.

The first vehicles compatible with the i-Size will come out at the end of 2013 and from 2014 more models will be introduced. For the 5 years following the approval of the i-Size regulation, manufacturers can decide under which regulations they wish to have their seats approved. Seats approved under the new i-Size regulation may not be approved under Regulation 44/04, in other words, one product may not be approved under both regulations.

What is Concord’s approach to these new trends?

It goes without saying that Concord, as well as taking part in various European projects aimed at improving standardisation and child safety, fully supports the new European i-Size regulation in which one of the most noticeable new developments is how much easier it is to choose the correct safety seat for your child, replacing the Groups based on the child’s age and weight.

Another new point, and perhaps the one that has caused more confusion in Spain, due to the different messages from some manufacturers, is the regulation of replacing the Groups 0 and 0+ with a Child Restraint System installed with Isofix, and in the rear facing position, until the child is at least 15 months old.

This regulation makes it compulsory to use rear facing safety seats for longer, going from the current 10 months approximately up to 15 months, thereby guaranteeing better protection for the baby.

Extending the time using the seat in this position (rear facing) is very difficult for parents at the moment as they can’t see their children very well in this position and there is also a lack of space for the baby’s legs between the safety seat and the vehicle seat.

We are committed to finding the balance to achieve maximum safety, that’s the Concord approach.Concord will continue developing and researching at the Jané Crash Test Center to find the best options for travelling with maximum safety, and will continue collaborating with all the international institutions to offer its expertise and share its progress, thereby carrying on with its social commitment and its research work.

Due to the significant changes in testing procedures, the JANÉ crash laboratory has had to be updated.The most important changes are the side impact barrier and the new “Q” dummy series.

In order to check the protection given by child safety seats in the event of side impact, a new test has been added. This is based on the most common types of accidents and simulates a crash in which the vehicle door invades the passenger compartment (intrusion). As well as complying with the deceleration requisites, there were no cases in which the baby’s head could come into direct contact with the rigid parts of the door.The dummies, life-size dolls, that are used in the R44 were designed in the 70’s. They have been and will continue to be extremely useful for developing safer car seats.

Furthermore, as babies grow they need to see what is going on in front of them and they need to be able to see their parents. In the rear facing position they tend to want to get out of the seat, they try to unfasten themselves, they get anxious and don’t want to sit in the CRS.

What is Concord’s approach to these new trends?

Concord will have i-Size seats when the vehicles adapted to this new regulation come out.

The first seat with these characteristics will be the Reverso.

Will Concord have i-Size seats when this new regulation comes into force?

R129 i-Size R44 Comments

Compatibility with i-Size cars

Compatible with the cars

indicated by the CRS

manufacturer.

List of Automobiles

The i-Size regulation has been developed by vehicle and

CRS manufacturers together

Isofix only Isofix or Seat BeltIt promotes the use of Isofix, which has easier and safer

installation.

Up to 33kg (seat + occupant)

Indicate maximum weight of

occupant

Max. Weight of the CRS 15Kg

Max. Weight of occupant 18 Kg.Current i-Size limit equivalent to Group 0-1 of the R44

Capacity defined by height Capacity defined by weightThe height of the occupant is more representative than the

weight.

Rear facing up to at least 15

months or 71cmRear facing up to at least 9 Kg.

It promotes the use of rear facing safety seats up to a later

age

Height adjustable support leg

255 mm

Height adjustable support leg

140 mm

Higher range to cover special vehicle circumstances

(storage compartments)

R129 i-Size vs. R44: CRS design

R129 i-Size R44 Comments

Frontal Frontal

Rear Rear

Side New test, covers one of the most common types of accidents.

Q-dummies P-dummiesNew serie of dummies that represent children better and

provide more information

Data analysis for:

•head

•neck

•Chest

Data analysis for:

•Chest

Increased protection for vital parts.

R129 i-Size vs. R44: Tests