►B

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE

of 18 December 1975

on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to anchorages for motor-vehicle safety belts

(76/115/EEC)

(OJ L 024, 30.1.1976, p.6)

Official Journal

  No

page

date

►M1

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 81/575/EEC of 20 July 1981

  L 209

30

29.7.1981

►M2

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 82/318/EEC of 2 April 1982

  L 139

9

19.5.1982

►M3

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 90/629/EEC of 30 October 1990

  L 341

14

6.12.1990

►M4

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 96/38/EC Text with EEA relevance of 17 June 1996

  L 187

95

26.7.1996

►M5

DIRECTIVE 2005/41/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL Text with EEA relevance of 7 September 2005

  L 255

149

30.9.2005

1.1.

‘vehicle type’ as regards safety belt anchorages means a category of vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects as:

the dimensions, lines and constituent materials of the components of the vehicle structure or seat structure or any other part of the vehicle to which the belt anchorages are attached;

1.2.

‘belt anchorages’ means the parts of the vehicle structure or seat structure or any other part of the vehicle to which the safety belt assemblies are to be secured;

1.3.

‘safety belt’ (or ‘seat belt’ or ‘belt’)means an arrangement of straps with a securing buckle, adjusting devices and attachments which is capable of being anchored to a vehicle and is designed to diminish the risk of injury to its wearer, in the event of collision or abrupt vehicle deceleration, by limiting the mobility of the wearer's body. Such an arrangement is generally referred to as a ‘belt assembly’, a term also embracing any device for energy absorption or belt retraction;

1.4.

‘strap guide’ means a deivce which alters the lie of the strap in relation to the wearer of the belt assembly.

1.5.

‘effective belt anchorage’ means the point used to determine, as specified in point 4.4, the angle of each part of the safety belt in relation to the wearer, that is, the point to which a strap would need to be attached to provide the same lie as the intended lie of the belt when worn, and which may or may not be the actual belt anchorage depending on the configuration of the safety belt hardware at its attachment to the belt anchorage, for example, in the case:

1.6.

‘seat’ means a structure which may or may not be integral with the vehicle structure complete with trim, intended to seat one adult person. The term covers both an individual seat or part of a bench seat intended to seat one person;

▼M3

▼B

1.7.

‘bench seat’ means a structure complete with trim, intended to seat at least two adults;

1.8.

‘group of seats’ means either a bench-type seat, or seats which are separate but side by side (i.e. fixed so that the front seat anchorages of one of these seats are in line with the front or rear anchorages of the other or between the anchorages of the other seat) and seat one or more adults;

1.10.

‘seat type’ means a category of seats which do not differ in such essential respects as:

1.11.

‘seat anchorage’ means the system by which the seat assembly is secured to the vehicle structure, including the affected parts of the vehicle structure;

1.12.

‘adjustment system’ means the device by which the seat or its parts can be adjusted to a position suited to the morphology of the seated occupant; this device may, in particular, allow:

1.13.

‘displacement system’ means a device enabling the seat or one of its parts to be displaced angularly or longitudinally, without a fixed intermediate position, to facilitate passenger access;

1.14.

‘locking system’ means any device ensuring that the seat and its parts are maintained in any position of use and includes both devices to lock the seat back relative to the seat and the seat relative to the vehicle.

1.15.

‘reference zone’ means the space between two vertical longitudinal planes, 400 mm apart and symmetrical with respect to the H-point, and defined by rotation of the head-form apparatus, described in Annex II of Directive 74/60/EEC, from vertical to horizontal. The apparatus shall be positioned as described in that annex and set to the maximum length of 840 mm.

2.1.

The application for type-approval pursuant to Article 3 (4) of Directive 70/156/EEC of a vehicle type with regard to safety belt anchorages shall be submitted by the vehicle manufacturer.

2.2.

A model for the Information Document is given in Appendix 3.

▼M4 —————

▼B

2.3

The manufacturer shall submit to the technical service either a vehicle representative of the vehicle type to be approved or the parts of the vehicle considered essential for the belt anchorage tests by the technical service responsible for conducting the approval tests.

4.1.1.

H is a reference point as defined in Item 1.1 of Annex III to Directive 77/649/EEC which must be determined in accordance with the procedure set out in that Directive.

4.1.2.

The reference line is a straight line as defined in Item 3.4 of Annex III to Directive 77/649/EEC.

4.1.3.

Points L1 and L2 are the lower effective belt anchorages.

4.1.4.

Point C is the point situated 450 mm vertically above point R. However, if the distance S defined in Item 4.1.6 is not less than 280 mm and if the alternative formula BR = 280 mm + 0·8 S specified in Item 4.4.4.3 is chosen by the manufacturer, the vertical distance between C and R shall be 500 mm.

4.1.5.

The angles α1 and α2 are respectively the angles between a horizontal plane and planes perpendicular to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle and passing through ►M2  point H′ ◄ and points L1 and L2.

4.1.6.

S is the distance in millimetres of the effective upper belt anchorage from a reference plane P parallel to the longitudinal median plane of the vehicle defined as follows:

4.2.1.

Anchorages for a safety belt shall be so designed, made and situated as to:

4.2.2.

For belt anchorages which take up different positions to allow persons to enter the vehicle and for restraining the occupants, the specifications of this Directive shall apply to the belt anchorages in the effective restraint position.

4.3.1.

Vehicles belonging to categories M1, M2 (of class III or B), M3 (of class III or B) and N must be equipped with anchorages for safety belts conforming to the requirements of this Directive.

4.3.2.

The minimum number of safety belt anchorages for each forward and rearward directed seating position shall be as specified in Appendix 1.

4.3.3.

However, for outboard seating positions — other than front — of vehicles of the category M1, shown in Appendix 1 and marked with the symbol Ø, two lower anchorages are allowed, where there exists a passage between a seat and the nearest side wall of the vehicle intended to permit access of passengers to other parts of the vehicle. A space between a seat and the side wall is considered as a passage, if the distance between that side wall, with all doors closed, and a vertical longitudinal plane passing through the centreline of the seat concerned — measured at the R-point position and perpendicularly to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle — is more than 500 mm.

4.3.4.

For the front centre seating positions shown in Appendix 1 and marked with the symbol *, two lower anchorages shall be considered adequate where the windscreen is located outside the reference zone defined in Annex II to Directive 74/60/EEC; if located inside this reference zone, three anchorages are required.

As regards belt anchorages, the windscreen is considered as part of the reference zone when it is capable of entering into static contact with the test apparatus according to the method described in Annex II to Directive 74/60/EEC.

4.3.5.

For all seating positions shown in Appendix 1 and marked with the symbol #, each exposed seating position, as defined in item 4.3.6, must be equipped with two lower anchorages.

4.3.6.

An ‘exposed seating position’ is one where there is no ‘protective screen’ in front of the seat within the following defined space:

For the purposes of this requirement ‘protective screen’ means a surface of suitable strength and showing no discontinuities such that, if a sphere of 165 mm diameter is geometrically projected in a longitudinal horizontal direction through any point of the space defined above and through the centre of the sphere, nowhere in the protective screen is there any aperture through which the geometrical projection of the sphere could be passed.

A seat is considered to be an ‘exposed seating position’, if the protective screens within the space defined above have a combined surface area of less than 800 cm2.

4.3.7.

Every seating position in Appendix I marked with the symbol, three anchorages shall be provided unless one of the following conditions is fulfilled:

in which case two anchorages may be provided.

4.3.8.

For seating intended solely for use when the vehicle is stationary, as well as any seats of any vehicle not covered in points 4.3.1. to 4.3.5., no belt anchorages are required. If the vehicle is fitted with anchorages for such seats, these anchorages must comply with the provisions of this Directive. However, any anchorage intended solely for use in conjunction with a disabled person's belt, or any other restraint system mentioned in Article 2a of Council Directive 77/541/EEC of 28 June 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to safety belts and restraint systems of motor vehicles ( 8 ), need not conform to the requirements of this Directive provided it is designed and constructed under national legal requirements to provide the maximum practical level of safety.

4.3.9.

In the case of the upper deck of a double-deck vehicle the requirements for the centre front seating position shall apply also in the outboard front seating positions.

4.3.10.

In the case of seats capable of being turned to or placed in other orientations, for use when the vehicle is stationary, the requirements of Item 4.3.1 shall only apply to those orientations designated for normal use when the vehicle is travelling on a road, in accordance with this Directive. A note to this effect shall be included in the information document.

4.4.1.

The location of the belt anchorages as laid down in point 4.3 must comply with the following requirements.

4.4.2.

4.4.3.

▼M3

4.4.3.1.   Front seats, vehicle-category M1

In motor vehicles of category M1 the angle α1 (other than buckle side) shall be within the range of 30 to 80o and the angle α2 (buckle side) shall be within the range of 45 to 80o Both angle-requirements shall be valid for all normal travelling positions of the front seats. Where at least one of the angles α1 and α2 is constant in all normal positions of use, its value shall be 60 ± 10o

In case of adjustable seats with an adjusting device as described in item 1.12, with a seatback inclination angle of less than 20o (see Annex III, figure 1), the angle α1 may be below the minimum value (30o) stipulated above, provided it is not less than 20o in any normal position of use.

4.4.3.2.   Rear seats, vehicle category M1

In motor vehicles of category M1 the angles α1 and α2 shall be within the range of 30 to 80o for all rear seats. If rear seats are adjustable the above angles shall be valid for all normal travelling positions.

4.4.3.3.   Front seats, vehicle categories other than M1

In motor vehicles of categories other than M1 the angles α1 and α2 must be between 30 to 80o for all normal travelling positions of the front seats. Where in the case of front seats of vehicles with a maximum vehicle mass not exceeding 3,5 tonnes at least one of the angles α1 and α2 is constant in all normal positions of use, its value shall be 60 ± 10o.

4.4.3.4.   Rear seats and special front or rear seats, vehicle categories other than M1

In vehicles of categories other than M1, in the case of:

angles α1 and α2 may be between 20 and 80o in any normal position of use. Where in the case of front seats of vehicles with a maximum vehicle mass not exceeding 3,5 tonnes at least one of the angles α1 and α2 is constant in all normal positions of use, its value shall be 60 ± 10o.

▼M4

In the case of seats, other than front seats, of vehicles in categories M2 and M3, the angles α1 and α2 shall be between 45 and 90 degrees for all normal positions of use.

▼B

4.4.4.

▼M2

▼M2

▼B

▼M2

▼B

4.5.1.

A belt anchorage shall have a threaded hole of 11·11 mm (7/16) 20 UNF 2B.

4.5.2.

If the vehicle is fitted by the manufacturer with safety belts which are attached to all anchorages prescribed for the seat in question, these anchorages need not meet the requirement stipulated in Item 4.5.1, provided that they comply with the other provisions of this Directive. Nor does the requirement set out in Item 4.5.1 apply to additional anchorages which meet the condition specified in Item 4.4.4.7.3.

4.5.3.

It must be possible to separate the safety belt and anchorage without causing any damage to the latter.

5.1.1.

Subject to application of the provisions of point 5.2 and at the request of the manufacturer:

▼M4

▼B

5.1.2.

The seats shall be fitted and shall be placed in the position for driving or use chosen by the technical service conducting approval tests to give the most adverse conditions with respect to the strength of the system. The position of the seats shall be stated in the report. The seat back shall, if its inclination is adjustable, be locked as specified by the manufacturer or, in the absence of any such specification, in a position corresponding to an effective seat-back angle as close as possible to 25o for vehicles of categories M1 and N1 and to 15o for vehicles of all other categories.

5.2.1.

The method used to secure the vehicle during the test shall not be such as to strengthen the belt anchorages or the belt anchorage areas or to lessen the normal deformation of the structure.

5.2.2.

A securing device shall be regarded as satisfactory if it produces no effect on an area extending over the whole width of the structure and if the vehicle or the structure is blocked or fixed in front at a distance of not less than 500 mm from the belt anchorage to be tested and is held or fixed at the rear not less than 300 mm from that anchorage.

5.2.3.

It is recommended that the structure should rest on supports arranged approximately in line with the axis of the wheels or, if that is not possible, in line with the points of attachment of the suspension.

5.2.4.

If a test method other than that prescribed in items 5.2.1 to 5.2.3 of this Directive is used, evidence must be furnished that it is equivalent.

5.3.1.

All the belt anchorages of the same group of seats shall be tested simultaneously. However, if there is a risk that non-symmetrical loading of the seats and/or anchorages may lead to failures, an additional test may be carried out with non-symmetrical loading.

5.3.2.

The tractive force shall be applied in a direction corresponding to the seating position at an angle of 10o ± 5o above the horizontal in a plane parallel to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle.

5.3.3.

Full application of the load shall be achieved as rapidly as possible. The belt anchorages must withstand the specified load for not less than 0·2 second.

5.3.4.

Traction devices to be used in the tests described in point 5.4 below are shown in ►M4  Annex III ◄ .

5.3.5.

The belt anchorages for seats for which upper belt anchorages are provided shall be tested under the following conditions:

▼M3

5.3.6.

If no upper belt anchorages are provided for the outboard seats and the centre seats, the lower belt anchorages shall be submitted to the test prescribed in 5.4.3, in which the loads are transmitted to these anchorages by means of a device reproducing the geometry of a lap belt.

5.3.7.

If the vehicle is designed to accept other devices which do not enable the straps to be directly attached to belt anchorages without intervening sheaves or other similar devices or which require belt anchorages supplementary to those mentioned in point 4.3, the safety belt or an arrangement of wires, sheaves or other similar devices representing the equipment of the safety belt, shall be attached by such a device to the belt anchorages in the vehicle and the belt anchorages shall be subjected to the tests prescribed in point 5.4, as appropriate.

5.3.8.

A test method other than those prescribed in point 5.3 may be used but evidence must be furnished that it is equivalent.

5.4.1.1.

A special pulley or guide for the wire or strap appropriate to transmit the load from the traction device, or the pulley or strap guide supplied by the manufacturer shall be fitted to the upper belt anchorage.

5.4.1.2.

For vehicles in categories M1 and N1, a test load of 1 350 ± 20 daN shall be applied by a traction device (see ►M4  Annex III ◄ , figure 2) attached to the belt anchorages of the same belt by means of a device reproducing the geometry of the upper torso strap of such a safety belt.

For vehicles in categories M2 and N2, the test load shall be 675 ± 20 daN.

For vehicles in categories M3 and N3, the test load shall be 450 ± 20 daN.

5.4.1.3.

For vehicles in categories M1 and N1, at the same time a tractive force of 1 350 ± 20 daN shall be applied to a traction device (see ►M4  Annex III ◄ , figure 1) attached to the two lower belt anchorages.

For vehicles in categories M2 and N2, this test load shall be 675 ± 20 daN.

For vehicles in categories M3 and N3, this test load shall be 450 ± 20 daN.

5.4.2.1.

For vehicles in categories M1 and N1, a test load of 1 350 ± 20 daN shall be applied to a traction device (see ►M4  Annex III ◄ , figure 2) attached to the belt upper anchorage and to the opposite lower belt anchorage of the same belt, using, if supplied by the manufacturer, a retractor fixed at the upper belt anchorage.

For vehicles in categories M2 and N2, this test load shall be 675 ± 20 daN.

For vehicles in categories M3 and N3, this test load shall be 450 ± 20 daN.

5.4.2.2.

For vehicles in categories M1 and N1, at the same time a tractive force of 1 350 ± 20 daN shall be applied to a traction device (see ►M4  Annex III ◄ , figure 1) attached to the lower belt anchorages.

For vehicles in categories M2 and N2, this test load shall be 675 ± 20 daN.

For vehicles in categories M3 and N3, this test load shall be 450 ± 20 daN.

5.4.4.1.

The tests specified in points 5.4.1, 5.4.2 and 5.4.3 shall be performed, as appropriate, at the same time superimposing for each seat and for each group of seats a force as stated below.

5.4.4.2.

The loads indicated in Items 5.4.1, 5.4.2 and 5.4.3 shall be supplemented by a force equal to 20 times the weight of the complete seat.

In the case of vehicles in categories M2 and N2 this force must be equal to 10 times the weight of the complete seat; for vehicles in category M3 and N3 it must be equal to 6,6 times the weight of the complete seat.

5.4.5.1.

A test load of 1 350 ± 20 daN shall be applied to a traction device (see Annex IV, Figure 2) attached to the belt anchorages of such a safety belt by means of a device reproducing the geometry of the upper torso strap or straps.

5.4.5.2.

For vehicles in categories M1 and N1, at the same time, a tractive force of 1 350 ± 20 daN shall be applied to a traction device (see ►M4  Annex III ◄ , figure 3) attached to the two lower belt anchorages.

For vehicles in categories M2 and N2, this test load shall be 675 ± 20 daN.

For vehicles in categories M3 and N3, this test load shall be 450 ± 20 daN.

5.5.1.

All the anchorages shall be capable of withstanding the test prescribed in points 5.3 and 5.4. Permanent deformation, including partial rupture or breakage of any anchorage or surrounding area, shall not constitute failure if the required force is sustained for the specified time. During the test, the minimum spacings for the effective lower belt anchorages specified in point 4.4.3.3 and the requirements of points 4.4.4.6 and 4.4.4.7 for effective upper belt anchorages shall be respected.

5.5.2.

In vehicles where such devices are used, the displacement and locking devices enabling the occupants of all seats to leave the vehicle must still be operable by hand after removal of the tractive force.

5.5.3.

After testing, any damage to the belt anchorages and structures supporting load during tests shall be noted.

5.5.4.

By way of derogation, the upper anchorages fitted to one or more seats of vehicles of category M2 above 3,5 tonnes and M3, which meet the requirements of Annex III of Directive 74/408/EEC, need not comply with the requirements in paragraph 5.5.1 concerning compliance with Paragraph 4.4.4.6. Details of the seat(s) concerned shall be mentioned in the addendum to the Type-Approval certificate referred to in Appendix 4.

6.1.

As a general rule, measures to ensure the conformity of production shall be taken in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 10 of Directive 70/156/EEC.

6.2.

As a general rule, these checks shall be confined to the taking of measurements. However, if necessary, the vehicles shall be subjected to tests conforming to the requirements of point 5.

2

:

two lower anchorages which allow the installation of a safety belt type B or, where required by Annex XV of Directive 77/541/EEC, type Br, Br3, Br4m or Br4Nm.

3

:

two lower anchorages and one upper anchorage which allow the installation of a three point safety belt type A or, where required by Annex XV of Directive 77/541/EEC, type Ar, Ar4m or Ar4Nm.

∅

:

refers to Item 4.3.3 (two anchorages permitted if a seat is inboard of a passageway).

*

:

refers to Item 4.3.4 (two anchorages permitted if the windscreen is outside reference zone).

#

:

refers to Items 4.3.5 and 4.3.6 (two anchorages required in exposed seating positions).

:

refers to Item 4.3.7 (two anchorages permitted if nothing is in reference zone).

:

refers to Item 4.3.10 (special provision for the upper deck of a vehicle).

#

:

outboard and centre.

*

:

if angle is constant see Item 4.4.3.1.

Ψ

:

45o — 90o in the case of seats on M2 and M3 vehicles.