1974L0408 — EN — 24.07.1981 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 22 July 1974
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor
vehicles (strength of seats and of their anchorages)
(74/408/EEC)
(OJ L 221, 12.8.1974, p. 1)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Council Directive of 20 July 1981 L 209 34 29.7.1981
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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 22 July 1974
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
the interior fittings of motor vehicles (strength of seats and of their
anchorages)
(74/408/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament(
1);
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee;
Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy
pursuant to national laws relate, inter alia , to interior fittings for the
strength of seats and their anchorages;
Whereas these requirements differ from one Member State to another;
whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the same
requirements either in addition to or in place of their existing regula-
tions in order, in particular, to allow of the EEC type-approvalprocedure, which was the subject of Council Directive No 70/156/EEC(
2) of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of laws of the
Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and theirtrailers, to be applied in respect of each type of vehicle;
Whereas common requirements for the interior fittings of the passenger
compartment, the layout of the controls, the roof, the backrests and therear part of the seats have been laid down by Council Directive No 74/60/EEC(
3) of 17 December 1973; whereas requirements for the internal
fittings for the behaviour of the steering mechanism in the event of an
impact have been laid down by Council Directive 74/297/EEC(4)o f4
June 1974; whereas other requirements for the internal fittings, and inparticular those relating to the head restraint, the seat belt anchoragesand the layout of the controls, will be adopted at a later date;
Whereas it is appropriate to utilize basically certain technical require-
ments adopted by the UN Economic Commission for Europe in its
Regulation No 17(
5) (Uniform provisions concerning the approval of
vehicles with regard to the strength of the seats and of theiranchorages) which is annexed to the Agreement of 20 March 1958concerning the adoption of uniform conditions of approval and reci-procal recognition of approval for motor vehicle equipment and parts;
Whereas the approximation of national laws relating to motor vehicles
entails mutual recognition by Member States of inspection carried outby each of them on the basis of common provisions; whereas such asystem must, if it is to function smoothly, be applied by all MemberStates with effect from the same date,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. For the purposes of this Directive, ‘vehicle’ means any motor
vehicle designed for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having1974L0408 — EN — 24.07.1981 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ No C 108, 10. 12. 1973, p. 75.
(2) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1.
(3) OJ No L 38, 11. 2. 1974, p. 2.
(4) OJ No L 165, 20. 6. 1974, p. 16.
(5) EEC document from Geneva./C16/C17E/ECE/324
E/ECE/TRANS/505Rev. 1/Add. 16.
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at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h,
with the exception of vehicles which run on rails, agricultural andforestry tractors and machinery and public works vehicles.
2. This Directive does not apply to folding (tip-up) seats or to side-
facing or rearward-facing seats.
Article 2
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national
type-approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to the strength of theseats or their anchorages if these meet the requirements set out inAnnexes I and II when the vehicle belongs to category M
1and the
requirements set out in Annex III when the vehicle belongs to cate-
gories M2,M3,N1,N2or N3. The vehicle categories are defined in
Annex I to Directive No 70/156/EEC.
Article 3
No Member State may refuse to register or prohibit the sale, entry into
service or use of any vehicle on grounds relating to the strength of theseats or their anchorages if these meet the requirements set out inAnnex I and II when the vehicle belongs to category M
1, and the
requirements of Annex III when the vehicle belongs to categories M2,
M3,N1,N2or N3.
Article 4
The Member State which has granted type-approval must take the
necessary measures to ensure that it is informed of any modificationof any part or characteristic referred to in Annex I, 2.2. The competentauthorities of that State shall determine whether fresh tests should becarried out on the modified vehicle and a fresh report drawn up. Where
such tests reveal failure to comply with the requirements of this Direc-
tive, the modification shall not be approved.
Article 5
Modifications which are necessary to adapt the provisions of Annexes I
to IV to take account of technical progress shall be adopted in accor-dance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive No 70/156/EEC.
Article 6
1. By 1 March 1975, the Member States shall adopt and publish the
provisions necessary to comply with this Directive and shall immedi-ately inform the Commission thereof.
They shall apply these provisions from 1 October 1975.2. As soon as this Directive has been notified, the Member States
shall ensure that any draft laws, regulations or administrative provi-
sions which they intend to adopt in the field covered by this Directiveare communicated to the Commission in sufficient time for the latter tosubmit its comments thereon.
Article 7
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.1974L0408 — EN — 24.07.1981 — 001.001 — 3
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ANNEX I (1)
GENERAL, DEFINITIONS, APPLICATION FOR EEC TYPE-
APPROVAL, EEC TYPE-APPROVAL, GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS,
TESTS, INSPECTION, CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
1. GENERAL
1.1. The specifications set out in this Annex apply to vehicles in category
M1only.
2. DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Directive:
(2.1.)2.2. ‘vehicle type with regard to the strength of the seats and their
anchorages’: motor vehicles which do not differ in such essential
respects as:
2.2.1. the structure, shape, dimensions and materials of the seats,
2.2.2. the types and dimensions of the seat-back adjustment and locking
systems,
2.2.3. the types and dimensions of the seat anchorage and of the affected parts
of the vehicle body-shell;
2.3. ‘anchorage’ means the system by which the seat assembly is secured to
the vehicle body, including the affected parts of the vehicle body-shell;
2.4. ‘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 occu-
pant; this device may, in particular, permit of:
2.4.1. longitudinal displacement,2.4.2. vertical displacement,2.4.3. angular displacement;2.5. ‘displacement system’ means a device enabling the seat or one of its
parts to be displaced angularly or longitudinally, without a fixed inter-
mediate position, to facilitate access by passengers;
2.6. ‘locking system’ means a device ensuring that the seat and its parts are
maintained in the position of use;
2.7. ‘folding (tip-up) seat’ means an auxiliary seat intended for occasional
use and which is normally folded out of the way.
3. APPLICATION FOR EEC TYPE-APPROVAL
3.1. The application for EEC type-approval of a vehicle type with regard to
the strength of the seats and their anchorages shall be submitted by the
vehicle manufacturer or by his authorized representative.
3.2. It shall be accompanied by the undermentioned documents, in triplicate,
and by the following particulars:
3.2.1. a detailed description of the vehicle type with regard to the design of
the seats, their anchorages and their adjustment and locking system,
3.2.2. drawings, on an appropriate scale and in sufficient detail, of the seats,
their anchorages to the vehicle and their adjustment and locking
systems.
3.3. The following must be submitted to the technical service responsible
for conducting the type-approval tests:1974L0408 — EN — 24.07.1981 — 001.001 — 4
(1) The text of this Annex I is basically similar to that of UN Economic Commission for
Europe Regulation No 17; in particular, the subdivisions of the sections are the same.Where an item of Regulation No 17 has no corresponding item in this Annex, the
number is shown in brackets for the record.▼M1
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3.3.1. a vehicle representative of the vehicle type to be approved,
3.3.2. an additional set of the seats with which the vehicle is equipped, with
their anchorages.
4. EEC TYPE-APPROVAL
(4.1.)(4.2.)4.3. A certificate conforming to the model shown in Annex IV shall be
attached to the EEC type-approval certificate.
(4.4.)(4.4.1.)
(4.4.2.)
(4.5.)(4.6.)
5. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
5.1. Every adjustment and displacement system provided shall incorporate a
locking system, which shall operate automatically.
5.2. The unlocking control for a device as referred to in item 2.5 shall be
placed on the outside of the seat close to the door. It shall be easily
accessible, even to the occupant of the seat immediately behind the
seat concerned.
6. TESTS
6.1.Test of strength of seat back and of its locking systems
6.1.1. For this test, the seat back, if adjustable, shall be locked in a position
corresponding to a rearward inclination as near as possible to 25º from
the vertical of the reference line of the torso of the manikin described in
item 3 of Annex II, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.
6.1.2. A force producing a moment of 53 mdaN in relation to the H point
shall be applied longitudinally and rearwards to the upper part of the
seat-back by a component simulating the back of the manikin described
in item 3 of Annex II.
6.2.Test of strength of seat anchorage and of seat locking systems
6.2.1. The systems shall, in all seated positions, withstand the forces
prescribed in item 6.2.2. Nevertheless, this requirement shall be deemed
to be met if the test carried out in the positions specified in item 6.2.5
and, where appropriate, in item 6.2.6 is satisfactory.
6.2.2. A horizontal longitudinal force passing through the centre of gravity of
the complete seat and equal to 20 times the weight of the complete seat
shall be applied to the seat frame. Two tests shall be performed on the
same seat, the force being applied once in the forward and once in the
rearward direction. If the seat comprises separate parts each of which is
secured to the frame, the tests shall be performed on each part in the
manner described above. If the seat comprises components secured in
part to the vehicle body-shell and supporting one another by some of
their parts, the tests shall be performed simultaneously by applying to
the centre of gravity of each part the forces corresponding to each
component considered separately.
6.2.3. For the test prescribed in item 6.2.1, the link between the seat back and
the cushion may be reinforced, on condition that the reinforcing compo-
nents are secured to the frame of the seat back, level with the point of
application of the force and at the most forward point of the frame of
the cushion.
6.2.4. The conditions laid down in item 6.2.2 may be regarded as met if two
forces, each equal to one-half of the prescribed force, are applied level
with the centre of gravity to the lateral load-bearing components of the
seat frame.
6.2.5. The seat shall be tested:1974L0408 — EN — 24.07.1981 — 001.001 — 5
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6.2.5.1. in the position in which the occupant is seated furthest forward, the
cushion being placed in the highest forward position when the force is
applied in a forward direction, and
6.2.5.2. in the position in which the occupant is seated furthest rearward, the
cushion being placed in the lowest rearward position when the force is
applied in a rearward direction.
6.2.6. In cases where the arrangement of the locking systems is manifestly
such that in a seat position other than those defined in items 6.2.5.1
and 6.2.5.2 a distribution of the forces on the locking systems and seat
anchorage would be less favourable than with the configurations
defined in those items, the tests shall be repeated in that seat position.
6.3.Tests of resistance of locking systems to inertia effects
6.3.1. If a horizontal longitudinal acceleration of 20 g is applied in the
forward and in the rearward direction to the seat assembly, no release
of the locking systems shall be determinable.
6.3.2. A calculation of inertia effects on all components of the locking
systems may be accepted in place of the dynamic test prescribed in
item 6.3.1. Frictional forces shall be disregarded in such a calculation.
6.4. Equivalent methods of testing shall be permitted provided that the
results specified in items 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 can be obtained either entirely
by means of the substitute test or by calculation from the results of the
substitute test. If any method other than that described in items 6.1, 6.2
and 6.3 is used, proof of its equivalence shall be required.
7. INSPECTION
7.1. No failure shall be determinable in the seat frame or in the seat ancho-
rage, adjustment and displacement systems or their locking devices
during the tests prescribed in items 6.1 and 6.2. The adjustment and
displacement systems and their locking devices shall not, however, be
required to be in working order after these tests. The displacement
system referred to in item 2.5 must, however, be capable of being
unlocked after testing.
(8.)
9. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
(9.1.)
9.2. In order to verify conformity with the approved type, a sufficient
number of random checks shall be performed on serially-produced vehi-
cles.
9.3. As a general rule, the checks shall be confined to measuring dimen-
sions. If necessary, however, the vehicles or the seats shall be
subjected to tests conforming to the requirements of item 6.
(10.)
(11.)1974L0408 — EN — 24.07.1981 — 001.001 — 6
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ANNEX II
PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING THE H POINT AND THE ACTUAL
SEAT-BACK ANGLE AND FOR VERIFYING THEIR RELATIONSHIP
TO THE R POINT AND THE DESIGN SEAT-BACK ANGLE
0. GENERAL
The specifications in this Annex apply to vehicles in category M1only.
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1. The H point: see item 1.1 of Directive No 74/60/EEC.
1.2. The R point: see item 1.2 of Directive No 74/60/EEC.
1.3. ‘Seat-back angle’ means the inclination of the seat back in relation to the
vertical.
1.4. ‘Actual seat-back angle’ means the angle formed by the vertical through
the H point with the torso reference line of the human body represented
by the manikin described in item 3.
1.5. ‘Design seat-back angle’ means the angle indicated by the manufacturer
which:
1.5.1. determines the seat-back angle for the lowest and rearmost normal
driving or travelling position of each seat provided in the vehicle by the
manufacturer,
1.5.2. is formed at the R point by the vertical and the torso reference line,
1.5.3. corresponds theoretically to the actual seat-back angle.
2. DETERMINATION OF H POINTS
See item 2 of Annex IV to Directive No 74/60/EEC.
3. DESCRIPTION OF THE MANIKIN
See item 3 of Annex IV to Directive No 74/60/EEC.
4. SETTING UP THE MANIKIN
See item 4 of Annex IV to Directive No 74/60/EEC.
5. RESULTS
5.1. When the manikin has been set up as described in point 4, the H point of
the vehicle seat concerned shall be the H point on the manikin.
5.2. Each of the coordinates of the H point and the actual seat back angle
shall be measured as accurately as possible. The same shall apply to the
coordinates representing specific points of the passenger compartment.
The projections of these points on a vertical longitudinal plane shall
then be plotted on a graph, which would also indicate the actual seat
back angle measured.
6. VERIFYING THE RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE R AND H POINTS
AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DESIGN SEAT-BACK
ANGLE AND THE ACTUAL SEAT-BACK ANGLE
6.1. The results of the measurements carried out in conformity with item 5.2
for the H point and the actual seat-back angle shall be compared with the
coordinates of the R point and the design seat-back angle as supplied by
the vehicle manufacturer.
6.2. The checking of the relationship between the two points shall be consid-
ered satisfactory for the seating position in question, provided that the H
point coordinates lie within a longitudinal rectangle whose horizontal and
vertical sides are 30 mm and 20 mm respectively, and whose diagonals
intersect at the R point. The checking of the seat-back angle shall be
considered satisfactory if the actual seat-back angle is within 3º of the
design seat-back angle. If these conditions are met, the R point and the
design seat-back angle shall be used for the test and, if necessary, the
manikin shall be so adjusted that the H point coincides with the R point
and the actual seat-back angle coincides with the design seat-back angle.1974L0408 — EN — 24.07.1981 — 001.001 — 7
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6.3. If the H point or the actual seat-back angle does not satisfy the require-
ments of item 6.2, two further determinations of the H point shall be
carried out (three in all).
In two of the three points so determined lie within the rectangle, the
result of the test shall be considered satisfactory.
6.4. If at least two of the three points determined lie outside the rectangle, the
result of the tests shall be considered unsatisfactory.
6.5. In the case referred to in point 6.3 or when verification cannot be carried
out because the vehicle manufacturer has failed to provide data on the
position of the R point, the average result of the three determinations of
the H point may be used and considered applicable in all cases where the
R point is mentioned in this Directive.
6.6. When checking the relationship of the R and the H points in a vehicle in
current production, the rectangle mentioned in point 6.2 above shall be
replaced by a square whose side measures 50 mm.1974L0408 — EN — 24.07.1981 — 001.001 — 8
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ANNEX III
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
1. GENERAL
1.1. The requirements set out in this Annex apply to vehicles in categories M2,
M3,N1,N2or N3.
2. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
2.1. Seats and bench seats must be firmly attached to the vehicle.
2.2. Sliding seats and bench seats must be automatically lockable in all the
positions provided.
2.3. Adjustable seat backs must be lockable in all the positions provided.2.4. All seats which can be tipped forward or have fold-down backs must lock
automatically in the normal position.1974L0408 — EN — 24.07.1981 — 001.001 — 9
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ANNEX IV
1974L0408 — EN — 24.07.1981 — 001.001 — 10