CELEX: 51973PC0682
Language: en
Date: 1973-05-14
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON THE APPROXIMATION OF MEMBER STATES' LAWS ON THE INTERIOR FITTINGS OF MOTOR VEHICLES (Strength of seats and their anchorages) (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
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COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (73) 682
Vol. 1973/0136
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                                 COM(73 ) 682 final
                                                                 Brussels , 14 May 1973
                              PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL
               DIRECTIVE ON THE APPROXIMATION OP MEMBER STATES'
               LAWS ON THE INTERIOR FITTINGS OF MOTOR VEHICLES
                   ( Strength of seats and their anchorages )
                   ( submitted to the Council by the Commission)
  COM(73 ) 682 final
 ---pagebreak---                              EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
  This proposed Directive is to form part of the Community type-approval
  procedure referred to in Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 ( 1 )„
  On 15 September 1971 , France notified the Commission of a draft order
  concerning the strength of seats and their anchorages in private cars .
  The Commission asked France to delay the implementation of the draft or­
> der . France complied with its request . It is thus necessary to forward
  a proposal for a Council directive on this subject .
  The proposal concerns technical requirements for the design and testing
  of interior fittings in respect of the strength of seats and their an­
  chorages .
  In drafting its proposal , the Commission based itself on the work ( 2 ) ac­
  complished in this field by the Economic Commission for Europe , in Geneva ;
  as far as trade is concerned , this is bound to offer an additional ad­
  vantage as a very large number of states are represented in the ECE .
  The Directive is applicable to motor vehicles with at least four wheels
  and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h ( Article 1 ).
  Article 2 incorporates the requirements for such interior fittings into
  the EEC type-approval procedure .
  ( 1 ) O.J. No . L 42 , 25 February 1970 .
  ( 2 ) Regulation No . 17 "Uniform provisions concerning the approval of
        vehicles with regard to the strength of the seats and of their an­
        chorages (Doc . E/ECE/52^;   E/ECE/TRANS/505 Rev. 1 /Add . 16 ).
 ---pagebreak--- As some new Member States have no national type-approval procedure yet ,
a special article had to be included to ensure that vehicles meeting
the requirements of the directive ( Article 3 ) could be used in these
States (1 ) .                     -
If the prototype is modified , the Member State which has approved it
shall decide whether new tests must be carried out ( Article k ) ,
Article 5 provides for the adaptation of the specifications in the An­
nexes in line with technical progress ; the procedure is defined in
Article 13 of the Council Directive of 6 February 1970 on the approval
of motor vehicles and their trailers .
Article 6       ) lays down two time-limits . Before the expiry of the first
time-limit , the Member States must adopt and publish the necessary mea­
sures to comply with the Directive ; they may do so at any time in the
intervening period . The second time-limit is the date on which all the
Member States must simultaneously apply the common rules ( Article 6(1 ) )..
Finally , the Commission must be informed with reasonable notice of any
provisions the Member States intend to take in the field covered by the
Directive ; the information must be sufficient for the Commission to be
able to comment on the proposed provisions if necessary ( Article 6(2 ) ).
CONSULTATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE
Pursuant to the Rome Treaty , Article 100(2 ), the opinion of these two
institutions is required .
( 1 ) See O.J. No.L 73 t 27 March 1972 , "Documents concerning the accession
      to the European Communities of the Kingdom of Denmark , Ireland , the
      Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
      Ireland ".
      Act concerning the conditions of accession and the adjustments to the
      treaties - Annex I , Title X.
 ---pagebreak--- THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Commu­
nity , and in particular Article 100 thereof ;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ;
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ;
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 the interior arrange­
ments for the strength of seats and their anchorage ;
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 rules ,
in order , in particular , that the EEC type-approval procedure which was
the subject of tho Council Directive of 6 February 1970 on the approxi­
mation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type approval
of motor vehicles and their trailers may be applied in respect of each
type of vehicle (+);
Whereas common requirements on the interior of the passanger compartment
the layout of the controls , the roof , the seat-backs and the rearward-
facing part of the eeats were laid down by the Council Directive of ...(
whereas requirements on the internal arrangements for the protection of
the driver against the steering device in the event of impact were laid
down by the Council Directive of ... (+++); whereas other requirements
on the internal arrangements , and notably those concerning the head
restraint , the attachment points of safety belts , and the markings of
the controls , will be adopted subsequently ;
(+) O.J. No . L 42 , 23 February 1970 , p.1
(++) COM ( 71 ) 1^50 , 21 December 1971
(+++) COM ( 72 ) 955 » 15 September 1972
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas it is expedient to adopt certain technical requirements laid
down by the UN Economic Commission for Europe in its Regulation No 17
("Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard
to the strength of the seats and of their anchorages") (+) which is
annexed to the agreement of 20 March 1958 concerning the adoption of
uniform conditions of approval and reciprocal recognition of approved
for motor vehicle equipment and parts ;
Whereas the national legislations relating to motor vehicles imply
mutual recognition of the inspections carried out by each of them on
the basis of common provisions ; that such a system in order to function
successfully must be applied by all Member States with effect from the
same date ;
HAS ADOPTED- THIS DIRECTIVE :                               • •
(+) ECE document from GENEVA E/ECE/32^        ) D         i £
                              E/ECE/TRANS/505 )   .* '
 ---pagebreak---                                     Article 1
1 . For the purposes of this Directive , 'vehicle * means any motor vehicle
     intended for use on the road , with or without bodywork , having at
     least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 kilometres
     per hour , with the exception of vehicles which run on rails , agricul­
     tural tractors and machinery and public works veihicles *
2 . This Directive does not apply to seats with built-in seat belt ancho­
     rages , to folding ( 'tip-up 1 ) 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 the seats
or of their anchorages if these seats and anchorages satisfy the requi­
rements set out in Annexes I and II when - the vehicle belongs to catego­
ry M^ f and the requirements set out in Annex III when the vehicle be­
longs to category        M,, N,| f ^ or N, ( 1 ).
                                    Article 3
No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale or registration , entry
into service or use of a vehicle on grounds relating to the strength of
the seats or their anchorages if these seats and anchorages satisfy the
requirements set out in Annexes I and II when the vehicle ^belongs tr» ca­
tegory      , and the requirements of Annex III when the vehicle belongs to
category M2 , M^, N^ , N2 or N ( 1 ).
                                   Article k
The Member State which grants type-approval shall take the necessary
measures to ensure that it is informed of any modification of any of
the parts or characteristics referred to in Annex I , Section 2.2 . The
competent authorities of that Member State shall determine whether it
( 1 ) The international classification of motor vehicles is given in the
      Council Directive of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the
      laws of the Member States relating to the type approval of motor
      vehicles and their trailers ( see O.J. NoL^-2 , 23»2.70 , pp . 9-10 ).
 ---pagebreak--- xs necessary to carry out fresh tests on the modified prototype and
to prepare a new report .
Where such tests reveal failure to comply with the requirements of this
Directive , the modification shall not be authorized under EEC type-
approval .
                    -           Article 5
The amendments necessary for adjusting the requirements of Annexes I
to IV so as to take account of technical progress shall be adopted in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of the Council
Directive on the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers . ,
                                Article 6
1 . The Member States shall adopt and publish the provisions necessary
    to insure compliance with the present directive before October 1 ,
    197k and inform the Commission immediately .
    They apply these provisions . with effect from April 1 , 1975 *
2 . As soon as this Directive has been notified , the Member States shall
    take care to inform the Commission , in sufficient time to enable it
    to submit its comments * of any subsequent draft laws , regulations or
    administrative provisions which they intend to adopt in the field
    covered by the Directive ,
                                Article 7
This Directive is addressed to the Member States .
 ---pagebreak---                                    ANNEX I
        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     only .
2.         DEFINITIONS
           For the purposes of this Directive
( 2.1 .
2.2 .      "Vehicle type as regards the strength of the seats and their
           anchorages " means a category of power-driven vehicles which do
           not differ essentially from one another , more especially in
           the following respects :
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 affec
           ted parts of the vehicle body-shell ; ,
2.3 *      "Anchorage " means the system by which the seat assembly is se­
           cured to the vehicle body-shell , 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
           •f the seated occupant ; 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 intermediate position , to facilitate access
           by passengers ;
(+) The text of the Annex is similar to that of 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 none the less given in brackets for reference purposes
 ---pagebreak---                                                Annex I
"Locking system " means a device ensuring that the seat and its
parts are maintained in the position of use ;
"Folding ( tip-up ) seat " means a seat whose back can be folded
forward onto the seat and whose seat can be pivoted forward
in relation to the floor .
APPLICATION FOR EEC APPROVAL
The application for EEC approval of a vehicle type with regard
to the strength of the seats and of their anchorages 6hall be
submitted hy the vehicle manufacturer or by his representative .
It shall be accompanied by the undermentioned documents in
triplicate and by the following particular :
a detailed description of the vehicle type with regard to the
design of the seats , of their anchorage , and of their adjust­
ment and locking system ;
drawings , on an appropriate scale and in sufficient detail ,
of the seats , of their anchorage to the vehicle , and of their
adjustment and locking systems ,
There shall be submitted to the technical service responsible
for conducting the approval tests ;
a vehicle which is representative of the vehicle type to be
approved ; and
an additional set of the ; seats with which the vehicle is
equipped , with their anchorages .
EEC APPROVAL
A form conforming to the model in Annex IV shall be attached
to the EEC type approval certificate .
 ---pagebreak---                                                   Annex I
  GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
  Every adjustment and displacement system provided shall incor­
  porate a locking system , which shall operate automatically .
  The unlocking control for a device as referred to in item 2.5 .
  shall be easily accessible , even to the occupant of the seat
  immediately behind the seat concerned -.
  TESTS
  Test of strength of seat back and of its locking systems
  For this test , the seat back , if adjustable , shall be locked
  in a position corresponding to a rearward inclination as close
  as possible to 25° 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 .
  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 frame through a . component simulating the back
  of the manikin described in item '3 of Annex II .
  Test of strength of seat anchorage and of seat locking systems
  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 .
  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 theforward and once in the rearward direction *     If the
? seat comprises separate parts each 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 .
 ---pagebreak---                                                   Annex I
For the test prescribed in item 6.2,1 ., -the link- between the |
seat back and the cushion may be reinforced , on condition        j
that the reinforcing components 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 .
The conditions prescribed in item 6.2.2 . above may be regar­
ded as met if two forces , each equal to one-half of the pres­
cribed force , are applied level with the centre of gravity
to the lateral load-bearing components of the seat frame . .
The seat shall be tested
in the position in which the occupant is seated furthest for­
ward , the cushion being placed in the highest forward posi­
tion when the force is applied in a forward direction ; and
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 .
In cases where the arrangement of the locking systems is mani­
festly 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 fa­
vourable than with the configurations defined- in- those
items , the tests shall be repeated in that seat position *
Tests of resistance of locking systems to inertia effects
If a horizontal longitudinal acceleration of 20 g is applied
in the forward and in the rearward direction to the seat as­
sembly , no release of the locking systems shall be deter- .
minable .                               ,          •
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 * above . Frictional forces shall be
disregarded in such a calculation .
Equivalent methods of testing shall be permitted provided that
the results specified in items 6.1 ,, 6.2 . and 6 .3 » above 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 . above is used , proof of its equivalence shall be
required .
 ---pagebreak---                                                           Annex I
7.       INSPECTION
7.1 •    No failure shall be determinable in the seat frame or in the
         seat anchoring , 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 suffi­
         cient number of random checks shall be performed on serially-
         produced vehicles .
9.3 .    As a general rule , the checks as aforesaid shall be confined
         to the measurement of dimensions . If necessary , however , the
         vehicles or the seats shall be subjected to tests conforming
         to the requirements of item 6 above .
( 10 .)
( 11 .)
 ---pagebreak---                                   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
              only .
 1.       DEFINITIONS
 1.1 .    The " H" point , which indicates the position of a seated occu­
          pant in the passanger compartment , is the trace , in a longitu-
          idinal plane , of the theoretical axis of rotation between the
          legs and the torso of a human body represented by the manikin
          described in item 3 below ,
 1.2 .    The "R " point or " seating reference point " is the reference
          point specified by the manufacturer which
 1.2.1 .  has co-ordinates determined in relation to the vehicle structure
j . 2.2 . corresponds to the theoretical position of the point of torso/
          legs rotation (" H" point ) for the lowest and most rearward
          normal driving position or position of use of each seat provided
          by the vehicle manufacturer .
 1.3 «    " Seat-back angle " means the ihclination of the seat back in re­
          lation to the vertical .
 1.*t »   "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 below .
 1.5 *    "Design seat-back angle " means the angle prescribed by the ma­
          nufacturer which
          determines the seat-back angle for the lowest and most rear­
          ward normal driving position or position of use given to each
          seat by the vehicle manufacturer ,
 1.5.2 .  is formed at the "R" point by the vertical and the torso refe­
          rence line ,
 1.5«3 »  corresponds theoretically to the actual seat-back angle .
 ---pagebreak---                                      -   2 -
                                                           Annex II
2.        DETERMINATION OF " H" POINTS AND ACTUAL SEAT-BACK ANGLES
2.1 •     An " K" point and an " actual seat-back angle " shall be determined
          for each seat provided by the manufacturer . If the seats in the
          same row can be regarded as similar ( bench seat , identical seats ,
          etc .), only one "H" point and one "actual seat-back angle" shall
          be determined for each row of seats , the manikin described in
          it$m 3 below being seated in . a place regarded as representative
          for the row . This place shall be s
2.1.1 .   in the case of the front row , the driver 's seat ;
2.1.2 .   in the case of the rear row or rows , an outer-seat .
2.2 .     When an "H" point and an " actual seat-back angle" are being de­
          termined , the seat considered shall be placed in the lowest and
          most rearward normal driving position or position of use provi­
          ded for it by the manufacturer . The seat back shall if its
          angle is adjustable be locked as specified by the manufacturer
          or in the absence of any specification in such a way that the
          actual seat-back angle is as near as possible to 25° from the
          vertical .                   •
3.        DESCRIPTION OF THE MANIKIN                        •    .■/"*
3.1 .     A three-dimensional manikin as described in item 3 of Annex III
          to the Council Directive of 1 March 1971 on the " approximation of
          Member . States ' laws concerning rear-View mirrors of motor vehi­
          cles ( 1 ) shall be used .                            1 -
k,        SETTING UP THE MANIKIN .
          The three-dimensional manikin shall be set up in the following
          manner :
4.1 .     the vehicle shall be placed on a horizontal' plane and the seats
          adjusted as prescribed in item 2.2 . above ;
k,Zm      the seat to be tested shall be covered with a piece of . cloth' to
          facilitate correct setting up of the manikin ;      ■
4.3 «     the manikin shall be placed on the seat concerned , its pivotal
          axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of symmetry
          of the vehicle ;
( 1 ) O.J. No L 68 , 22 March 1971 , p. 1V
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 3 -
                                                             Annex II
4.4 .        the feet of the manikin shall be placed as follows t
4.4 . 1 ,    in the front seats , in such a way that the level verifying the
             transverse orientation of the seat of the manikin is brought
             to the horizontal ;
4.4 . 2 .    in the rear seats , so far as possible in such a way as to be in
             contact with the front seats . If the feet then rest on parts
             of the floor which are at different levels , the feet which first
             comes into contact with the front seat shall serve as a referen­
             ce point and the other feet shall be so arranged that the level
             enabling the transverse orientation of the seat of the manikin
             to be verified is brought to the horizontal ;
4.4.3 « if the "H" point is being determined at a centre seat , the feet
             shall be placed one on each side of the tunnel ;
4.5 *        the weights shall be placed on the thighs , the level verifying
             the transverse orientation of the seat of the manikin shall be
             brought to the horizontal , and the weights shall be placed on
             the component representating the seat of the manikin j
4.6 .        the manikin shall be moved away from the seat back by means of
             the knee-pivot- bar and the back of the manikin shall be pivoted L
             forwards . The manikin shall be repositioned on the seat of the
             vehicle by being slid backwards on its seat until resistance is
             encountered , the back of the manikin then being replaced against
             the seat back ;
4.7.         a horizontal load of approximately 10+1 daN ( 10 + 1 kgf ) shall
             be applied to the manikin twice . The direction and point of
             application of the load are shown by a black arrow in Figure 2
             of the appendix to Annex 3 of the Council Directive of 1 March
             1971 concerning rear-view mirrors , referred to in item 3 above ( 1 );
4.8 .        the weights shall be installed on the right and left sides , and
             the torso weights shall then be placed in position . The trans­
       . ■ • verse level of the manikin shall be kept horizontal ?
4.9 *        the transverse level of the manikin being kept horizontal , the
             back of the manikin shall be pivoted forwards until the torso
             weights are above the " H" point , so as to eliminate any friction
             with , the seat back ;
4.10 «       the back of the manikin shall be gently moved rearwards so as to
             complete the setting-up operation . The transverse level of the
             manikin shall be horizontal . If it is not,' the procedure des­
             cribed above shall be repeated .
"            )'
( 1 ) O.J. No L 68 , 22 Marc h 1971 , p. 17
 ---pagebreak---                                                    Annex II
  RESULTS   ■
  When the manikin has been set up as described in item k above ,
  the "H" point and the actual seat-back angle . of the vehicle
  seat considered are constituted by the "H" point and the angle
  of inclination of the manikin 's torso reference line .
  The co-ordinates of the " H" point in relation to three mutually-
  perpendicular planes , and the actual seat-back angle , shall be
  measured for comparison with the data supplied by the vehicle
  manufacturer .
  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
  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 co-ordinates of the "R" point and the de­
  sign seat-back angle as supplied by the vehicle manufacturer ..
  The relative positions of the ,,R" point and the " H" point and
  the relationship between the design seat-back angle and the
  actual seat-back angle shall be considered to be satisfactory
  for the seat in question if the "H" point , as defined by its
  co-ordinates , lies within a longitudinal rectangle whose hori­
  zontal and vertical sides are 30 mm and 20 mm long respective­
  ly and whose diagonals intersect at the "R" point , and if the
  actual seat-back angle i's within 3° 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 .
  If the " H" point or the actual seat-back angle does not satisfy
  the requirements of item 6 . 2 . above , the "H" point or the actual
  seat-back angle shall be determined twice more ( three times in
  all ). If the results of two of these, three operations satisfy
  the requirements the result of the test shall be considered
  to be satisfactory .
 ---pagebreak---                                                Annex II
If at least two of the three test results do not satisfy the
requirements of item 6.2 ., the result of the test shall be
considered to be not satisfactory .
If the situation described in item 6 , b , above arises , or if
verification cannot be effected because the manufacturer has
failed to supply information regarding the position of the "R"
point o.r regarding the design seat-back angle , the average
of the results of the three determinations may be used and
be regarded as applicable in all cases where the "R" point or
the design seat-back angle is referred to in this Directive .
For verifying the relative position of the "R" point and the
"H" point and the relationship between the design seat-back
angle and the actual seat-back angle in a serially-produced
vehicle the rectangle referred to in item 6.2 . above shall
be replaced by a square of 30 mm side and the actual seat-back
angle shall not differ by more than 5° from the design seat-
back angle .
 ---pagebreak---                        ANNEX III
           GENERAL , GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL
The requirements set out in this Annex apply to vehicles in
categories M^, M_, N^ , N£ or N ,.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Seats and bench seats must be firmly attached to the vehicle .
Sliding seats and bench seats must be automatically lockable
in all the positions provided .
Adjustable seat backs must be lockable in all the positions
provided .
Front seats and front bench seats which can be tipped forward ,
and the fold-down backs of rear seats and rear bench seats
must lock automatically in the normal position .
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                                                        administration
                                 ANNEX IV
               ANNEX TO THE EEC VEHICLE TYPE APPROVAL FORM :
             APPROVAL OF STRENGTH OF SEATS AND SEAT ANCHORAGES
( Article k(2.) and Article 10 of the Council Directive of 6 February 1970
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the
type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers ).
EEC type approval number           ;                                   ....
  1 . Trade name or mark of the vehicle
  2 » Vehicle type
  3 . Name and address of manufacturer
  k . If applicable , name and address of manufacturer 's representative . *
  5 « Description of seats
  6 . Description of adjustment , displacement and locking systems of the
      seat or seat parts
  7 . Description of seat anchorages
  8 * Vehicle submitted for EEC type-approval on
  9*  Technical department responsible for EEC approval tests ...........
10 .  Date of test report issued by that department
11 .  Number of test report issued by that department
12 .  EEC type-approval in respect of the strength of the seats and their
      anchorages is granted/refused (*)
13 * Place .............
1*f . Date
15 » Signature
16 . The following documents , bearing the EEC type-approval number shown
      above , are appended to this form :
      ..... drawings , diagrams and sketches of the seats and their ancho­
      rages to the vehicle and of the adjustment , displacement and locking
      systems of the seats and seat parts ,
      ..... photographs of the seats and their anchorages and of the adjust­
      ment , displacement and locking systems of the seats and seat parts .
(*) Delete whichever does not apply