2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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?
9. 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?
10. 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 Belt
It 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 weight
The height of the occupant is more representative than the
weight.
Rear facing up to at least 15
months or 71cm
Rear 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
11. R129 i-Size R44 Comments
Frontal Frontal
Rear Rear
Side New test, covers one of the most common types of accidents.
Q-dummies P-dummies
New 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
