The recently published Supplement 1 to ECE Regulation 14.06 on safety belt anchorages includes a number of minor amendments to clarify and more accurately define the testing requirements for safety belt anchorages. These amendments can be summarised as follows:
- A requirement to apply a pre-load, equivalent to 10% of the full test load, prior to the test has been added.
- Previously, the Regulation required that the full load should be applied "as rapidly as possible". This requirement has now been clarified by limiting the maximum time allowed to apply the full load to 60 seconds and specifically allowing the maximum load to be achieved within 4 seconds, if requested by the vehicle manufacturer.
- Additional requirements on the positioning of the lower (lap belt) traction device have been added to ensure consistency in the positioning of this device and to avoid any unintended interaction with the upper (shoulder belt) traction device.
- An alternative width (254 mm) lower (lap belt) traction device has been added, which can be used in place of the standard width (406 mm) lower traction device for seating positions with closely spaced lower safety belt anchorages (e.g. rear centre seating positions). Note: FMVSS 210 has permitted the use of a 10" (254 mm) lower traction device for many years.
- The specification of the upper (shoulder belt) traction device has been modified to permit the addition of two land edges and/or bolts to prevent the strap from slipping off the device during the test and to precisely specify the position of the hole used to connect the device to the test rig.