UN R16 — 10 series of amendments

The scope in paragraph 1. now lists only safety-belts and restraint systems. The former scope items for vehicles are deleted. They covered the installation of safety-belts, restraint systems and child restraint systems, including ISOFIX and i-Size child restraint systems, and safety-belt reminders. Former paragraph 1.6. on safety-belts for side-facing seats in vehicles of category M3 becomes paragraph 1.2. A new Introduction (paragraph 0.) says that, at a GRSP session in May 2023, it was decided to split the Regulation into three UN Regulations. It also says that the installation and safety-belt reminder requirements were taken out and moved to two new UN Regulations.

Paragraph 8. is now “Reserved”. Former paragraphs 8.1. to 8.4.6.4. are deleted. They covered the installation in the vehicle: safety-belt and restraint systems equipment, general requirements, special requirements for rigid parts, and safety-belt reminder equipment. Annexes 16, 17 and 18 are deleted, with the five appendices to Annex 17. They covered the belt and retractor types for installation, the installation of child restraint systems, and the safety-belt reminder tests.

The application for approval of a vehicle type with regard to the installation of its safety-belts and restraint systems is deleted (former paragraph 3.1.). The approval of a vehicle type and its vehicle approval mark are deleted (former paragraph 5.2.). Annex 1A, the communication form for a vehicle type, and the vehicle approval marks in Annex 2 are deleted. Paragraphs 9.1., 10.1., 11. and 11.1. now refer only to the safety-belt or restraint system and no longer to the vehicle or vehicle type. Former paragraph 11.2. on a vehicle variant with a lower mass in running order is deleted. Paragraphs 10.2., 11.3. and 12. now refer to the communication form in Annex 1 instead of Annex 1A or 1B.

Many definitions now give the defined term in quotation marks, followed by the word “means”. Former paragraphs 2.12. to 2.15. become paragraphs 2.10. to 2.13., and former paragraphs 2.17. to 2.28. become paragraphs 2.14. to 2.25. The definitions of “Child restraint” and “Rearward-facing” (former paragraphs 2.10. and 2.11.) and of the vehicle type (former paragraph 2.16.) are deleted. Former paragraphs 2.29. to 2.54. are deleted. They defined terms such as “ISOFIX”, “i-Size seating position”, “Safety-belt reminder” and “Lower tether”. Cross-references follow the new numbers, for example 2.14.6. becomes 2.12.6. in paragraphs 6.4.1.2.3. and 7.7.1. and in Annex 6.

Under paragraph 3.1., an application for approval of a safety-belt type now follows the procedure in Schedule 3 of the Agreement (E/ECE/TRANS/505/Rev.3). Under paragraph 5.1., approval of a type of belt or restraint system is granted if its samples meet the requirements of this Regulation. Before, the text named only a type of belt and the requirements of paragraphs 4., 5.3. and 6. Under paragraph 5.2., the approval number is now assigned in accordance with Schedule 4 of the Agreement. Paragraph 5.2. no longer explains the first two digits of the approval number. Former paragraphs 3.2.1. to 3.2.3. and 5.3.1. to 5.3.8. are renumbered, for example 3.2.2.2. becomes 3.2.2. and 5.3.4. becomes 5.4.

Contracting Parties applying this Regulation must not refuse to grant or accept approvals to the 10 series from its official date of entry into force. From 1 September 2027, they are not obliged to accept type approvals to the preceding series of amendments that were first issued after that date. They must continue to accept type-approvals of vehicles, safety-belts and restraint systems to preceding series first issued before 1 September 2027, under one condition. The condition is that the transitional provisions of that earlier series foresee this possibility. Contracting Parties whose application of this Regulation starts after the most recent series enters into force need not accept approvals to any preceding series. Under paragraphs 15.7.4. and 15.7.5., Contracting Parties applying this Regulation may grant approvals to preceding series and must continue to extend existing approvals to them.

Former Annex 1B, the communication form for a type of safety-belt or restraint system, becomes Annex 1. In item 12.1., the A-zone figure is now Figure 1 instead of Figure 2, and a new line “A-zone” is added. In Annex 2, the examples of safety-belt approval marks now show approval numbers for the 10 series, for example 102439 instead of 092439. Before, the example texts said that the Regulation already incorporated the 06, 07, 08 or 09 series of amendments at the time of approval. Paragraph 2. of Annex 9, on the user instructions, is deleted, and former paragraphs 3. and 4. become paragraphs 2. and 3. Former paragraph 2. listed the points that the user instructions had to refer to, for example the importance of wearing the assembly on all journeys.