Interpretation ID: 77-5.15

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 12/22/77

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; J. J. Levin, Jr.; NHTSA

TO: Britax (Wingard) Limited

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This responds to your letter of October 24, 1977, asking whether Federal safety standards permit passive safety belts to be equipped with conventional buckles for emergency release.

In answer to your question, Safety Standard No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection, not only permits buckles on passive belt systems, it requires them. Under paragraphs S4.5.3.3 and S7.2 of the standard, passive seat belt assemblies are required to have a latch mechanism that releases the restraints. The release is required to be at a single point by pushbutton action.

Please contact us if you have any further questions.

SINCERELY,

Britax (Wingard) Limited

OCTOBER 24, 1977

T. Herlihy, Office of Chief Counsel, N H T S A,

Docket 75/14 - Notice 10 - Occupant Restraint Systems

We are designing passive restraint systems with webbing restraint which incorporate in their construction a conventional buckle and tongue intended to be used under conditions requiring emergency release. The buckle assembly would be mounted adjacent to the door when used with a restraint for outboard front seat occupants.

Would you please confirm or otherwise whether the incorporation of such a device for the emergency release of a belt assembly to be applied without action by the occupant is acceptable within the terms of the safety standard, as this is at present interpreted.

T. V. BARLOW Senior Technical Officer