Interpretation ID: nht73-4.39

DATE: 07/30/73

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Richard B. Dyson; NHTSA

TO: Mr. Barry Kulik

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of May 18, 1973, concerning the method of testing the sensitivity of seat sensors under sections S7.3 and S7.4 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208.

The relevant characteristics of the "person" referred to in these sections are found in the weight and dimension table of Section S7.1.3 of the standard. Our testing laboratory will, in all likelihood, be using test dummies purchased from the various commercial dummy manufacturers, whose weights and dimensions conform to S7.1.3 of the standard. Human volunteers could be used, but the dimensional controls are difficult to maintain and we do not regard liver persons as a practical means of testing sensors under the standard.