Changes to FMVSS 213 You Need to Know

Beth Warren, Texas Department of Public Safety Public Education Unit, Occupant Safety Programs June 5, 2013

In February 2012, NHTSA announced upcoming changes to FMVSS 213

Changes take effect February 27, 2014

Standard will apply to child restraint systems (CRS) made for children who weigh up to 80 pounds

CRS crash tested for kids up to 80 lbs.

New crash test dummy representing a 10-year-old child added

New seating procedure to better evaluate belt positioning boosters (BPB)

New label requirements for harnessed CRS to clarify when LATCH lower anchors can be used for installation

Adds Hybrid III-10C, represents a 10-year-old (~78 lbs.) child, for testing CRS for children weighing 65-80 lbs.

Previous tests used the 6-year-old (50-52 lbs.) and 6-year-old weighted dummy for CRS up to 65 lbs.

Same head and knee excursion limits as before

Same chest acceleration

Head Injury Criteria (HIC) will not be used

Not as repeatable because of chin-to-chest contact issues

Real head injuries to kids in crashes most often caused by contact inside vehicle

New dummy seating procedures for testing belt-positioning boosters

Developed at UMTRI*

Used with 6-yr and 10-yr dummies

Based on testing with volunteers

*University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Methods 62 child volunteers, 40-120 lbs.

4 boosters, several different setups

Findings Children slouch, even with a booster

Belt fit varies: based on booster-to-seatbelt geometry

New seating procedure produces a more reclined posture than current FMVSS 213 (more like real kids)

Foam pad on back of dummy’s pelvis allows it to “slouch” in a more repeatable, more realistic way

Harnessed CRS where the combined CRS + child weight can exceed 65 lbs.

Lower anchors can only be used to install CRS to vehicle when CRS + child weight is = or < 65 lbs.

Install with vehicle safety belt when CRS + child weight > 65 lbs.

Britax Frontier 85 9 ½ yrs, 4’6”, 76 lbs.

CRS Weight = 20 lbs.

CRS label must say that LATCH lower anchors can be used to install the CRS in the vehicle for children weighing up to 45 lbs.

65 lb. CRS + child weight DOES NOT apply to top tether

Continue to follow current procedures for tether use

2013 LATCH manual from Safe Ride News

Weight of each safety seat given at the end of CRS manufacturer’s sections

Child weight limit cheat sheet on page B-5 $37.00

Belt positioning boosters

No longer have a mass limit of ~ 10 lbs.

May be attached to lower anchors during use

Do not require the new label

CRS crash-tested for kids up to 80 lbs.

Hybrid lll-10C dummy added

New seating procedure to better evaluate belt-positioning booster seats

New labels for harnessed CRS to clarify maximum weight of child allowed in seat when installed with lower anchors

Effective date: February 27, 2014

Beth Warren, Texas DPS Public Education, Occupant Safety Programs 5805 N Lamar Blvd – Bldg C Austin TX 78752 512-424-5639 beth.warren@dps.texas.gov