Testing seat belts

[Dynamo]

I was testing a five seater car the other day when I came across two defective belts out of three. The outboard seatbelt inertia reel would not retract ANY of the loose webbing, so I failed it. The centre three point belt which is integral to the seat is here;




and the other part....

[Dynamo]

Part two;




and I was asked...

Can you not pass it as the car does not need them belts?

My AE said!!!!

[lampy]

May 11, 2022 12:13:25 GMT 1 Dynamo said:

Part two;


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and I was asked...

Can you not pass it as the car does not need them belts?

My AE said!!!!

Your AE needs a kick in the nuts. 

[rocket]

Tell your AE who is a tester to Retest it then ! NOT your problem then

[dwain]

I’m not sure I understand, if the centre belt has been cut away with only those stubs still there then that would be a pass. The one outboard would fail, but if they removed/cut that belt out as long as there is one outboard seat with a working belt it passes

[Dynamo]

May 11, 2022 20:23:21 GMT 1 dwain said:

I’m not sure I understand, if the centre belt has been cut away with only those stubs still there then that would be a pass. The one outboard would fail, but if they removed/cut that belt out as long as there is one outboard seat with a working belt it passes

No sorry dwain. All seat belts are testable when seats are fitted. 

[dwain]

I’d have a good look at appendix C, particularly -

N In forward facing rear seats:
A three-point inertia reel belt in at least one seat, or any of the following in both seats:
- three-point belt
- lap belt
- disabled person’s belt

[dwain]

I beg your pardon, its O that is relevant in this case

In forward facing rear seats any of the following:
- three-point inertia reel belt on an outboard seat and a three-point static or inertia reel belt, lap belt, disabled persons belt or child restraint for at least one other seat
- static three-point belt for one seat and a disabled person’s belt or child restraint for at least one other seat
- three-point belt, lap belt, disabled person’s belt or child restraint to each seat

[Dynamo]

But if they are fitted at the time of test, they must be tested. if the customer chooses to remove them fully, then the minimum criteria can be applied. This discussion has been put forwards before. 

[dwain]

Yes, agreed. But the centre one which you have posted shows that there is no longer a belt there, nor does there need to be.

On clarification, I was originally wrong about the outside one that doesn’t retract, that needs to be there and must be fixed. The centre one however is a non-issue. The car now is effectively a 4 seater.

[Dynamo]

7.1.2. Seat belt fitment and condition


You must check any visible parts of:



all seat belts fitted

all child seat restraints fitted

You do not need to inspect:



a belt fitted with no corresponding seat

a buckle or stalk with no corresponding belt

You should lift folded seats to inspect seat belts. However, you do not have to do this if you’d need tools to do it. If you cannot lift seats because there are heavy or fragile items on the seat, you can refuse to test the vehicle. For details, see item 4d in the Introduction.



You do not need to inspect buckles or stalks with no corresponding belt.



Where a child seat is fitted that prevents access to the seat belt buckle, you must check as much of the seat belt as possible and issue an advisory that the buckle could not be checked.

[dwain]

So if the buckle is removed then a belt doesn’t need to be checked, but if only the extreme end of a belt exists as the rest has been cut away, it’s testable? Now you’re just being silly.

[Dynamo]

Given that parts of the belt were still fitted, and the buckle was still fitted, I took the view the belt is damaged. if then the belt is removed completely it would pass. I was always lead to believe that all belts must be tested initially. 

[Dynamo]

May 11, 2022 20:23:21 GMT 1 dwain said:

I’m not sure I understand, if the centre belt has been cut away with only those stubs still there then that would be a pass. The one outboard would fail, but if they removed/cut that belt out as long as there is one outboard seat with a working belt it passes

Surely then in accordance with what you say above, there should be TWO belts functioning out of three?

[dwain]

May 12, 2022 19:49:06 GMT 1 Dynamo said:

May 11, 2022 20:23:21 GMT 1 dwain said:

I’m not sure I understand, if the centre belt has been cut away with only those stubs still there then that would be a pass. The one outboard would fail, but if they removed/cut that belt out as long as there is one outboard seat with a working belt it passes

Surely then in accordance with what you say above, there should be TWO belts functioning out of three?

Yes, I already stated I got that wrong, twice.