What is i-Size?

Most of the car seats that we sell at Global Baby are European, and certified to European standard ECE R 44 04. Since July 9 2013 new car seat rules came into place in Europe. The regulations impose stricter requirements on how long children should ride rear-facing, and there are a few other improvements to make seats even more safe. The new rules are called UN r 129 (i-size) and will eventually replace the ECE R 44 04. Read on for more details.

The new i-Size regulations require that car seat manufacturers offer car seats that make it possible to secure your child rear-facing until it is 15 months. The existing group 0 + car seats (capsules that take babies up to 13kg) are not big enough for the longest children to sit rear-facing until they are 15 months. Producers must now offer bigger car seats in addition to group 0 + car seats, or replace the current group 0 + car seats with seats that can accommodate rear-facing longer.

i-Size will place a strong focus on: using car seats installed with ISOfix, and to reduce improper installation and improper use of child car seats. The regulations also give the car manufacturers requirements. From 2013, there must be ISOfix in all new cars. Child car seats with both ISOfix and belt assembly are not allowed in i-Size phase 1.

i-Size Phase 1 defines a number of requirements to reduce improper installation and improper use of car seats. Installation with ISOfix and seatbelt on the same seat is not allowed under the i-Size regulations. ISOfix minimizes the risk of incorrect installation, so all i-Size seats will be ISOfix.

Although consumer organizations have tested car seats for side impact protection for many years, there is no requirement in ECE r 44 04 for side impact testing. In i-Size regulations there are a number of criteria for side protection, meaning that all i-Size car seats are side impact tested and provide side protection. Car seats without such protection will disappear from the market when ECE r 44 04 phased out.

From July 2013 car manufacturers can begin to label the car seats with the i-Size logo. The car seats will be equipped with ISOfix anchors, and all i-Size approved child car seat can be used in all car seats with i-Size labeling. The floor in front of an i-Size child car seat will always be strong enough to withstand the forces from the supporting leg, even where there is a storage compartment underneath.

In ECE r 44 04 there is no requirement for the child's size, the maximum size for each seat is always by weight. However with the new i-Size regulation each step of height-scale correlates with minimum shoulder height, shoulder width and hip width. Almost all children with the given headroom fit in seat. In addition to standing height, i-Size includes the maximum weight for the child who can sit in the seat.