bing shall be fully withdrawn from the retractor manually and allowed to retract completely for 25 cycles. An automatic-locking retractor or a nonlocking retractor attached to pelvic restraint shall be subjected to 5,000 additional cycles of webbing withdrawal and retraction. An emergency-locking retractor or a nonlocking retractor attached to upper torso restraint shall be subjected to 45,000 additional cycles of webbing withdrawal and retraction between 50 and 100 percent extension. The locking mechanism of an emergency locking retractor shall be actuated at least 10,000 times within 50 to 100 percent extension of webbing during the 50,000 cycles. At the end of test, compliance of the retractors with applicable requirements in S4.3 (h), (i), and (j) shall be determined. Three retractors shall be tested for performance.

Type 1 seat belt assembly. Three complete seat belt assemblies, including webbing, straps, buckles, adjustment and attachment hardware, and retractors, arranged in the form of a loop as shown in Figure 5, shall be tested in the following manner:

(1) The testing machine shall conform to the requirements specified in S5.1(b) A double-roller block shall be attached to one head of the testing machine. This block shall consist of two rollers 4 inches or 10 centimeters in diameter and sufficiently long so that no part of the seat belt assembly touches parts of the block other than the rollers during test. The rollers shall be mounted on antifriction bearings and spaced 12 inches or 30 centimeters between centers, and shall have sufficient capacity so that there is no brinelling, bending or other distortion of parts which may affect the results. An anchorage bar shall be fastened to the other head of the testing machine.

(2) The attachment hardware furnished with the seat belt assembly shall be attached to the anchorage bar. The anchor points shall be spaced so that the webbing is parallel in the two sides of the loop. The attaching bolts shall be parallel to, or at an angle of 45° or 90° to the webbing, whichever results in an angle nearest

to 90° between webbing and attachment hardware except that eye bolts shall be vertical, and attaching bolts or nonthreaded anchorages of a seat belt assembly designed for use in specific models of motor vehicles shall be installed to produce the maximum angle in use indicated by the installation instructions, utilizing special fixtures if necessary to simulate installation in the motor vehicle. Rigid adapters between anchorage bar and attachment hardware shall be used if necessary to locate and orient the adjustment hardware. The adapters shall have a flat support face perpendicular to the threaded hole for the attaching bolt and adequate in area to provide full support for the base of the attachment hardware connected to the webbing. If necessary, a washer shall be used under a swivel plate or other attachment hardware to prevent the webbing from being damaged as the attaching bolt is tightened.

(3) The length of the assembly loop from attaching bolt to attaching bolt shall be adjusted to about 51 inches or 130 centimeters, or as near thereto as possible. A force of 55 pounds or 25 kilograms shall be applied to the loop to remove any slack in webbing at hardware. The force shall be removed and the heads of the testing machine shall be adjusted for an assembly loop between 48 and 50 inches or 122 and 127 centimeters in length. The length of the assembly loop shall then be adjusted by applying a force between 20 and 22 pounds or 9 and 10 kilograms to the free end of the webbing at the buckle, or by the retraction force of an automatic-locking or emergency-locking retractor. A seat belt assembly that cannot be adjusted to this length shall be adjusted as closely as possible. An automatic-locking or emergencylocking retractor when included in a seat belt assembly shall be locked at the start of the test with a tension on the webbing slightly in excess of the retractive force in order to keep the retractor locked. The buckle shall be in a location so that it does not touch the rollers during test, but to facilitate making the buckle release test in S5.2(d) the buckle should be between the rollers or near a roller in one leg.

(4) The heads of the testing machine shall be separated at a rate between 2 and 4 inches per minute or 5 and 10 centimeters per minute until a force of 5,000+50 pounds or 2,270±20 kilograms is applied to the assembly loop. The extension of the loop shall be determined from measurements of head separation before and after the force is applied. The force shall be decreased to 150±10 pounds or 68+4 kilograms and the buckle release force measured as prescribed in S5.2(d).

(5) After the buckle is released, the webbing shall be examined for cutting by the hardware. If the yarns are partially or completely severed in a line for a distance of 10 percent or more of the webbing width, the cut webbing shall be tested for breaking strength as specified in S5.1(b) locating the cut in the free length between grips. If there is insufficient webbing on either side of the cut to make such a test for breaking strength, another seat belt assembly shall be used with the webbing repositioned in the hardware. A tensile force of 2,500±25 pounds or 1,135±10 kilograms shall be applied to the components or a force of 5,000±50 pounds or 2,270±20 kilograms shall be applied to an assembly loop. After the force is removed, the breaking strength of the cut webbing shall be determined as prescribed above.

(6) If a Type 1 seat belt assembly includes an automatic-locking retractor or an emergency-locking retractor, the webbing and retractor shall be subjected to a tensile force of 2,500±25 pounds or 1,135±10 kilograms with the webbing fully extended from the retractor.

(7) If a seat belt assembly has a buckle in which the tongue is capable of inverted insertion, one of the three assemblies shall be tested with the tongue inverted.

(b) Type 2 seat belt assembly. Components of three seat belt assemblies shall be tested in the following

manner:

(1) The pelvic restraint between anchorages shall be adjusted to a length between 48 and 50 inches or 122 and 127 centimeters, or as near this length as possible if the design of the pelvic

restraint does not permit its adjustment to this length. An automaticlocking or emergency-locking retractor when included in a seat belt assembly shall be locked at the start of the test with a tension on the webbing slightly in excess of the retractive force in order to keep the retractor locked. The attachment hardware shall be oriented to the webbing as specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and illustrated in Figure 5. A tensile force of 2,500±25 pounds or 1,135±10 kilograms shall be applied on the components in any convenient manner and the extension between anchorages under this force shall be measured. The force shall be reduced to 75±5 pounds or 34±2 kilograms and the buckle release force measured as prescribed in S5.2(d).

(2) The components of the upper torso restraint shall be subjected to a tensile force of 1,500±15 pounds or 680±5 kilograms following the procedure prescribed above for testing pelvic restraint and the extension between anchorages under this force shall be measured. If the testing apparatus permits, the pelvic and upper torso restraints may be tested simultaneously. The force shall be reduced to 75±5 pounds or 34±2 kilograms and the buckle release force measured as prescribed in S5.2(d).

(3) Any component of the seat belt assembly common to both pelvic and upper torso restraint shall be subjected to a tensile force of 3,000+30 pounds or 1,360±15 kilograms.

(4) After the buckle is released in tests of pelvic and upper torso restraints, the webbing shall be examined for cutting by the hardware. If the yarns are partially or completely severed in a line for a distance of 10 percent or more of the webbing width the cut webbing shall be tested for breaking strength as specified in S5.1(b) locating the cut in the free length between grips. If there is insufficient webbing on either side of the cut to make such a test for breaking strength, another seat belt assembly shall be used with the webbing repositioned in the hardware. The force applied shall be 2,500±25 pounds or

80-175 0-82-24

1,135±10 kilograms for components of pelvic restraint, and 1,500±15 pounds or 680±5 kilograms for components of upper torso restraint. After the force is removed the breaking strength of the cut webbing shall be determined as prescribed above.

(5) If a Type 2 seat belt assembly inIcludes an automatic-locking retractor or an emergency-locking retractor the webbing and retractor shall be subjected to a tensile force of 2,500±25 pounds or 1,135±10 kilograms with the webbing fully extended from the retractor, or to a tensile force of 1,500±15 pounds or 680±5 kilograms with the webbing fully extended from the retractor if the design of the assembly permits only upper torso restraint forces on the retractor.

(6) If a seat belt assembly has a buckle in which the tongue is capable of inverted insertion, one of the three assemblies shall be tested with the tongue inverted.

(c) Resistance to buckle abrasion. Seatbelt assemblies shall be tested for resistance to abrasion by each buckle or manual adjusting device normally used to adjust the size of the assembly. The webbing of the assembly to be used in this test shall be exposed for 4 hours to an atmosphere having relative humidity of 65 percent and temperature of 70° F. The webbing shall be pulled back and forth through the buckle or manual adjusting device as shown schematically in Figure 7. The anchor end of the webbing (A) shall be attached to a weight (B) of 3 pounds. The webbing shall pass through the buckle (C), and the other end (D) shall be attached to a reciprocating device so that the webbing forms an angle of 8° with the hinge stop (E). The reciprocating device shall be operated for 2,500 cycles at a rate of 18 cycles per minute with a stroke length of 8 inches. The abraded webbing shall be tested for breaking strength by the procedure described in paragraph S5.1(b).

(Secs. 103, 119, Pub. L. 89-563, 80 Stat. 718 (15 U.S.C. 1392); delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8)

[44 FR 72139, Dec. 13, 1979, as amended at 45 FR 29048, May 1, 1980; 46 FR 2620, Jan. 12, 1981]

§ 571.210 Standard No. 210; Seat belt assembly anchorages.

S1. Purpose and scope. This standard establishes requirements for seat belt assembly anchorages to insure their proper location for effective occupant restraint and to reduce the likelihood of their failure.

S2. Application. This standard applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses.

S3. Definition. "Seat belt anchorage" means the provision for transferring seat belt assembly loads to the vehicle structure.

S4. Requirements.

S4.1 Type.

S4.1.1 Seat belt anchorages for a Type 2 seat belt assembly shall be installed for each forward-facing outboard designated seating position in passenger cars other than convertibles, and for each designated seating position for which a Type 2 seat belt assembly is required by § 571.208 in vehicles other than passenger cars.

S4.1.2 Seat belt anchorages for a Type 1 or a Type 2 seat belt assembly shall be installed for each designated seating position, except a passenger seat in a bus or a designated seating position for which seat belt anchorages for a Type 2 seat belt assembly are required by S4.1.1.

S4.2 Strength.

S4.2.1 Except for side-facing seats, the anchorage for a Type 1 seat belt assembly or the pelvic portion of a Type 2 seat belt assembly shall withstand a 5,000-pound force when tested in accordance with § 5.1.

rupture of a seat belt anchorage or its surrounding area is not considered to be a failure, if the required force is sustained for the specified time.

S4.2.4 Except for common seat belt anchorages for forward-facing and rearward-facing seats, floor-mounted seat belt anchorages for adjacent designated seating positions shall be tested by simultaneously loading the seat belt assemblies attached to those anchorages.

S4.3 Location. As used in this section, "forward" means in the direction in which the seat faces, and other directional references are to be interpreted accordingly. Anchorages for passive belt systems that meet the frontal crash protection requirements of Standard No. 208 are exempt from the location requirements of this section.

S4.3.1 Seat belt anchorages for Type 1 seat belt assemblies and the pelvic portion of Type 2 seat belt assemblies.

S4.3.1.1 In an installation in which the seat belt does not bear upon the seat frame, a line from the seating reference point to the nearest contact point of the belt with the hardware attaching it to the anchorage for a nonadjustable seat, or from a point 2.50 inches forward of and 0.375 inch above the seating reference point to the nearest contact point of the belt with the hardware attaching it to the anchorage for an adjustable seat in its rearmost position, shall extend forward from the anchorage at an angle with the horizontal of not less than 20° and not more than 75°.

S4.3.1.2 In an installation in which the belt bears upon the seat frame, the seat belt anchorage, if not on the