Britax Inflatable Seat Belt Policy
Britax Australia & New Zealand Inflatable Seat Belt Policy for AS/NZS 1754 (AU standard), FMVSS (US standard) or CMVSS (Canadian standard)
Suitability of Britax child restraints with Inflatable Seatbelts
Inflatable rear seatbelts were first introduced in the USA in 2010 on the Ford Explorer. Since then, Ford has introduced these seatbelts in other Ford models in the USA including; the Ford Fusion, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ and, in 2015, the Ford F-Series.
Ford has introduced their latest Mondeo vehicle in Australia and New Zealand with inflatable seatbelts on the two outboard rear seating positions. This seatbelt works by inflating a tubular airbag built into the seatbelt webbing, using a compressed gas. The inflation is initiated using sensors that can detect a car crash occurring.
Potential fitment issues with some child restraints are:
- Gated 3 bar slides or locking clips cannot be fitted to the sash belt of an inflatable seat belt.
- Child safety harness cannot be used because the gated 3 bar slides cannot be used to create a de-facto lap belt.
- The additional thickness of the sash belt means that the lock-offs and seat belt guides fitted to some child restraints cannot be used.
- The seat belt routing used to install some child restraints means that an inflatable seat belt may interact with the child in the seat or with the seat hardware in an unfavourable manner. In these situations, Britax Australia does not recommend the use of these restraints with the inflatable seat belt.
NOTE - If the centre seating position of the vehicle is not equipped with an inflatable seatbelt device and the child seat is fitted in this position, then the above considerations do not apply.
The Mondeo is also fitted with ISOFIX low anchorages on the rear outboard seating positions. Thus there are options for fitting child restraints without the use of the inflatable seatbelts. Prior to purchasing your child restraint, please check that it is suitable for your vehicle.
The following is intended to advise which Britax manufactured child restraints are suitable for use with the inflatable seatbelts in the Ford Mondeo.
Comments on specific types of child restraints AS/NZS 1754 std:
Britax Australia does not recommend the use of these restraints with the inflatable seat belt. However, booster seats in combination with the inflatable seat belt may be exempted if they are not impacted by:
NOTE1 - Where the sash belt cannot be fitted through the booster seat sash guide, Britax does not recommend the use of the inflatable seat belt with the booster seat.
NOTE2 - Where the sash belt can be fitted through the sash guide and the inflatable section of the belt interacts with the belt guide, Britax does not recommend the use of the inflatable seat belt with the booster seat.
Comments on specific types of child restraints FMVSS (US standard) or CMVSS (Canadian Standard):
Britax child restraints certified to FMVSS (US standard) or CMVSS (Canadian Standard) are NOT approved for use with ANY inflatable seat belt system for vehicles in New Zealand. Please refer to vehicle manufacturer &/or owners manual for more information.
Britax does not recommend the use of any of its other accessory products with the inflatable seat belt. Including the Child Safety Harness.
For Isofix compatible child restraints, Britax recommends the use of the vehicle Isofix anchors to install these restraints in these vehicles.
For all other non-Isofix child restraints, Britax recommends fitting the child restraint in the centre seating position providing that this position is not equipped with an inflatable seat belt.
IMPORTANT:
Refer to vehicle manual for more information regarding inflatable seat belts and other vehicle manufacturers warnings and instructions.
ALWAYS install your child restraint exactly as shown in the child restraint user manual.
Please contact Britax Customer Service for any questions with regard to the use of Britax Child Restraints.