Council Directive of 22 July 1974 relating to motor vehicles with regard to the seats, their anchorages and head restraints (74/408/EEC) (repealed)

[F1 2. Definitions U.K.

For the purposes of this Annex

2.1. ‘ Approval of a vehicle ’ means the approval of a vehicle type with regard to the strength of the seats and their anchorages, the design of the rear parts of the seat backs and the characteristics of the head restraints; U.K.

2.2. ‘ Vehicle type ’ means motor vehicles which do not differ essentially with respect to: U.K.

2.2.1. the structure, shape, dimensions, materials and the mass of the seats, although the seats may differ in covering and colour; differences not exceeding 5 % in the mass of the approved seat type shall not be considered significant; U.K.

2.2.2. the type and dimensions of the adjustment, displacement and locking systems of the seat back and seats and their parts; U.K.

2.2.3. the type and dimensions of the seat anchorages; U.K.

2.2.4. the dimensions, frame, materials and padding of head restraints, although they may differ in colour and covering; U.K.

2.2.5. the type and dimensions of the attachments of the head restraint and the characteristics of the part of the vehicle to which the head restraint is attached, in the case of a separate head restraint; U.K.

[F2 2.3. ‘ Seat ’ means a structure which may or may not be integral with the vehicle structure, complete with trim, intended to seat one adult person. The term covers both an individual seat or part of a bench seat intended to seat one person. U.K.

Depending on its orientation, a seat is defined as follows:

2.3.1. ‘ Forward-facing seat ’ means a seat which can be used whilst the vehicle is in motion and which faces towards the front of the vehicle in such a manner that the vertical plane of symmetry of the seat forms an angle of less than + 10 ^o or - 10 ^o with the vertical plane of symmetry of the vehicle; U.K.

2.3.2. ‘ Rearward-facing seat ’ means a seat which can be used whilst the vehicle is in motion and which faces towards the rear of the vehicle in such a manner that the vertical plane of symmetry of the seat forms an angle of less than + 10 ^o or - 10 ^o with the vertical plane of symmetry of the vehicle; U.K.

2.3.3. ‘ Side-facing seat ’ means a seat which, with regard to its alignment with the vertical plane of symmetry of the vehicle, does not meet either of the definitions given in 2.3.1 or 2.3.2 above;] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Directive 2005/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 amending Council Directive 74/408/EEC relating to motor vehicles with regard to the seats, their anchorages and head restraints (Text with EEA relevance).

2.4. ‘ Bench seat ’ means a structure complete with trim, intended to seat more than one adult person; U.K.

2.5. ‘ Anchorage ’ means the system by which the seat assembly is secured to the vehicle structure, including the affected parts of the vehicle structure; U.K.

2.6. ‘ Adjustment system ’ means the device by which the seat or its parts can be adjusted to a position suited to the morphology of the seated occupant. This device may, in particular, permit: U.K.

2.6.1. longitudinal adjustment; U.K.

2.6.2. vertical adjustment; U.K.

2.6.3. angular adjustment; U.K.

2.7. ‘ Displacement system ’ means a device by which the seat or one of its parts can be displaced or rotated, without a fixed intermediate position, to permit easy access to the space behind the seat concerned; U.K.

2.8. ‘ Locking system ’ means a device ensuring that the seat and its parts are maintained in the position of use; U.K.

F3 2.9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F3 Deleted by Directive 2005/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 amending Council Directive 74/408/EEC relating to motor vehicles with regard to the seats, their anchorages and head restraints (Text with EEA relevance).

2.10. ‘ Transverse plane ’ mans a vertical plane perpendicular to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle; U.K.

2.1. ‘ Longitudinal plane ’ means a plane parallel to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle; U.K.

2.12. ‘ Head restraint ’ means a device whose function is to limit the rearward displacement of an adult occupant's head in relation to his torso in order to reduce the danger of injury to the cervical vertebrae of that occupant in the event of an accident; U.K.

2.12.1. ‘ Integrated head restraint ’ means a head restraint formed by the upper part of the seat back. Head restraints meeting the definitions in paragraphs 2.12.2 and 2.12.3 below, but which can only be detached from the seat or the vehicle structure by the use of tools or by the partial or complete removal of the seat covering, meet the present definition; U.K.

2.12.2. ‘ Detachable head restraint ’ means a head restraint consisting of a component separable from the seat, designed for insertion and positive retention in the seat back structure; U.K.

2.12.3. ‘ [X1 Separate head restraint ’ means a head restraint consisting of a component separate from the seat, designed for insertion and/or positive retention in the structure of the vehicle;] U.K.

Editorial Information

X1 Substituted by Corrigendum to Commission Directive 96/37/EC of 17 June 1996 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 74/408/EEC relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (strength of seats and their anchorages) (Official Journal of the European Communities No L 186 of 27 July 1996).

2.13. ‘ R point ’ means the seating reference point as defined in Annex III to Directive 77/649/EEC; U.K.

2.14. ‘ Reference line ’ means the line on the manikin reproduced in Figure 1.] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Directive 96/37/EC of 17 June 1996 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 74/408/EEC relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (strength of seats and of their anchorages) (Text with EEA relevance).