Changes to car seat standards: UN R129 mandatory

What does this change mean for the consumer?

In fact, very little: In the future, all seats, car seats, and seat belts will be approved according to the R129 standard. You can still use a safety device approved according to ECE R44/04, but you will no longer find them in stores from 1 September 2024. As simple as that!

The standard UN R129 was introduced in July 2013 and has been phased in over the past 10 years.


The different stages of transformation:

1. At first, both standards worked side by side, but the new Isofix mounted and self-harnessed safety troughs and car seats were only adopted with the R129.

2. Then the R129 was made valid for seat belt seats as well. This meant, among other things, that the backrest became mandatory when a seat belt was to be approved under the R129 standard.

3. A significant step can be considered when safety devices with seat belts were also approved by the R129 standard from 2020.

4. From September 2023: Car seats are now only manufactured according to the R129 standard. Only those car seats that have passed the R129 standard can be imported into Finland.

5. From September 2024: Car seats that have been approved under ECE R44/04 alone will no longer be available for sale as of September 1, 2024.

Although the ECE R44 standard is dropped and the approved car seats are banned from sale, the car seats approved under the ECE R44 standard can still be used. There will be no so-called 'ban on use', as car seats are still crash tested and tested safe for children.

Read from here more on the differences between the R44 and R129 standard.

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What does iSize mean?

As part of the UN R129 standard, there is also the so-called iSize. iSize is a system that aims to harmonize and ensure that car seats fit into cars. This means that all Isize car seats fit all Isize cars.

Even if your car has Isofix mounts, it is not the same as iSize. In addition to the Isofix mounts, iSize cars have a counterpart to the top mounting belt, a special bottom structure, and of course Isize approval.

R129 is not the same as iSize. iSize is a system that is subject to the R129 standard. Not all car seats approved under the R129 standard are necessarily Isize car seats.

Isize car seat requirements include:

• Isofix mount
• The rear-facing car seats have a support leg
• Face-to-face car seats have a top fixing belt
• Maximum dimensions (this ensures that all Isize car seats will certainly fit in all Isize cars on the market)

You can check if your car seat is iSize by looking at the orange sticker on the car seat. If it says iSize, the car seat is iSize approved. If you want to find out if your car is iSize, look at your car's manual. iSize cars are not on the market very much yet.

See here all Baby Safety Racks for Lastentarvike >>

‍‍See here all Lastentarvike Car Seats >>

‍‍See here all Lastentarvike Seat Seats >>

‍‍See here the full range of Lastentarvike Car Seats >>

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Sources:

Liikenneturva.fi - Frequently Asked Questions
UNECe.org - Child Restraint Systems Brochure (in English)
ETSC.eu - Latest UN Child Seat Standard Agreed for 2019 (in English)
Autolithot.fi - Autoliet tests 20 car seats
Britax-Romer.fi - FAQ

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