ISOFIX - the new standard for car seat installation.
What is ISOFIX? - International Standards Organisation FIX
ISOFIX is a system that creates a rigid link between the child seat
and the car.
The benefit of this is that it removes the risk of slack installation
as well as gaining extra solidity, which is one of the main misuses
when installed with an adult seat belt. It's easier and quicker
to install with its rigid linking system.
A lot of surveys have found that a high percentage of child seats
are not fitted securely enough as many people find it difficult
to fit them correctly. Some seat belts are shorter than others,
the anchor points differ, and car seats have different shapes, all
these points make it virtually impossible to make a car seat that
will fit all cars.
All these things vary dramatically between different models of
cars, ISOFIX is designed to solve all these problems. ISOFIX is
fast becoming part of the standard equipment installed in new cars,
child seat manufacturers build ISOFIX fitting points on their child
seats, when cars are manufactured ISOFIX points are built into them.
This enables ISOFIX child seats to be simply plugged into the ISOFIX
points in the car.
A number of ISOFIX seats are already available, though they are
currently only approved for the specific models of car in which
they have been tested. (e.g.Britax's Duo ISOFIX seat has been tested
and approved for use in more than 80 car models).
Most child car seats are currently designed to be fitted by using
a car's adult lap and diagonal seat belt. The ultimate aim is that
any ISOFIX child car seat you buy will fit your car simply by plugging
it into the ISOFIX points.
To find out if your car has ISOFIX points, contact the manufacturer
or dealer. Many vehicles currently on the road already have the
two main ISOFIX anchorage points. For example, the VW Golf has been
fitted with them since 1997. By February 2006, all new ECE approved
vehicles have to be equipped with ISOFIX anchorage points.
Does your car have ISOFIX connectors? On the back seat, there should
be two metal loops between where the back seat cushion joins the
bottom cushion, that indicates the two main ISOFIX connection points.
If so your car has the basic ISOFIX system and may be on the list
of specific vehicles with either semi-universal approval or vehicle
specific approval for the ISOFIX child car seat you are considering.
If unsure refer to your vehicle handbook.
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