8.1 Seats, Anchorages, Head Restraints & Interior Impact

Occupant support is a load-bearing system

Seats transmit occupant and restraint loads into the body. Inspect the seat, runners, frame, attachment, anchorage, and surrounding structure together.

Seats and seat anchorages

A driver seat is mandatory. Every fitted seat must attach to the vehicle structure through seat anchorages. Reject a weakened frame or structure, loose or damaged seat-to-anchorage connection, or loose/weak anchorage-to-body connection.

The driver-seat adjustment mechanism must operate and must not be so worn that the seat moves excessively. The seat condition and position must allow proper control of steering, pedals, and other controls.

The seat page has two precise corrosion distances:

• corrosion within 150 mm of a normal seat anchorage; and
• corrosion within 300 mm of an anchorage for a seat with integrated seatbelt anchorages.

An integrated-belt seat carries higher restraint load through its seat mounts, which explains the larger zone. Inspect beneath covers and around reinforcement where visible without unauthorised dismantling.

Modifications after 1 March 1999 that affect seats or anchorages may require LVV certification unless every exclusion-table condition is met. A compatible unmodified OE or reputable seat fitted to unmodified OE mounts may have a route, but stressed and unstressed seats, airbags, seatbelt geometry, brackets, and welding conditions matter.

When a seat has been removed, a belt is not required for that unused position. Follow the VIRM’s record/advice process for remaining belt components that could be reused if the seat is refitted; do not fail an optional uninspected remnant as if the seat were occupied.

Head restraints

A head restraint is assessed for injury risk and locking. Reject external surfaces or padding deteriorated enough to increase injury risk, or an adjustable restraint that cannot remain locked. Removal can be restricted when a solid structure lies within 300 mm behind the seat back and under the other table conditions. A head restraint containing an aftermarket screen must still provide effective padding and meet the modification requirements.

Interior impact

Page 7-7 applies where a fitting, control, or surface has been added, removed, substituted, or deteriorated. Reject when occupant-injury likelihood has not been minimised. Look for sharp brackets, hard protrusions, insecure consoles, damaged steering-wheel padding, unprotected cargo barriers, and modifications interfering with airbags, controls, warning lamps, or driver reach.

Use the modification table for steering wheels, hand controls, dashboards, parcel shelves, and cargo barriers. Do not invent universal padding dimensions outside the applicable row.

Inspection sequence

1. Operate each seat adjuster and lock; apply controlled load to seat and backrest.
2. Inspect runners, brackets, fasteners, floor, and the correct corrosion zone.
3. Identify integrated belts, airbags, or altered brackets and verify certification.
4. Adjust and load head restraints; inspect padding and nearby solid structure.
5. Sweep the occupant space for insecure, sharp, hard, or obstructing changes.
6. Confirm controls and safety equipment remain accessible and unobstructed.
7. Record position, mounting, measurement, and certification evidence.

Scenario

A driver seat with an integrated belt has corrosion 220 mm from its seat anchorage. That lies outside the ordinary 150 mm zone but inside the integrated-belt 300 mm zone, so it is rejected.

Removed and convertible seating

A folded seat is still fitted; inspect it, its retention and any belts required for the position. A readily removable seat presented outside the vehicle uses the VIRM’s missing-seat guidance, including identifying it on the checksheet and advising the operator about unchecked remaining belt components. Do not claim the vehicle’s permanent seating capacity has changed merely because a seat is temporarily absent.

For swivel or convertible seats, test the travel and locking positions relevant to road use. A seat that rotates but cannot lock facing the required direction can affect occupant control and restraint geometry. Integrated belt and airbag wiring under a seat should not be stretched, trapped or bypassed by altered runners.

Final occupant-space checkpoint

Return every adjustable seat and head restraint to a usable locked position after testing. Confirm that moved seats do not trap belts or wiring and that the driver can fully operate pedals and steering. Inspect the rear of seat backs for hard added objects in occupant strike zones. When a modification is claimed as excluded, verify every table condition, including airbag and seatbelt geometry—not only bolt-hole compatibility.