At the beginning of February 2011, European law ordered the presence of Isofix mounts in any vehicle. The reason for this was the creation of children's car seats with the same name system, sponsored by Volkswagen. What is the advantage of Isofix over conventional seat belts, no one knows. However, now almost every mom is sure that her baby’s chair should be equipped according to the standards of such a system. Isofix mount - what is it? For kids of what age is this system designed and is it able to harm?
History of Isofix
The reason for the emergence of a new fastening system for child seats was the disappointing statistics of road accidents in Europe in which children suffered. As it turned out, the seats, designed for the safety of the child, could not cope with their tasks due to improper installation. This problem mainly related to seats for children aged 0 to 3 years. The complex system of fixing regular seat belts for many parents seemed uncomfortable or simply incomprehensible. And some mothers and fathers simplified the scheme, independently reducing the protective functions of the seats.
In this regard, the International Organization for Standardization decided to create new fixtures. They are more convenient, but no less reliable. This is how the Isofix mounting system came about. Its main advantages were ease of installation and optimization of the protective properties of a child seat. According to the test results, it became known that the new system significantly reduces the risks in emergency situations. The first Isofix car seat for age group 1 appeared in 1997. After that, there were changes in international standards regarding safety systems for child seats in passenger vehicles.
Isofix mount - what is it?
So, let's move on to the most important. Isofix is a rigid mount between the car seat and a child seat or other restraint. It is used for children under the age of 3-3.5 years or weighing up to 20 kg. That is, for age groups 0, 0+ and 1. This is the end of the list of acceptable categories. If the baby weighs more than 20 kg, then it is forbidden to transport it in a chair with a similar device.
Isofix baby mounts are two metal brackets on the seat or base for it. They are fixed with two brackets installed in the car seat. The system makes it easy to remove a child seat. When transporting without a child, the seat does not move during heavy braking. The brackets are usually mounted in the back seat, on the sides of the sofa on the left and right. In case of emergency, the Isofix staples hold it securely, taking all the shock.
"Leg" or "anchor"?
It turns out that international standards require the design of car seats to have a foot element or an anchor strap Top Tether. They complement the Isofix mount. What is it and what should be preferred when choosing a children's device? The thing is that the Isofix device itself is attached at two points to the vehicle seat. These two sections are under enormous load, since a torque is generated during an impact in an accident. The “foot” or “anchor” is set as the third fulcrum. It takes on part of the load and prevents the chair from moving forward.
The “leg” is a telescopic strut that extends from the front of the chair in the middle and rests on the floor. The Top Tether anchor strap comes out of the rear headrest. Fastens with a carabiner to the bracket in the trunk of the vehicle. Depending on the model of the car, the bracket may be located behind the headrest. An “anchor” is considered more convenient and versatile than a “leg”. Therefore, soon all new cars will be equipped with brackets for attaching Top Tether.
Isofix for group 0
In group 0+ and 1, a car seat with Isofix mount is fixed directly to the brackets in the car seat. For category 0 (babies from birth to one year old weighing no more than 13 kg), a slightly different system is used. Indeed, in this case, the chairs themselves are carrycots. It is convenient to constantly remove such children's devices from the car in order to transport the child in them and on the street. Therefore, they are mounted on special bases, in which Isofix brackets are installed.
Car seats with Isofix for groups 2 and 3
A lot of crash tests showed that for a child weighing 15 to 20 kg, the Isofix mount is no longer suitable. For fixing it is necessary to use regular seat belts. They are threaded through special guides in the car seat. This is due to the fact that during an accident, the load should fall on the belts, and the child together with the chair should be moved forward. But very often, manufacturers offer mothers who are concerned about the safety of their beloved children to purchase chairs of categories 2 and 3. They also have an Isofix mount. What is it and is it possible to use this device?
In fact, the Isofix-called fixtures in this case are rather decorative. Or they serve to fix the seat in a car without a child. The real, power Isofix cannot be attached to the armchairs of categories 2 and 3, as well as the “anchor” or “leg” accessories. This will only harm the child in an accident.