Car seat approvals: the safety standards ECE and i-size. What is this all about?

Every child in Europe has to be secured with a child car seat up to the age of 12 years or the body size of 150 cm. Between birth and the age of 12, your child´s body changes and grows constantly. Therefore, choosing the right child car seat or infant carrier can be very difficult. But there are standards and safety regulations that have been implemented to help you.

In this section, we are explaining the approval standards.

How to read the orange approval label on the seat

The orange approval label is part of the child car seat and must never be taken off, otherwise the seat would lose its admission. What do all the words and numbers on the label mean :

Good to know: All AVOVA child car seats are approved by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority.

i-SIZE explained

i-Size is part of the new approval standard R-129 and supports ISOFIX as the installation method of choice for improved safety. ISOFIX had been developed to reduce misuse and wrong installation of a child seat using the adult 3-point belt of the car. i-Size applies for car seats to secure children from birth up to a body size of 135 cm.

i-Size has now been implemented with R-129 but the old approval standard ECE R44/04 is still allowed for a transitional period of at least 5 years into the 2020s.

Parents asked us about the difference between the former standard ECE R44/04 and R-129. Here is a quick overview:

There is another major difference between R44 and R-129:
R-129 uses enhanced test dummies equipped with a larger number of measuring sensors that allow an improved data capture. The so-called Q Dummies are much closer to real life conditions than the P Dummies required for R44.

i-Size provides more safety and an easier handling.

ECE R44/04 – the previous approval standard for child car seats in Europe

The ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) approval norm ECE R44/04 was introduced in 2005 and defined 5 child car seat categories, known as groups. Each group was designed for a particular weight and age range, either a more specific and narrow range or for a larger range known as the combination groups. This could become quite complex and overwhelming for parents.

All previous car seats developed to this standard are still allowed to be used. Please check the orange label on your seat. Any other standards have expired and those seats should no longer be used.

You are unsure whether your child seat still has admission? Ask the AVOVA experts. We are happy to help you!