ADR 3/03 seats

[justcobra]

Hi Guys.
All the good oil is on the www.comlaw.gov.au.
My interpretation the law is that the minimum height is 800mm.
If the DAX seat with headrests meets the European Standard then the seat should pass our ADR as it is a co signatory to the legislation.
Therefore start importing !

[Zedn]

Originally Posted by justcobra

Hi Guys.
All the good oil is on the Comlaw Home.
My interpretation the law is that the minimum height is 800mm.
If the DAX seat with headrests meets the European Standard then the seat should pass our ADR as it is a co signatory to the legislation.
Therefore start importing !

Unfortunately the 800 is not from the base of the seat. It is from a reference point on a sphere that is placed on the base of the seat to simulate a hip. This makes the height approximately 850-860 from the base of the seat.

[400TT]

Zedn, it is problematic. Yes, you require a JIG to perform the ADR measurement, so in my experience engineers have just come up with a shortcut method to check the height with a tape measure.

The approved JIG we use to spec our seat heights is something along the lines of a weighted steel frame test dummy looking contraption.

Best advice just purchase a seat that is known to comply with ADR 3/03 or equivalent regulation. But finding one that fits a Cobra is the challenge.

One of our new prototype ADR 3/03 tested Cobra Seats measures 780mm from the top of seat base to the top of the headrest.

In my experience there are production seats that have been tested to ADR 3/03 that do not meet the 850-860mm measurement when using tape measure. But I have also measured seats that are 900mm+. In my experience the shorter seats have adjustable headrests, the taller seats have fixed headrests. Manufacturers are not always just concerned about regulations, but ensuring the headrest can provide adequate performance for the tallest of drivers.

[Jaydee]

Is it a requirement to have seat sliders? If not, and the seat is bolted in a permanent position, could you fit a headrest on the roll bar? I've tried mgb seats, no good. But I measure a MX5 2000 model, and the base is less then 500mm.
JD

[suthol]

No idea about SA but I got through in May under the old scheme in NSW with fixed seats.

Ultimately it is up to what your engineer tells you will pass locally

[400TT]

Sambo, yes exactly it all comes down to the certification paperwork. If it is an aftermarket seat, do not just assume an ADR 3/03 label will be suitable, you may need a copy of the test report. For production seats, you may need to prove which vehicle they have come from.

We have seen a lot of manufacturers that have parts labelled as compliant, even with compliance marks moulded into or attched to the product, yet they are unable to provide the required paperwork to back it up.

Originally Posted by Jaydee

Is it a requirement to have seat sliders? If not, and the seat is bolted in a permanent position, could you fit a headrest on the roll bar? I've tried mgb seats, no good. But I measure a MX5 2000 model, and the base is less then 500mm.
JD

JD, you could bulkhead secure the seats. Check with your engineer on the requirements, but if the seats are fixed and structurally mounted to the rear bulkhead you do not require any certification for the seats. They still need to meet the height requirements though.

Not sure how well that would work or look in a Cobra, but pretty common practice in GT40's.

[sambo]

Kenmer Cobra seats on the test rig. These should be ADR 3/03 certified in the next few months.

[Jaydee]

Kenmer Cobra seats on the test rig. These should be ADR 3/03 certified in the next few months.

Nice. Can the headrest be removed? I'm still battling with the choice of safety high seats or what looks right.
JD

[justcobra]

Very interesting and I hope it comes into production soon meeting the our ADR 3-03 Rule whether it is 800 or 850 mm requirement.
I would be interested in the cost in the Kenmer Seat.

[Zedn]

Originally Posted by 400TT

Zedn, it is problematic. Yes, you require a JIG to perform the ADR measurement, so in my experience engineers have just come up with a shortcut method to check the height with a tape measure.

The approved JIG we use to spec our seat heights is something along the lines of a weighted steel frame test dummy looking contraption.

Best advice just purchase a seat that is known to comply with ADR 3/03 or equivalent regulation. But finding one that fits a Cobra is the challenge.

One of our new prototype ADR 3/03 tested Cobra Seats measures 780mm from the top of seat base to the top of the headrest.

In my experience there are production seats that have been tested to ADR 3/03 that do not meet the 850-860mm measurement when using tape measure. But I have also measured seats that are 900mm+. In my experience the shorter seats have adjustable headrests, the taller seats have fixed headrests. Manufacturers are not always just concerned about regulations, but ensuring the headr est can provide adequate performance for the tallest of drivers.

Hi Craig,

Can you explain this further? I dont see how it is possible for the seat to measure 780. Is this to do with the way the lines are projected? I have seen a simplified method in one of the vsb's with a sphere placed against the seat. I think it was one of the VSB5's.

Interested to hear more about this.

Liam

[400TT]

Liam, the JIG replicates a person sitting in the seat, so the sphere you are talking about sinks into the base of the seat. The seat we are testing has a sprung base, so you would sink more so than you would on just a foamed seat base.