1 Application scope
The Rules are applicable to the seats of Categories M and N vehicles, as well as the head restraint products used for the aforementioned seats (excluding rearward-facing seats and head restraints installed on these seats, as well as seat systems used by child occupants). The Rules may be used as a reference for other seat and head restraint products of automobiles.
Any adjustment to the application scope caused by any change(s) in laws and regulations or related product standards, technologies, industrial polices and other factors shall be subject to the announcement issued by the Certification Alliance for Vehicle (CAV).
2 Certification mode
The certification mode for seat and head restraint products is type test + initial factory inspection + post-certification supervision.
The basic certification steps include:
a. Application for certification
b. Product type test
c. Initial factory inspection
d. Evaluation and approval of certification results
e. Post-certification supervision
The initial factory inspection shall be carried out according to the mode of conformity of production (CoP) control plan review + factory on-site inspection for COP. According to the different organization and production modes and characteristics of products, differentiated CoP inspection and post-certification supervision may be adopted in specific implementation.
3 Application for certification
3.1 Division of certification unit
In principle, seat and head restraint products produced by the same producer (manufacturer) and the same production enterprise (workplace) without significant differences in the following aspects are regarded as one certification unit:
(1) Type of automobile to which it applies and where it is installed on the automobile；
(2) Structure, shape, dimension, material and quality of seats, with seat covers and colors allowed being different; the difference in quality of the products within the same unit shall be within 5%;
(3) Type and dimensions of adjustment, displacement and locking devices for seats, backrests and their component parts;
(4) Type and dimensions of seat fixtures;
(5) Dimensions, construction and materials of accessories and supports (legs) for passenger car seats;
(6) Dimensions, framework, material and padding of the head restraints, with the color of head restraints allowed being different with that of covers;
(7) Type and dimensions of the head restraint attachment device; type and dimensions of the part of the body on the automobile to which the head restraints are attached, in case of direct attachment of head restraints to the body.
The applicant shall file the application for certification according to the unit division principle. A unit may include products of multiple models. When products of multiple models and specifications are taken as a certification unit, the applicant shall submit a description of the differences between the products of different models and specifications. The same model refers to the products that have no impact on the standard compliance in design.
The same products produced by the same producer and different production enterprises (they shall be manufactured with the same production process and with the same key part/raw material suppliers), or the same products produced by different producers and the same production enterprise, shall be divided into different application units, but the type test may only be carried out on the samples of only one unit. For the products of other production enterprises/producers, the data for conformity checking shall be provided for such purpose.
3.2 Submittals for certification application
The applicant shall file the application for certification to the CAV certification agency through the network, and shall fill in the necessary enterprise information and product information as required. The CAV certification agency will, according to relevant requirements, review the application and issue a notice of accepting or rejecting the application, or request the applicant to re-file an application for certification after rectification.
The applicant shall provide relevant application data and technical data to the CAV certification agency and/or the entrusted laboratory according to the requirements of the certification scheme after the application is accepted, generally including:
(1) Application form for certification;
(2) Certification materials:
a. Registration certificates of the applicant, producer and production enterprise, such as business license (at initial application or in case of any change);
b. If the three parties are not the same enterprise, the relevant agreements or contracts signed by the relevant parties (such as entrusted processing agreement, and authorization letter) shall also be submitted (if applicable);
c. If the applicant is a seller or an importer, it must also submit a copy of the relevant contract concluded between the seller and the producer or between the importer and the producer (at initial application or in case of any change);
d. The power of attorney of the agent (if applicable);
e. Certificates of domestic entity that can bear legal responsibilities in case of an overseas production enterprise (when required by relevant laws and regulations).
(3) Technical data such as product description, photos and product drawings;
For each certification unit, the applicant shall provide technical data such as product description, photos and product drawings according to the requirements of Annex 1 to the Rules. In case multiple models/specifications are included in the same unit, a description of the differences between different models shall also be provided. It is required to fill in the technical data according to the specific technical document format issued by the CAV and submit the electronic data.
(4) List of key parts/raw materials;
For each certification unit, the list of key parts/raw materials shall be provided according to the requirements of Annex 1 to the Rules. For the key parts/raw materials within the scope of compulsory product certification purchased in China, the production enterprise shall provide the China compulsory certification (CCC) certificate; for other parts/raw materials, the production enterprise may provide corresponding voluntary certification certificates or valid test reports issued by laboratories recognized in accordance with GB/T 27025 (ISO/IEC 17025).
(5) CoP control plan prepared according to Annex 2 to the Rules (at initial application or in case of any change);
(6) Factory inspection questionnaire (if applicable); and
(7) Other necessary documents.
4 Type test
4.1 Type test scheme
For the application for certification requiring type test, after the application data are approved, the CAV certification agency shall formulate the type test scheme according to the unit division principle and the certification standards, and notify the applicant. The type test scheme includes the sample requirements, test standards and items, laboratory information, etc. for sample submission/sampling in unit or unit combination. If only one model is included in an application unit, the samples shall be of this model. In case multiple models/specifications are included in the same unit, the representative models/specifications shall be selected as samples, and the selected samples shall cover the structural parameters of other products and key part/raw material producers as much as possible.
4.2 Requirements for type test samples
4.2.1 Basic requirements
The type test samples shall be the products produced by the production enterprise applying for certification in the normal processing mode. The applicant shall ensure the conformity between the samples provided and the actual products, and shall not borrow, rent or purchase samples for testing. The CAV certification agency and/or the laboratory shall review the authenticity of the samples provided by the applicant. In case of any doubt about the authenticity of the samples, the laboratory shall explain the reasons to the CAV certification agency, and carry out corresponding treatment.
Foreword I
1 Application scope
2 Certification mode
3 Application for certification
3.1 Division of certification unit
3.2 Submittals for certification application
4 Type test
4.1 Type test scheme
4.2 Requirements for type test samples
4.3 Reference standards and test items
4.4 Implementation of type test
4.5 Disposal of samples
4.6 Type test report
4.7 Utilization of enterprise testing resources
5 Initial factory inspection
5.1 Basic requirements
5.2 Review of CoP control plan
5.3 Factory on-site inspection
6 Evaluation and approval of certification results
6.1 Certification evaluation and decision
6.2 Evaluation and decision on maintenance parts of discontinued-production models
6.3 Certification time limit
7 Post-certification supervision
7.1 Post-certification supervision time
7.2 Supervisory inspection for CoP
7.3 Supervisory sampling testing or inspection
7.4 Evaluation of post-certification follow-up inspection results
8 Certificate
8.1 Maintenance of certificate
8.2 Change of certificate
8.3 Cancellation, suspension and revocation of certificate
8.4 Electric certificate
8.5 Certificate issuance for the same manufacturer
8.6 Certification extension
9 Use of product certification mark
9.1 Mark permitted to use
9.2 Mark application method
9.3 Mark application position
10 Charging
11 Certification responsibilities
12 Technical dispute and appeal
13 Others
Annex 1 Description of seat and head restraint products
Annex 2 CoP requirements
Appendix 1 Requirements for factory quality assurance capacity
Appendix 2 Requirements of CoP control plan
Appendix 3 Requirements for implementation report of CoP control plan
Annex 3 Certification implementation of after-sale maintenance spare parts for discontinued-production models
Annex 4 Measures for classification management of production enterprises
