Retro-fitted rear seatbelts and MOT

catflea

I've just fitted rear seatbelts into the back of the Morris (they never fitted them from the factory) and I'm confident that they are up to the job should the worst happen, but what will Mr MOT look for in terms of fitment?

I guess that a seatbelt mounting is a prescribed area, so no rust is permitted within a (30cm?) radius - not that thats a problem anyway but are there any specifics about the spreader plates under the floor, by the shoulder etc?

vaio

I’d guess that seat belts that weren’t required “from the factory” wouldn’t have any regulations attached to them

s_b

Depending what morris it is obviously but i remember a lot had the holes with spreader plates behind and captive nuts already in place.
I also remember that on the marina one of the mounting points was actually in the rear arch and as such the whole kit kaboodle use to turn a pile of wet soggy cardboard after a few years.
Only you will know if all the mount points are up to the job because you fitted the bolts ,the mot man is just another set of eyes

catflea

The clue is in the siggy! '68 Minor Saloon. No factory mounting points in the rear at all, but front ones from the factory.

I've had a look through the MOT testers manual on line and there is nothing specific about seatbelt mountings, other than the corrosion but thought it wise to ask. They are definately up to the job and if there is a problem then I'll just whip them out and refit after the test but I'd rather not.

I'm guessing its a case of "they are fitted, so they get tested" rather than "they aren't required, we wont touch em"

Gloomendoom

The problem with retro fitting seatbelts to a car not designed to take them is that you could just be giving rear seat passengers a false sense of security.

If I were you, I would look at the the handbook produced to help amateur car builders pass the IVA test or it's predecessor the SVA test. The latter handbook is available for download free from the interweb from various sources and contains info specific to the safe mounting of seatbelts.

catflea

There is no way in heck those belts are going to rip through....

Gloomendoom

catflea wrote: »

There is no way in heck those belts are going to rip through....

The manual doesn't just cover how well the belts are attached, it also specifies where they should be attached in the context of avoiding, or reducing, injury to the wearer.

mikey72

https://online.businesslink.gov.uk/Transport_files/124_IVA_M1_Inspection_Manual_Version_0511.pdf

Chapter 19
Just doing an iva.
It's surprising how little is required for a seat belt mount. Anything over a two inch square plate is normally ok, even when put through a fibreglasss bodyshell.

Examples made by securon are

http://www.securon.co.uk/fitting/extras/brackets.jpg