Side Impact Protection for the Radian®RXT

Diono® developed side impact protection for all of its car seats by creating a rigorous testing protocol that simulates side impact crashes. The seats were evaluated on how well they contain the head, chest and pelvis acceleration. Testing was repeatedly performed in multiple facilities both in the US and in Europe. Watch the Radian® crash test video on the Safety Center home page.

Radian® seats feature deep, reinforced sidewalls that extend straight forward and are lined with thick, energy absorbing foam. Sidewalls must have proper size, shape and strength in order to contain a child, provide protection and absorb side impact forces.

SuperLATCH

Combining steel frame construction and the SuperLATCH™ system, Radian® has the highest rated RF and FF capacities of any convertible seat ever made. It is a bold step, for a bold design. Radian® is the strongest car seat and SuperLATCHTM is the strongest LATCH/UAS system.

SuperLATCHTM is the strongest attachment system of any car seat. Crash tested to a higher standard and rated to a higher weight, SuperLATCHTM provides the highest level of safety and assurance for car seat attachment. Compare the difference.

And SuperLATCHTM is available on every Radian® car seat.

New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) for the Radian®RXT

First, some background: for the last 30 years, both Transport Canada and the US National National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have been crash testing popular vehicle models. The test protocol involves running vehicles head-on into a fixed barrier at 56km/h (35 mph). Results were published for consumers as the US arm of the international New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). For "severe-accident" testing, Transport Canada utilizes an NCAP crash test of 56 km/h (35mph) and 47g impact force - almost twice the crash impact force of the standard CMVSS213 crash test of 48 km/h (30mph) and 25g. NCAP is now the established benchmark for assessing child seat performance in "severe accident" conditions. NCAP crash testing assures a child’s safety is not compromised by a potential failure of the child seat in a severe accident.

Please note: NCAP testing is not required for car seats.

Radian® seats are NCAP crash tested at their maximum capacities: rear-facing (20.5 kg/45 lb), forward-facing with harness (30 kg/65 lb), and as a booster (54kg/120 lb), all without relying on the use of top tether. In every test, the test dummy remained securely retained and Radian® was structurally intact.

Rear-Facing

Because of its installation angle, a rear-facing convertible seat generates much higher lower anchor loads than a forward-facing seat (for example: 13.5 kg/30 lb rear-facing can generate similar loads as 22.5 kg/50 lb forward-facing).

In all crash tests, even at the maximum weight of 20.5kg/45 lb, Radian® meets all the biomechanical values and seat back angle limits established in CMVSS213 and FMVSS213.

Forward-Facing

In all crash tests, even at the maximum weights of 36 kg (5-point harness) and 54 kg (booster), Radian® seats meet all the biomechanical values established in FMVSS213 and CMVSS213.

Note: FMVSS213 and CMVSS213 only require such results with forward-facing children below 22.5kg. Above 22.5 kg, forward-facing seats do not have to meet any performance results.

SafeStop® Load-Limiter

What is it?

SafeStop® is a patented, energy absorbing harness component that significantly reduces the forces affecting a child’s head, neck and chest in an accident. It’s a load-limiting device designed to absorb energy and reduce impact to a smaller, forward-facing child. This is especially important as younger, forward-facing children (under 18 kg/40 lb) have proportionally heavier heads, but less-developed neck strength. Radian® is the only car seat in the world with this energy -absorbing harness system.

UAS

Monterey™ features integrated connectors that allow for optional attachment to a vehicle’s lower anchors. Fixed-position installation helps improve performance and eliminates the risk of an unoccupied booster becoming a flying hazard in an accident. The Monterey™ has UAS tightening adjusters which are conveniently located in front to make this installation option easy.

New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) for the Monterey

NCAP crash testing assures that a child’s safety is not compromised by a potential failure of the child seat in a severe accident.

For the last 30 years, both US and Canada have been crash testing popular vehicle models. This test protocol involves running vehicles head-on into a fixed barrier at 56 km/h (35 mph). In the US, the results are published for consumers as the US arm of the international New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). In Canada, Transport Canada maintains a video database of these tests on their website. For "severe-accident" testing, Transport Canada utilizes an NCAP crash test of 56 km/h (35 mph and 47g impact force - almost twice the crash impact force of the standard CMVSS213 crash test of 48 km/h (30 mph) and 25g. It’s now the established benchmark for assessing child seat performance in severe accident conditions.

Please note: NCAP testing is not required for car seats.

Radian® seats are NCAP crash tested at their maximum capacities: rear-facing (20.5 kg/45 lb), forward-facing with harness (30 kg/65 lb), and as a booster (54 kg/120 lb), all without relying on the use of top tether. In every test, the test dummy remained securely retained and Radian® was structurally intact.

Even under a worst case situation – NCAP testing with a 54.5 kg dummy – Monterey™ remained intact and the dummy was securely retained. The seat bottom did not crush, maintaining proper shoulder belt and lap belt positioning.

• NCAP is 56 km/h (35mph), "severe-accident" crash testing that is required for all cars, but not car seats.
• NCAP is almost double the impact force (47g) of a CNVSS213 crash test: 48 km/h, 25g impact force.
• NCAP testing is well established in the child safety industry in Europe, Canada and US.

Especially for high-capacity child seats, the security of NCAP testing is a necessity.

Side Impact Protection for the Monterey

Monterey™ features deep, protective sidewalls that are reinforced and lined with energy absorbing EPS foam to provide the best side impact protection. Monterey™ was designed to protect a child in a side impact crash, as well as in an oblique accident. Monterey™ was crash tested in accordance with newly proposed side impact standards. Results show that Monterey™ protected the child from both vehicle intrusion and contact with rigid interior vehicle components in a side impact event.

Real side impact protection means body containment, energy absorption and barrier protection:

• Deep sidewalls and head support provide an encapsulating and protective barrier.
• Energy absorbing EPS foam lines the head, torso and hip sidewalls for increased protection.
• Aluminum reinforced structure provides enhanced containment of body mass at the hips and torso.

Only 25% of accidents are side impact events, but they account for many of the worst injuries. Side impact safety requires a rigid head support that will not flex outward under lateral forces. Sides must be deep and lined with firm, dense foam to absorb enough impact energy (like a bike helmet). Currently, there is no side impact testing standard or requirement. Any product can claim "side impact safety" without meeting any standard or even conducting any tests. Side impact testing was done in Germany to a standard established by ADAC, the most recognized automotive testing organization in Europe. ADAC utilizes a "fixed-barrier" side impact crash test that simulates the entire vehicle being struck from the side, requiring the structure of the child seat sidewalls to fully contain and protect the child. Structural side impact performance of a child seat can be seen clearly in our crash test video. View the Monterey™ crash test video on the Safety Center home page.

Proper Fit Means More Protection

The Radian® 5-point harness has five different shoulder positions and three buckle positions, ensuring that as your children grow they will always fit properly in their car seat. Additionally, the Radian®R120 and Radian®RXT both feature head and body pillows that provide proper positioning for infants and babies. For maximum vehicle compatibility, two forward-facing recline positions allow the Radian® to fit a wide variety of vehicle seats. When installed rear-facing, the Radian® detachable base provides a proper recline angle. The low center of gravity of the Radian® also helps reduce seat rotation in the event of an impact.

Anti-Submarining Protection

"Submarining" is a term which refers to an occupant’s beginning to slide underneath the lap belt during emergency braking or an accident. Monterey™ features a ramped seat pan angle, combined with a reinforced seat bottom to keep the lap belt properly positioned across the child’s pelvic region. European crash test procedures measure lap belt intrusion to the abdomen and require a low value to meet European certification. Monterey™ performs exceptionally well in this regard.