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Seat Laws
Posted: 27 Dec 2014, 09:57
by Pifflebus
Hello folks, my apologies if this has been covered a thousand times, but i cannot find the answer! my seating plan for the van was the cheap, build it yourself, ply rock'n'roll. However I cannot find any simple information about whether it is legal to carry passengers with that option, or whether i would have to buy a proper steel frame one!
Cheers
Billy

Re: Seat Laws
Posted: 28 Dec 2014, 18:29
by fairwynds
Apart from the obvious consideration of passenger safety......
The fitment of seats is covered by European type approval regulations (1980 and 1984 as applicable to the UK) and the Construction and Use Regulations. The latter is the foremost interest when the vehicle is being MOTd.
In short a rock n roll bed frame, once upholstered, becomes usable as a seat. If the upholstery is fixed (ie: appropriately bonded to the frame and base etc) then, with the addition of suitable seatbelts, this can be used as a seat whilst vehicle is in motion. That said, there is definitely a grey area with home brew vans, people adding R and R beds to panel vans etc....
Not sure of you reasons for the original query, but ask yourself this question....
Would you be happy to have your child/lived one in the seat with (for example) just a 'lap belt' during a serious collision?
Lastly, if the seat is in the down position, ie bed made up when you arrive for MOT, then they can't check the seat belts...
Re: Seat Laws
Posted: 28 Dec 2014, 18:38
by fairwynds
This article is not bad...
http://www.campervanlife.com/forum/camp ... motorhomes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;