Importance of Pole Side Impact Test for Assessment of Curtain Airbags

Government of India, in 2017, mandated a Side Impact Test (AIS 099 technically aligned to UN ECE Regulation No. 95.03 series of amendments) on M1 category Passenger Vehicles to ensure protection of occupants in lateral impact accident scenarios. Later, in 2022, a draft notification has been issued by the Government mandating installation of 6 airbags (2 Nos of thorax side airbags, 2 Nos of head protection or curtain airbags in addition to already mandated installation of Driver and Passenger Airbags) in all such passenger vehicles. However, the vehicles fitted with side thorax airbag and curtain airbags are proposed to be assessed as per AIS099 test only. Curtain Airbags are typically installed to protect occupant’s head from severe injuries in narrow object impacts simulated in Pole Side Impact Test Configurations. However, at present, India has not notified an equivalent standard to UN R135 demanding performance of the vehicle in pole side impact scenarios. Typically, OEMs may need to perform a series of Side MDB and Pole Side Impact Tests in order to integrate the thorax and side curtain airbags in the vehicle structure and to optimize their performance. However, non-existence of a mandatory standard for Pole Side Impact scenario creates a gap in the regulatory requirements and may lead to situations wherein such airbags are not validated to the minimum performance requirements. This paper compares the structural performance and occupant protection performance of the vehicles that are equipped with side thorax airbag and side curtain airbag in an AIS099 and UN R135 test scenario. The paper attempts to highlight the importance of conducting a Side Pole test in addition to the Side Impact test on a vehicle to better judge the performance of a thorax side and curtain airbag.