What is an ISOFIX car seat? Our guide

If you're in the market for a family car, then it's more than likely that you've come across the phrase 'ISOFIX'. But what does it mean? And does your car come fitted with it? Read on to find out everything you need to know about ISOFIX.

What is ISOFIX and what does it mean?

ISOFIX pertains to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard. It was in 1999 that ISO published the standard which related to the safe and secure attachment of child passenger car seats; this went on to become recognised as ISOFIX^[1].

It’s a market-leading system, intended to give parents and carers alike the peace of mind they need when travelling with their most precious cargo.

These days, ISOFIX is the internationally recognised standard for attachment points of child safety car seats. Depending on where you are in the world, different regions and countries may refer to ISOFIX by other names, including:

How does ISOFIX work?

There are a few different components to ISOFIX. Firstly, ISOFIX anchorage points are fitted into the car at the time of manufacturing. These are the points at which you attach the child seat to the car. They are metal mounts which are directly attached to the car’s chassis which is what makes them so secure.

On the child’s car seat, there are typically two metal or plastic arms that extend from the seat. They will securely lock into dedicated ISOFIX points in the car, which are usually found in the space between the backrest and the seat squab of the rear seats.

Its arms lock into the attachment hooks and you can hear them click. This clicking sound indicates that the car seat has been anchored to the ISOFIX points correctly. On many ISOFIX car seats, you can also find an indicator which goes green when secured properly.

The child's seat is then fully secured to the ISOFIX points, which are mounted to the chassis. The car seat will only detach by pressing the release buttons on the ISOFIX arms that unlatch the attachment.

In the event of a collision, there will be far less movement of the car seat if secured via ISOFIX, further improving the safety of your little ones when you’re out and about.

For baby seats, there must be a third point of security. This can take the form of an in-built support leg which is already attached to the car seat or base of the seat. If your baby car seat does not have this, you could get a top tether, a strap that is put over the backrest of the rear seat which secures onto another anchor point on the opposite side.

What are the advantages of ISOFIX?

To put it plainly, there are no disadvantages of ISOFIX. When travelling with your child in the car, you need to know they are safe and secure. ISOFIX ensures this. There are many benefits of ISOFIX, some of which include:

• They reduce the risk of wrongly installed car seats.
• Improved security and protection in the event of a collision.
• Easy and efficient installation and removal.

The 'click and go' ISOFIX bases mean it is simple to fit a car seat and the driver knows the child is secured in place. Once the seat is clicked into place, drivers are ready to go and have full peace of mind when they set off on their journey.

Is ISOFIX safer than a seatbelt?

ISOFIX is safer than a seatbelt for a number of reasons. As discussed previously, there is far less chance of wrongly installing and securing a car seat when attaching to ISOFIX points. When using a seat belt, there is the chance that it will not be looped around all the securing points correctly.

A study carried out by Monash University Accident Research Centre in Australia showed that the rigid ISOFIX system demonstrated superior performance to the standard seatbelt anchorage^[2].

Does my car have ISOFIX?

Since 2006, ISOFIX has come as standard in most new cars. In fact, it's estimated that 60% of all cars in Europe have ISOFIX. As of 2012, all new cars introduced to market had to come with ISOFIX points fitted. By 2014, fitting ISOFIX points in cars with four or more seats became a legal requirement.

The best way you can check is by looking in the user manual of the particular make and model you own. You can also check by looking to see if there is an ISOFIX logo or label at the base of the seat.

Different types of ISOFIX car seats

There are three main types of ISOFIX seats. It's worth bearing in mind that particular seats will only fit certain cars. Please remember, if you're not sure which seat will fit your car, check the car's owner's handbook or car seat manufacturer's approved vehicle list – you can usually find this on the box or their website.

• Vehicle-specific approval - This is only compatible with specific vehicles and uses a two-point connection system.
• Semi-universal approval - Again, only compatible with specific vehicles. It can be forward or rearward facing, featuring either a foot prop or top tether.
• Universal approval - This will work with forward facing Group 1 child car seats that fit into the majority of new cars, using a two-point connection system and a top tether.

How to fit an ISOFIX car seat

The steps for installing or removing an ISOFIX seat may slightly vary depending on the car and seat itself. It's important to follow the instructions for the car and the seat to make sure the process is correct. In broader terms, the steps should be as follows:

1. Step 1

   Firstly, find the ISOFIX anchor points in the car. At this point, you may need to remove a cover or look between the seat backrest and squab.

2. Step 2

   Next, extend the ISOFIX arms from the child seat and, if applicable, prepare the support leg or top-tether strap.

3. Step 3

   Secure the anchor arms into the anchor points until you hear and feel a click. A green light or icon may also appear on the child seat.

4. Step 4

   The ISOFIX bars may extend out to allow them to fit cars with longer seat squabs. Ensure the ISOFIX bars are retracted into the seat base until the back of child seat meets the car’s backrest.

5. Step 5

   If the seat has one, secure the top tether or support leg.

6. Step 6

   Make sure to store any ISOFIX covers in a safe place in case they're needed at a later date.

How to remove an ISOFIX car seat

Detach the top tether and take the tension off the support leg. Push the release buttons on both anchor arms simultaneously. Finally, take the seat out of the car and replace any covers the vehicle’s ISOFIX points have.

References

1. https://www.iso.org/isofix-child-seats-iso-13216.html
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217436/
3. https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/child-car-seats/article/are-isofix-baby-car-seats-safer-a4b3J2T1GF3a