Can Transport Canda approve use of a HW RF foreign seat?

TechnoGranola · Mar 16, 2009

I know in the U.S. parents can do some leg work with NHTSA to get approval to import and use a high weight RF seat, assuming the child meets the criteria (which I think are usually medical needs or very heavy child under age 1?). Do we have anything like this available in Canada? Will TC approve the use of a HW RF seat in special circumstances? If so, what is required?

hipmaman · Mar 16, 2009

Higher than 65 lbs that we currently have? The Traveller Plus can be imported for medical reasons.

ETA: I re-read the post and you meant rf

QuassEE · Mar 16, 2009

We have a couple of forward-facing harnessed options to higher weights (105 and...somewhere around there?) ... But as far as higher weight rear-facing--Transport Canada has no issues with higher weight RF seats. None of the manufacturers have brought a complying seat into the Canadian market. If they did, there's nothing stopping them.

As for children who exceed 35lbs before 12 months of age--that's a tough situation. There's no good answer/solution.

-Nicole.

ketchupqueen · Mar 16, 2009

In the U.S. special needs kids with spinal needs can use those seats (what's it called with DS when there's a hole in the spinal column or something?) Or kids with brittle bone disease.

I bet that if there was that kind of need and the parent was aware of the availability of EERF seats they would be able to get it approved.

Pixels · Mar 16, 2009

ketchupqueen said:
(what's it called with DS when there's a hole in the spinal column or something?)

Are you thinking of spina bifida?

TechnoGranola · Mar 16, 2009

hipmaman said:
Higher than 65 lbs that we currently have? The Traveller Plus can be imported for medical reasons.

I am asking about RF seats, not FF. Or does the Traveller Plus also have an increased RF weight?

QuassEE said:
We have a couple of forward-facing harnessed options to higher weights (105 and...somewhere around there?) ... But as far as higher weight rear-facing--Transport Canada has no issues with higher weight RF seats. None of the manufacturers have brought a complying seat into the Canadian market. If they did, there's nothing stopping them.

As for children who exceed 35lbs before 12 months of age--that's a tough situation. There's no good answer/solution.

-Nicole.

I realize that TC has no issue with higher RF seats, but there are none currently approved for use here. What I am asking is if TC has a way to apply and use a foreign seat with a higher RF limit and under what circumstances it is allowed. In the U.S. a parent can do "something" with NHTSA (I quote something because I don't know if it's filling out an application, sending in a medical note, etc.). I am wondering if TC has those same allowances for a child who needs to RF longer than 35 pounds. A 35 pound child under 1 would be one example of a child that needed a higher RF seat.

snowbird25ca · Mar 16, 2009

TechnoGranola said:
I am asking about RF seats, not FF. Or does the Traveller Plus also have an increased RF weight?

The traveller plus is a ff'ing only seat.

I realize that TC has no issue with higher RF seats, but there are none currently approved for use here. What I am asking is if TC has a way to apply and use a foreign seat with a higher RF limit and under what circumstances it is allowed. In the U.S. a parent can do "something" with NHTSA (I quote something because I don't know if it's filling out an application, sending in a medical note, etc.). I am wondering if TC has those same allowances for a child who needs to RF longer than 35 pounds. A 35 pound child under 1 would be one example of a child that needed a higher RF seat.

I'm not aware of any, but maybe Allport will be able to give a definitive answer. She's the go-to person when we don't know. :thumbsup:

TechnoGranola · Mar 16, 2009

snowbird25ca said:
I'm not aware of any, but maybe Allport will be able to give a definitive answer. She's the go-to person when we don't know. :thumbsup:

Hopefully Transport Canada in the title will catch her eye.

ketchupqueen · Mar 16, 2009

pixels99 said:
Are you thinking of spina bifida?

Nope. Something about unstable neck bones that can cause a gap or something and can lead to damage...

Got it! Antlantoaxial instability caused by the bone at the nape of the neck being too short (so not a hole, a gap.) Occurs in up to 15% of kids with TS21/DS.

hipmaman · Mar 16, 2009

TechnoGranola said:
I am asking about RF seats, not FF. Or does the Traveller Plus also have an increased RF weight?

I added in my original post that I re-read and realised you meant rf. The TT is a similar seat to the Husky/Regent but higher ff weight limit.

TechnoGranola said:
I realize that TC has no issue with higher RF seats, but there are none currently approved for use here. What I am asking is if TC has a way to apply and use a foreign seat with a higher RF limit and under what circumstances it is allowed. In the U.S. a parent can do "something" with NHTSA (I quote something because I don't know if it's filling out an application, sending in a medical note, etc.). I am wondering if TC has those same allowances for a child who needs to RF longer than 35 pounds. A 35 pound child under 1 would be one example of a child that needed a higher RF seat.

So we are talking about European seats, right? Or are there US seats with rf limit higher than 35 lbs?

I am thinking (and guessing) there might be some issues with TC making allowances for seats that designed for non-North American vehicles and complied to quite different safety standards than CMVSS/FMVSS (I'm not saying they are not safe, just vastly different).

Hopefully Allport can comment.

TechnoGranola · Mar 16, 2009

hipmaman said:
I added in my original post that I re-read and realised you meant rf. The TT is a similar seat to the Husky/Regent but higher ff weight limit.

Gotcha. Thanks for the info.

hipmaman said:
So we are talking about European seats, right? Or are there US seats with rf limit higher than 35 lbs?

There's no U.S. seat that I'm aware of. I was thinking of a Swedish seat or any other country that has a seat that RF past 35 lb (if anyone else has one!).

hipmaman said:
I am thinking (and guessing) there might be some issues with TC making allowances for seats that designed for non-North American vehicles and complied to quite different safety standards than CMVSS/FMVSS (I'm not saying they are not safe, just vastly different).

Hopefully Allport can comment.

I can totally understand that and wonder how NHTSA does it. I am right about that aren't I, that U.S. folks can import and use a European (or other country) seat if there is a medical/other reason why they need it?

I believe in Australia, a person can apply to have a seat tested and used but I think it's mighty pricey and the person has to buy 2 or 3 of the seats so 1 can be used for testing, one for them to use and one for some other purpose (okay, maybe not a 3rd!). I also think there is a testing fee involved? Anyone know about this?

BookMama · Mar 16, 2009

TechnoGranola said:
Gotcha. Thanks for the info.

There's no U.S. seat that I'm aware of. I was thinking of a Swedish seat or any other country that has a seat that RF past 35 lb (New Zealand has the Zento for example).

Nope, definitely no US seat that RF past 35 lbs. Not even a special needs seat (at least to my knowledge).

TechnoGranola said:
I can totally understand that and wonder how NHTSA does it. I am right about that aren't I, that U.S. folks can import and use a European (or other country) seat if there is a medical/other reason why they need it?

Technically it's a possibility, but from what I understand NHTSA rarely grants permission to import a seat for the higher RF weight. I don't think I've ever heard (in person or online) of anyone doing it. And I don't think that "super big baby" - i.e. 35+ lbs under age 1 - is one of the qualifiers though of course there may be an underlying medical condition that does qualify.

ketchupqueen · Mar 16, 2009

I know that atlantoaxial instability and brittle bone disease are both conditions that are "on the list" for exceptions for 55 lb. RF seats, but I don't know what the process is with NHTSA for getting approval in those cases. I also heard of a child being approved who was 40 lbs. at 9 months because of a tumor on his pituitary.

delgirrrl · Mar 16, 2009

TechnoGranola said:
Gotcha. Thanks for the info.

There's no U.S. seat that I'm aware of. I was thinking of a Swedish seat or any other country that has a seat that RF past 35 lb (New Zealand has the Zento for example).

I believe either Australia or New Zealand allows this as well (I can't remember which!). A person can apply to have a seat tested and used but I think it's mighty pricey and the person has to buy 2 or 3 of the seats so 1 can be used for testing, one for them to use and one for some other purpose (okay, maybe not a 3rd!). I also think there is a testing fee involved? Anyone know about this?

Hiya, to clarify, the Brio Zento available in NZ is a Swedish seat. NZ allows the European standard, so all Swedish seats are 100% legal here, although the Zento is the only one actually for sale in NZ. Australia only allows the Australian standard (max RF 26 lb, max FF 40 lb). Yes, apparently in Australia you can apply to have a foreign seat tested and approved, and need to supply 3 seats - 2 for testing, one for use. Ouch!!!

TechnoGranola · Mar 16, 2009

delgirrrl said:
Hiya, to clarify, the Brio Zento available in NZ is a Swedish seat. NZ allows the European standard, so all Swedish seats are 100% legal here, although the Zento is the only one actually for sale in NZ. Australia only allows the Australian standard (max RF 26 lb, max FF 40 lb). Yes, apparently in Australia you can apply to have a foreign seat tested and approved, and need to supply 3 seats - 2 for testing, one for use. Ouch!!!

Thanks so much for the clarification! I'll correct my post.

lenats31 · Apr 28, 2009

You are going to need a doctor´s prescription/note in the USA. Joel whose neck was broken and shoulders injured while in an FF seat in a frontal crash at city speed is riding in a Britax Multi-Tech. The family got permission to import and use the seat legally in the USA.

I find it hard to believe this can´t be done in Canada also.

Lena

Can Transport Canda approve use of a HW RF foreign seat?

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