Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India has issued a gazette making mandatory requirement of passenger side airbags for vehicles.

Effective for

1. Vehicles manufactured on or after 1^st April 2021
2. New models and existing models from 31^st August 2021

Airbags must meet AIS 145 standard till corresponding BIS Standards are notified.  

How airbags work

Central Airbag Control Unit (ACU) monitors sensors  including accelerometers, impact, side door pressure sensors, wheel speed sensors, gyroscopes, brake pressure sensors, seat occupancy sensors etc.

When ACU determines a crash it will trigger the ignition or pyrotechnics which will generate nitrogen inflating the bags. Airbags are fitted inside the steering column, dashboards, door panels etc.

Chemical reaction behind airbags

Are they dangerous goods?

Airbag modules and seat-belt pretensioners are classified as dangerous goods. Depending on the type of product and its packaging classification may vary, either class 1.4 or class 9

IMDG Code lists airbags and seatbelt pretensioners as below

• Air bag inflators,– Class 1.4G UN 0503
• Air bag inflators,– Class 9 UN 3268
• Air bag modules,– Class 1.4G UN 0503
• Air bag modules,– Class 9 UN 3268
• Seat-belt pretensioners,– Class 1.4G UN 0503
• Seat-belt pretensioners,– Class 9 UN 3268
• SAFETY DEVICES, electrically initiated – Class 9 3268
• SAFETY DEVICES, PYROTECHNIC – Class 1.4G UN 0503

SAFETY DEVICES, electrically initiated  and SAFETY DEVICES, PYROTECHNIC means articles which contain pyrotechnic substances or dangerous goods of other classes and are used in vehicles, vessels or aircraft to enhance safety to persons. Examples are air bag inflators, air bag modules, seat-belt pretensioners and pyromechanical devices. These pyromechanical devices are assembled components for tasks such as but not limited to separation, locking, or release-and-drive or occupant restraint.

Safety devices, electrically initiated and safety devices, pyrotechnic installed in vehicles or in completed components such as steering columns, door panels, seats, etc., are not subject to IMDG Code.

Safety of children

According to Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) “no child younger than 13 or under 65 pounds should sit in the front seat of a car equipped with passenger-side air bags”

The rapid inflation of airbags may have a speed up to 320 kilometers this force is enough to cause severe head injury or even death to children.

Some cars have control switch, which the driver can use to switch off passenger side airbags when a child is occupying the front passenger seat.

Read vehicle manufacturers safety instructions for more information.