Umgang mit Airbag- und Gurtstraffereinheiten Anzeige

If you as an employer intend to allow your employees to work with airbag or belt tensioner units of category P1 for the first time, you must notify the responsible body in advance.

Airbags and belt tensioners contain pyrotechnic assemblies. If handled incorrectly, these components pose a considerable risk of serious injury or even death. They are therefore subject to the Explosives Act.

According to the Explosives Act, you generally need an official permit to handle explosive substances - also in connection with airbag and belt tensioner units. The permit requirement does not apply under certain conditions if you work with airbag and belt tensioner units of category P1 (old designation: class T1) without igniting them. A classic application for this is installation and removal in vehicle workshops.

In any case, you must notify the responsible authorities of any commercial handling: If you as an employer intend to have your employees work with airbag or belt tensioner units of category P1 for the first time, you must submit the notification at least 2 weeks before starting the activity.

Other requirements for exemption from the permit requirement include, among other things, that the handling is carried out by trained personnel, i.e. by persons with limited specialist knowledge.

The restricted specialist knowledge is taught in a training course lasting around 6 hours. The limited specialist knowledge only authorizes the installation and removal of airbag and belt tensioner units of category P1 and their destruction in the installed state. The following is taught during the training:

• Design and operation of gas generators, airbag and belt tensioner units,
• Characterization of the explosives used,
• Explosives law requirements for the activity,
• handling, hazard characteristics,
• storage, transportation,
• disposal,
• practical part.

• Proof of limited expertise: Certificate of participation in a relevant training course on the handling of airbags and belt tensioner units without a permit
• When handling airbags or belt tensioner units of category P2 or items still under development:
  • Permit in accordance with § 7 of the Explosives Act and
  • if applicable, a certificate of competence in accordance with § 20 of the Explosives Act

Requirements for exemption from the permit requirement:

• Your company has trained personnel. This means that the employees concerned have the so-called "limited specialist knowledge" by attending a relevant training course on handling airbags and belt tensioner units without a permit.
• The airbag or belt tensioner units are not triggered, i.e. not ignited, when removed.
• Please note during storage:
  • The airbag and belt tensioner units are stored in accordance with the provisions of explosives legislation, in particular Explosives Storage Directive 240.
  • The quantity thresholds for permit-free storage in accordance with Appendix 6 to the Annex of the 2nd Ordinance to the Explosives Act are complied with: namely a maximum of 10 kilograms net explosive mass (NEM) in the working area and a maximum of 100 kilograms net explosive mass (NEM) in the storage area (F30/T30).

As an employer, before you allow airbag and seatbelt pretensioner units to be handled in your workplace, indicate this in writing or online.

Notification period: The notification must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the start of the activity.

• Handling airbag and belt tensioner units Display
• Companies must display:
  • The handling of airbag or belt tensioner units of category P1 (or class T1 according to the old designation) without igniting them, for example when installing and removing them in vehicle workshops
• Companies must provide evidence:
  • Monitoring the handling of explosive substances, especially with regard to the storage of substances
• First-time handling must be reported 2 weeks before the start of the activity
• Cessation of the activity must be reported immediately
• There is an exemption from the permit requirement
  • when handling airbag or belt tensioner units of category P1 and
  • if the handling is carried out by trained personnel with so-called "limited expertise"
• If (only) one of the above requirements is missing, a permit in accordance with § 7 or a certificate of competence in accordance with § 20 SprengG is required
• Responsible: competent authority according to state law

Online procedure possible: yes

Written form required: no

Personal appearance required: no