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The Side Curtain Airbag, also known as Inflatable Curtain (IC), provides occupant protection in lateral impacts. They occur when the vehicle is struck on the lateral side of the vehicle where the occupant is sitting.

Providing protection in lateral collisions

Side Curtain Airbag deploy from the roof line above the side window to provide cushioning between the occupant’s heads and the window or incoming hard objects. These airbags reduce the risk of life-threatening head injuries in lateral impacts by approximately 50%.

Side Curtain Airbag Benefits

  • Reduces the effect of an impact on an occupant’s head following a primary impact
  

  • Protects various sizes of occupants from 5th to 95th percentiles

  
  • Reduces the likelihood of ejection through side windows in rollover crashes (option)
  

Fast airbag curtain deployment for increased protection

The Side Curtain Airbag can be in position in less than 30ms (0.030 seconds). This is 5-7 times faster than a human blink of an eye. The curtain airbag is typically packaged in the roof rail and trim, and is not visible. The airbag typically deploys vertically between the occupant’s head to protect and absorb energy from the lateral impact.

25+ years of Inflatable Curtain research

Autoliv introduced the worlds-first two-row Inflatable Curtain in the Volvo S80 in 1998.

Autoliv has been researching lateral impacts and associated injuries for over 25 years. In 2013, FMVSS 226 Ejection Mitigation (US) was introduced and became the “global standard” for rollover protection. Additionally in 2020, The European New Car Assessement Programme, Euro NCAP, included far side crash evaluation in their rating. Korean NCAP & China NCAP have followed as well and added far side evaluation to their rating schemes.