Regulatory Framework for Road Safety

EN 1317 is a European standard that defines the testing and certification procedures for bridge parapets, road safety barriers, and temporary traffic barriers.

Disclaimer: The following text, including any references to products and case studies, is based solely on Danish laws, regulations, and standards. Interpretations and applications may differ in other countries.

What Does the European Standard EN 1317 Mean?

To pass the crash test, the system must meet the following criteria:

• The system must retain and redirect the vehicle in a controlled manner
• No component of the system may penetrate the vehicle cabin
• Deformation or intrusion into the cabin that could cause serious injury is not permitted
• The center of gravity of the vehicle must not cross the centerline of the deformed system
• The vehicle must not roll over – including rolling onto its side, under, or after impact. However, rolling, pitching, and yawing are acceptable
• For tests with heavy vehicles, no more than 5% of the ballast mass may become detached or dislodged before the vehicle comes to a complete stop
• After impact, the vehicle must not cross a line parallel to the original centerline of the system when it is redirected. (See illustration below.)

It is up to national regulations to define which containment levels should be used in different scenarios based on criteria such as traffic type, speed limits, presence of hazards, etc.

Note: Test TB11 and TB32 are designed to verify that the containment level is compatible with occupant safety.

Se our sortiment of crash barrieres here.

Normalised Working Width

The working width is a measure of how much the barrier system deforms during an impact.

It is typically considered the main parameter when calculating the necessary clear space behind the system to ensure proper functionality.

Working width is calculated as the maximum distance from the front of the system before impact to the furthest deformation of its main components after impact with a heavy vehicle.

The working width is divided into 8 classes, from W1 to W8, according to the increasing level of deformation.

The table below provides an overview of the different working width classes and their corresponding values in meters.

It is the responsibility of national authorities to define the criteria that road designers must follow when selecting the most appropriate working width class for a specific road.

If you want to learn more about rules, standards and regulations within Europe, read here.

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