Skip to main content

Crash cushions EU compliant

In January 2011 it became a legal requirement for all crash cushions sold in the EU to carry the CE Mark, the symbol of conformity to European Directives.
February 24, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

In January 2011 it became a legal requirement for all crash cushions sold in the EU to carry the CE Mark, the symbol of conformity to European Directives.

This can only be applied to a road restraint system once the manufacturer has undergone a rigorous process of checks and inspections from a relevant Notified Body. A manufacturer cannot simply add a sticker with a CE logo to its product.
As part of the CE certification process, the manufacturer must produce a comprehensive technical file for the product, including the initial testing details and test reports. The Notified Body ensures that the product is correctly qualified and meets the requirements of EN 1317.  
Also as part of this process, the Notified Body will make a factory production control inspection when the manufacturing facility, quality control procedures and monitoring processes are all examined.
The manufacturer and its products must meet the exacting standards set out in EN 1317-5 to ensure that the products are compliant and those coming out of the factory are consistent and manufactured to the same standards and specifications as the original product that successfully performed the initial EN 1317 testing.
Once the Notified Body is satisfied that all necessary requirements have been met it will issue a Certificate of Conformity, and only then can a manufacturer apply the CE Mark to its products. The CE label will show the product’s Certificate Number, the Notified Body’s ID number and a summary of what the product has qualified to and its performance levels.

Related Content

  • Bridge and tunnel concrete testing vital for longevity
    July 9, 2012
    Modern technology is making testing more efficient and reliable, increasing productivity and reducing costs, as Patrick Smith reports A few years ago, visual inspection of an 18-year-old bridge by ARRB in Australia identified considerable cracking in the precast, prestressed deck planks as well as in the cast in situ deck overlay. Laboratory examination indicated that the deck planks and the deck overlay were suffering from a strong case of alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR). Testing of concrete cores drilled
  • European regulations for engine emissions are getting tougher
    January 4, 2013
    Emissions remain the focus for engine development but equipment manufacturers want clarity from regulators. Emissions remain a major challenge for the off-highway construction equipment market. The EU has tough targets in this respect and its objective is an overall reduction of CO2 emissions of 80-95% by the year 2050, compared to 1990 levels. There is considerable research already underway on how to reduce fuel consumption and to help ensure the security of energy supply. A number of industry sectors, suc
  • The IRF is holding a webinar on crash cushion selection
    June 22, 2012
    A webinar being run by the IRF will help industry professionals achieve proper crash cushion selection based on site-specific seeds and conditions. The webinar is being held on June 27th from 2:00-3:00 pm US-EDT as part of the IRF’s Safer Roads by Design series and is being hosted by industry expert and IRF safety advisor Mike Dreznes. The aim of the webinar is to deliver proper classification of crash cushions, a task critical to ensure the appropriate placement of crash cushions, also known as impact atte
  • Road Markings to reduce fatal wrong-way driving
    October 31, 2012
    The latest road marking systems have been used to reduce potentially fatal wrong-way driving and promote the recent EURO 2012 football tournament in Poland and Ukraine. Guy Woodford reports According to statistics quoted by leading road marking firm Geveko, a total of 1,753 people were killed in the United States in wrong-way driving accidents from1996-2000. Wrong-way driving is also a significant issue across Europe and other parts of the world. Work to combat the potentially lethal activity took place re