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EUROPEAN STANDARD FOR

VARIABLE MESSAGE TRAFFIC SIGNS

EN12966

EN 12966-1 Product standard

EN 12966-2 Initial type testingEN 12966-3 Factory production control

Wolfgang Ernst

Chairman and convenerof CEN/TC226/WG11

Tunnel and ITSBergen, June 2011 EN12966 1



TOPICS

Development and contents of EN12966

Purpose of EN12966

Not purpose of EN12966

How to use EN12966

Example for VMS specification for tunnel signs

FAQ regarding certification, ITT and FPC

2Tunnel and ITSBergen, June 2011 EN12966



DEVELOPMENT AND CONTENTS OF EN12966

The European Standard has been developed under a contract betweenthe European Commission and CEN (Comité Européen deNormalisation) by CEN/TC226/WG3/SG3.1, between 1990 and 2004.

International European experts from the industry, science and test

houses, road administrations and consultants for installations andmaintenance have been delegated to SG3.1 by member states Austria,Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Spain, theNetherlands and UK, Slovenia and Denmark.

After reconsidering the requirements several times, by respecting allremarks and suggestions from national mirror groups and by following

all requests raised by the CEN-consultant, the draft documents havebeen sent out for formal voting in the year 2004.

At 31st of January 2005 28 European member states and associates havebeen asked to vote. The standard has been approved by 24 votes, 2abstentions and one disapproval with a majority of 97,66%.





After two years of “coexistence period” since 1st of February 2007 ce-marking of a VMS is only allowed after approval by Notified Bodies;only NB’s have the permission to issue CE-Certificates according toEN12966.

All national standards have been substituted by EN12966, which cannot

be changed, amended or overruled by national regulations.In 2008 CEN/TC226 decided that further enhancements of EN12966 shallno longer be performed by subgroup 3.1 of WG3 (road traffic signs),why WG11 (variable message traffic signs) has been established.

In 2009, after five years of practical use, the work on a revision of thestandard has been started by CEN TC226 / WG11. This revision is

planned to be released by the end of 2013.On 1st of August 2010 amendments to EN12966-1:2005 have been

published, with clarifications and additional advice presented ininformative annexes (EN12966-1:2005+A1:2009)





CE-marking of the products is mandatory within the European marketaccording to the CPD (Construction Products Directive).

Ignoring this European directive might result in heavy legal claims andprosecution at European Court.

The standard has been developed as a list of functional requirements.

Functional requirements are describing the properties of VMS, necessaryto be visible, legible and reliable at the conditions and for the period of their intended use.

Requirements of EN12966 are not demanding the technology nor themethod how to build VMS.

Most requirements are consisting of performance classes. According tothe application one of the provided classes may to be chosen by thepurchaser.





The manufacturer has to prove by initial type testing (EN12966-2:2005),that his VMS fulfils the demands of the required performance classes.The confirmation of compliance is issued by a Notified Body.

Notified Bodies are selected and authorised by national authorities like

Ministry for Traffic or Construction.Once a year the Notified Body performs a factory production control

(EN12966-3:2005), to assure that the manufacturer is producing VMS instabile quality in compliance with the tested product.

Representatives of the NB’s are forming a committee for CEN-CPD(construction products directives); this committee (WG3 of SG04) shallharmonize the test procedures and supervise the issued CE-Certificates. WG3 shall also discuss possible improvements and prepareposition paper for the use of the standard.





In case of claims against a Certificate CEN/CPD/SG04/WG3 is askingthe concerned NB for clarification; in case of mistakes the NB hasto correct the Certificate - repeat measurements, correct theclassification, worst case is suspension of the approval.

If the NB is not reacting to the claims of WG3 accordingly the CENCommission is informed by WG3; according to decision describedin Article 26 of NB-CPD/08/333 adopted jointly by the EuropeanParliament and the Council, the CEN Commission is informingthe notifying Member State and request to take the necessary

corrective measures, including de-notification.




PURPOSE OF EN12966

Harmonise European legislationRemove barriers to trade throughout the common market

Use of European Standard has positive impacts, because

the definition of minimum requirements for VMS to guarantee

functionality, reliability and readability depending on location andsituation

VMS are used in traffic guidance system to inform road users in duetime of hazards, traffic jam, route information etc.; this is onlypossible if VMS provide information legible and understandable,even during poor environmental conditions, what leads directlyand indirectly to– increase of traffic safety– decrease of traffic jam– savings in national economy (pollution, health, time,

standard of living, ...)




NOT PURPOSE OF EN12966

The definition and design of traffic signs (however, technicalrecommendations and informative guidelines based on specificproperties of Light Emitting Signs are included)

To create limits or restrictions on developing new technologies (theEN12966 is a functional specification, not a technical specification)

The required performance of the product is specified, NOT how to makeit. This leaves the manufacturer free to choose design, materials andmanufacturing method.




HOW TO USE EN12966

The Traffic Engineer is designing the general outlook of the trafficguidance system, the detection of environmental and traffic data, thecontrol system, the amount, location and placement of VMS, how toinform the road users , e.g. by warning signs, restriction signs text

messages and/or additional information.According to the application (speed, shape of the road, environmental

conditions etc.) the size of the graphical information has to be defined,usage of guidelines provided in informative annexes of EN12966 isrecommend.

The Traffic Engineer is selecting the appropriate performance classes fromthe Standard – light intensity, distribution angle, temperature range,wind- and snow-load etc.




HOW TO USE EN12966

Only two conditions have to be respected for the proper function of thissystem:

The Traffic Engineer (or the purchaser, investor) has to check carefully theCertificate of the Notified Body; the required class combination has tobe tested and released (=> “driving license”). The test reports shall bestandardized and are easily comparable.

Notified Bodies (or test houses under the responsibility of NB’s) have toperform the test and approval procedure according to therequirements defined in the Standard document. The system can workif the test results do not depend on the place where they have beendetermined. It is very important that purchasers can trust in thereliability of CE-Certificates.




HOW TO USE EN12966

Advantages of using the EN12966

All technical specifications are defined in the Standard document;the test method and approval is clearly described; there is no needfor further explanations or definitions.

All offers can be easily compared; test reports, following the

same well defined standardized test procedures are availableto proof the compliance with the required quality.

Harmonized quality classes are valid for the European market;different environmental conditions and local needs orrequirements are covered by various performance classes to be

selected by the Traffic Engineer The manufacturer exactly knows what he has to offer, there is no

room for interpretations or misunderstandings. In case of achievingapprovals for the required class combinations he may offer hisproduct.




EXAMPLE FOR SPECIFICATION OF TUNNEL

SIGNS, USING EN12966

Type and size:Side mounted signs, showing speed limits 30, 50, 70, 90 with 600mmdiameter of red ring, maximum element spacing 20mm, max. casingdimensions 700x700x150mm, max. weight 35kg, design of figures andstroke width shall follow Norwegian specification.

Power supply 230V, maximum power consumption 25WDefinition of control interface, protocol etc.

Visual performance classes: Luminance L3(T), Colour C2

Beam width B6

Physical performance classes: Wind-load W6, Temperature T3

Protection P3 (IP56)

Test reports have to be attached to the offer to prove compliance with therequired class combinations, showing element spacing, brand and type of the light source used and major operating conditions (e.g. operating LEDcurrent or operating voltage of halogen bulbs)




FAQ REGARDING CERTIFICATION,

ITT AND FPC

Q1: Is it mandatory that one NB is performing all tests in-house?A1: No; but the NB issuing the CE-certificate is responsible for outsourced

approvals have followed the requirements.It is the duty of the NB to make sure that applicable test facilities areavailable, and that all requirements are well known and understood.

Q2: Is it mandatory that all described tests have to be performed or is itpossible to skip some tests or change testing procedure?

A2: All described tests have to be performed as required. Only when the

NB can take the responsibility that one test has been already passed

at another occasion or that the test is obviously redundant to othertests performed on the same test module there might be an

exception. For NB’s it is highly recommended not to take the risk to

issue an incorrect CE-Certificate by changing or skipping test

procedures or requirements.





ITT AND FPC

Q3: Is it allowed to place products without CE-label?A3: In EU only CE-marked products are admitted .

Q4: Is it allowed replace / change requirements with national standards?

A4: Additional requirements in conflict with EN 12966 are not allowed,e. g. deviation from fixed classes, like environmental temperature,

luminance, beam width, colour, etc.Q5: Is it allowed to be not compliant to national Standards?

A5: No compliance with national (conflicting) standards is allowed; EN-Standard is superseding national Standards

Q6: How shall the optical performance be measured with continuousVMS (e.g. prismatic signs)?

A6: The visual performance for continuous signs and externallyilluminated discontinuous signs is covered by EN12899-1, as stated inthe scope of EN12966-1:2005. All related test procedures have to beperformed according to ITT and FPC of EN12899.





ITT AND FPC

Q7: What kind of data has to be provided within the CE-CertificateA7: The CE-Certificate should show the main properties of the approved

VMS; it should allow the purchaser to compare the requirements of the enquiry with the offered VMS.

For most of the physical (environmental) requirements it is good

enough to confirm the performance classes which have been passed,e.g. temperature, protection, loads etc.

The configuration of the test module in respect of the optical

requirements have to be described more detailed.

It is not good enough to confirm the achieved luminance class (besidecolour, beam width and luminance ratio). In case of LED-technology is

used, luminance is depending on the type of LED, the element

spacing (pixel pitch), the operating current and the offset of the

optical axis.





ITT AND FPC

Q7: What kind of data has to be provided within the CE-Certificate(continued)

A7: EN12966 describes only functional requirements, why it does notrequire to measure the LED-current (not even the word LED ismentioned, the standard is not describing any technology).

The main properties of the tested module like type of LED, elementspacing, operating current , use of a front screen as well as offset of the optical axis have to be described in the test reports; otherwise themeasured values are not reproducible and it cannot be proved thatthe tested device was representative to the offered VMS .

Durability of VMS is a major topic, mainly depending on the current –load (the operating current in relation to the maximum currentallowed); to evaluate the load of the used LED it is also necessary tomention the maximum current allowed.All of these parameters are normally part of the enquiry specification,why they need to be confirmed by NB.





ITT AND FPC

Q8: What is the purpose of FPCA8: During FPC the manufacturer of VMS proves that he is following

the requirements of the standard not only for the tested prototype(test-module) but also during series production.

Special attention has to be taken to check that the manufacturer is

placing the CE-marking only on products which are representativeto the tested module.

If one manufacturer has only tested monochrome VMS he must notplace the CE-marking on RGB-signs.

If one manufacturer has only tested signs with 20mm PP he must

not place the CE-marking on signs with 15mmPP or 30mmPP, etc.Summarized: Third party control of performance!





ITT AND FPC

Q9: Is it necessary to perform FPC (factory production control) onmanufacturers who are holding a ISO-9000 certificate?

A9: ISO 9000 is documenting the quality of the production process;FPC is controlling the production and the produced goods itself.

Therefore FPC is mandatory not regarding whether or not the

manufacturer is already holding a ISO-certificate.




RETROSPECTION TO THE PRESENTATION

Development and contents of EN12966 Purpose of EN12966

Not purpose of EN12966

How to use EN12966 Example for VMS specification for tunnel signs

FAQ regarding certification, ITT and FPC

20Tunnel and ITSB J EN12966

THANK YOU FOR YOUR

ATTENTION

Wolfgang ErnstChairman and convener

of CEN/TC226/WG11

16-0900 wolfgang ernst_tunnels and its

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