It is envisaged that European Standard EN 1317 relating to road restraint systems will comprise of six parts, which are set out in details circulated in the Official Report.
I have no responsibility in relation to the adoption of European standards, which is the responsibility of the National Standards Authority of Ireland. I understand from the NSAI that the normal procedure is for these standards to be adopted as Irish standards following their publication as European standards. Parts 1 and 2 have been published as Irish standards since November 1998. Part 3 was due to be published as a European standard on 24 May 2000, and will be adopted as an Irish standard by NSAI in accordance with the procedure outlined. Parts 4, 5 and 6 have not yet been published as European standards.
The position in relation to the approval of appropriate road restraint systems for Irish roads is that road authorities are required, when installing crash barriers, to comply with the provisions outlined in a specification for road works, which has been used on an ad hoc basis pending publication of an updated specification for road works by the National Roads Authority. I understand from the NRA that this review of the specification for road works is intended to address the appropriate application of EN 1317, or corresponding Irish standards, to future Irish road works.
European Standard EN 1317 relating to road restraint systems
Part1–Terminology and general criteria for test methods.
Part2–Performance classes, impact test acceptance criteria and test methods for safety barriers.
Part3–Performance classes, impact test acceptance criteria and test methods for crash cushions.
Part4–Performance classes, impact tests acceptance criteria and test methods for terminals and transitions of safety barriers.
Part5–Durability and evaluation of conformity.
Part6–Pedestrian restraint systems, pedestrian parapet.