What is BS EN 12368 - Traffic control equipment about?
Signal heads are devices which communicate movements, and control the flow of vehicles with traffic signals. BS EN 12368 discusses the performances, and testing procedures of signal heads. BS EN 12368 applies to signal heads with one or more signal lights of the colours red, yellow, and/or green signal lights for road traffic with 200 mm, and 300 mm roundels, and optical units, to be integrated into signal heads to produce the individual signal lights.
BS EN 12368 defines the product characteristics for the visual, structural, environmental performances, and testing of signal heads, and optical units for pedestrian, and road traffic use.
Who is BS EN 12368 - Traffic control equipment for?
BS EN 12368 on traffic control equipment, signal heads, is useful for:
- Traffic signal equipment installers
- Traffic signal equipment manufacturers
- Traffic signal controllers
- Local government authorities
- Transportation service providers
- Quality control laboratories
Why should you use BS EN 12368 - Traffic control equipment?
Signal heads are used to transfer safety messages to the road user to achieve specific reactions. Signal heads in road traffic transfer this information optically by signal lights that have a specific meaning, and which differ in their colour of light, and in the design of their illuminating surface.
BS EN 12368 ensures that product failure is prevented thus minimizing the risk of accidents for road users. BS EN 12368 specifies requirements, characteristics for the visual, structural, environmental performances, and testing of signal heads, which will make easier development, design, testing, installation, and maintenance process.
In this regard, BS EN 12368 provides methods, and criteria to assess the performance of traffic signal equipment under typical roadside conditions.
What is changed since the last update?
BS EN 12368:2015 supersedes BS EN 12368:2006 which is withdrawn. BS EN 12368:2015 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 12368:2006. These include:
- Introduction: Paragraph 6 added outlining reasons for degradation of optical performance
- Scope: Individual optical units included in addition to complete signal heads which were in the previous version
- Clauses 4 to 8 Requirements re phrased to clearly identify Product Characteristics as required in the CPR
- Marking, and labelling: The labelling needs changed increasing the level of information available adding diameter, and dimming
- Clause updated to align with AVCP format for CPR, Table 15 removed as not part of the revised AVCP.
