Are you prepared for the new European standards on load restraint procedures? During 2001 a significant development took place in the UK in the application of load restraint procedures for the road transport industry with the release of the new harmonised European standard for load restraint. Designed as BS EN 12195 this is an adopted British and European standard and comes in four parts:

Part 1: Calculation of Lashing Forces
Part 2: Web Lashings for Load Restraint
Part 3: Chain Lashings for Load Restaint
Part 4: Wire Rope Lashings

Parts 2 and 3 of BS EN 12195 were released in 2001 and part 1 is due to be released during 2002.

Currently the only guidelines for load restraint were produced by the DETR in 1984 and are being updated. Part 1 of BS EN 12195 goes much further than these guidelines and for the first time lays down the basic princples of restraint loads amd enables the transport operator to calculate the lashing forces involved and the quantity of type of lashing required. This new standard in line with other recent standards and legislation is risk and encourages the operator to undertake a risk assessment of the load being carried.

Key points from Part I include:

• Calculation of lashing forces and requirements under different cofigurations
• Use of a Load Securing Docket to be completed by a competent person

Part 2 of BS EN 12195 covers new manufacturing and use requirements for the web lashings for road transport. It replaces 8S5759 and has more stringent performance and testing requirements.

Key points from Part 2 include:

• Assemblies rated by Lashiing and standard tension force in daN


• Higher factor of safety of 3:1 applies to webbing strength


• All components to be stamped with lashing capacity & manufacturers mark


• New detailed labelling requiremrnts specifying LC & STF


• Manufacturer's traceability code and date to be printed on the lable


• All assemblies to be type tested and batch tested


• Cyclic loading testing incorporated into batch testing


• Strength tests applied to ratchet handles


• The correct number of lashings to be calculated t0 prEN12195 part 1


• Care and use instructions to be supplied

SpanSet produce a range of ratchet lashings which comply with the new BS EN 12195 standards. Operators should ensure that any listings they are using to the new standard fully comply with all the requirements for quality of manufacturing and testing.

If you would like more information on these or other products contact us and we will be pleased to help.

Every year there are around 5000 successful prosecutions for unsafe loads, many involving fatalities. In addition many more incidents og unreported but bring chaos to our busy rod network.

Penalties under the Road Traffic Act range from heavy fines and disqualification to 10 yeats imprisonmnet for causing death by dangerous driving

The onus is on the operator to provide te correct equipment and training and the police authorities and HSE are becoming ever more vigilant.

In law the new British & European Standard will form the basis for providing good practice

By selecting SpanSet as your prefered supplier of load control equipment you are not only specify the best quality equipment but we also get the best advice possible

If you would like information on training cources for BS EN12195 contact SpanSet on (01606) 737494 and ask for details of the BS12195 training module