BS EN 124 Gully Tops and Manhole Tops for Vehicular and Pedestrian Areas

The 1994 version of the standard has been revised and a 2015 version published by CEN but there are major concerns from the composites industry that Composites UK has raised with the European Commission. The 2015 standard has not been cited in the official journal so is a voluntary standard. The 1994 version has been withdrawn. This is not an ideal situation but the Commission is aware and is working with CEN and the relevant national standards bodies to rectify the situation.  Highways England position on EN124.

The main issues raised by the UK are given in the Composites UK EN124 Position Paper and are summarised below:

  • Composite materials cannot comply to the test requirements within the revised standard, making it anti-competitive
  • Applicability and costs of AVCP Level 1.
  • Increased AVCP surveillance frequency for composite manufacturers will incur astronomical costs that SMEs cannot withstand.
  • Inconsistent test regime across various materials (metals, concrete, composite & thermoplastic) is anti-competitive and stifles innovation
  • Skid resistance: definition and testing thereof – Formal Objection raised by the UK
  • Lack of effective representation of composite manufacturers and trade associations on both the BSI (B/505/4/1) and CEN/TC 165/WG 4
  • The revised EN 124 standard is detrimental to the composites industry in both the UK and EU.

Composites UK and a delegation from the UK met with the Commission, CEN and other interested parties in August 2015 and again in April 2016.  A summary of the outcomes of these discussions are:

  • There are fundamental issues that need to be discussed in more depth. The Commission had issues in addition to those raised by the UK.
  • Parts 2-6 cannot be cited without further development
  • CEN need to work out a plan forward
  • Member states must bring forward their regulatory needs at an early stage so the TC can work to these in the drafting
  • Products cannot be CE marked until the standard is cited.
  • Certification is voluntary.