EN 12966:2014
(Main)Road vertical signs - Variable message traffic signs
General Information
- Abstract
This European Standard provides specifications for two types of variable message signs (VMS); i.e. continuous (see 3.4) and discontinuous (see 3.7).
This European Standard covers mobile, temporary and permanently installed VMS used in circulation areas, on public and private land, including tunnels for the information, guidance, warning and/or direction of traffic. Test modules are used to demonstrate compliance with the requirements.
This European Standard specifies visual and physical characteristics of VMS as well as their durability aspects. It also provides relevant requirements and corresponding test methods, assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP) and marking.
NOTE Provisions for the evaluation of conformity with regards to type testing are further specified in 6.2; provisions with regards to factory production control (FPC) are further specified in 6.3.
This European Standard does not cover
a) sign gantries, cantilevers, posts (supports) and foundations,
b) signal heads,
c) sizes and shapes of VMS messages,
d) control units and monitoring units unless inside the VMS,
e) control of sign luminance.
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Publication Date
- 09-Dec-2014
- Withdrawal Date
- 16-Sep-2026
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 226 - Road equipment
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 226/WG 11 - Variable message signs
- Current Stage
- 9960 - Withdrawal effective - Withdrawal
- Start Date
- 12-Dec-2018
- Completion Date
- 17-Sep-2026
- Directive
- Harmonized Standard305/2011 - Regulation (eu) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 march 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing council directive 89/106/eec
Not Harmonized89/106/EEC - Construction products
Relations
- Effective Date
- 08-Jun-2022
- Effective Date
- 08-Jun-2022
- Effective Date
- 17-Dec-2014
- Effective Date
- 19-Jan-2023
- Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Refers
EN IEC 60068-2-14:2023 - Environmental testing - Part 2-14: Tests - Test N: Change of temperature - Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 12966:2014 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Road vertical signs - Variable message traffic signs". This standard covers: This European Standard provides specifications for two types of variable message signs (VMS); i.e. continuous (see 3.4) and discontinuous (see 3.7). This European Standard covers mobile, temporary and permanently installed VMS used in circulation areas, on public and private land, including tunnels for the information, guidance, warning and/or direction of traffic. Test modules are used to demonstrate compliance with the requirements. This European Standard specifies visual and physical characteristics of VMS as well as their durability aspects. It also provides relevant requirements and corresponding test methods, assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP) and marking. NOTE Provisions for the evaluation of conformity with regards to type testing are further specified in 6.2; provisions with regards to factory production control (FPC) are further specified in 6.3. This European Standard does not cover a) sign gantries, cantilevers, posts (supports) and foundations, b) signal heads, c) sizes and shapes of VMS messages, d) control units and monitoring units unless inside the VMS, e) control of sign luminance.
This European Standard provides specifications for two types of variable message signs (VMS); i.e. continuous (see 3.4) and discontinuous (see 3.7). This European Standard covers mobile, temporary and permanently installed VMS used in circulation areas, on public and private land, including tunnels for the information, guidance, warning and/or direction of traffic. Test modules are used to demonstrate compliance with the requirements. This European Standard specifies visual and physical characteristics of VMS as well as their durability aspects. It also provides relevant requirements and corresponding test methods, assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP) and marking. NOTE Provisions for the evaluation of conformity with regards to type testing are further specified in 6.2; provisions with regards to factory production control (FPC) are further specified in 6.3. This European Standard does not cover a) sign gantries, cantilevers, posts (supports) and foundations, b) signal heads, c) sizes and shapes of VMS messages, d) control units and monitoring units unless inside the VMS, e) control of sign luminance.
EN 12966:2014 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 93.080.30 - Road equipment and installations. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 12966:2014 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 12966-2:2005, EN 12966-1:2005+A1:2009, EN 12966-3:2005, EN 12966:2014+A1:2018, ISO 7000:2014, IEC 60417-1:2002, EN 60068-2-64:2008, EN IEC 60664-1:2020, EN IEC 60068-2-1:2025, EN IEC 60068-2-30:2025, EN IEC 60068-2-5:2018, EN 50293:2012, EN 50556:2011, EN 60529:1991, EN IEC 60068-2-14:2023. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 12966:2014 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 305/2011, 89/106/EEC; Standardization Mandates: M/111. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
EN 12966:2014 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Vertikale Verkehrszeichen - WechselverkehrszeichenSignaux de signalisation routière verticale - Panneaux à messages variablesRoad vertical signs - Variable message traffic signs93.080.30Cestna oprema in pomožne napraveRoad equipment and installationsICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 12966:2014SIST EN 12966:2015en,fr,de01-marec-2015SIST EN 12966:2015SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 12966-3:2005SIST EN 12966-2:2005SIST EN 12966-1:2005+A1:20101DGRPHãþD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 12966
December 2014 ICS 93.080.30 Supersedes EN 12966-1:2005+A1:2009, EN 12966-2:2005, EN 12966-3:2005English Version
Road vertical signs - Variable message traffic signs
Signaux de signalisation routière verticale - Panneaux à messages variable
Vertikale Verkehrszeichen - Wechselverkehrszeichen This European Standard was approved by CEN on 18 October 2014.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2014 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 12966:2014 ESIST EN 12966:2015
Equivalent area . 61 A.1 General . 61 A.2 Calculation of the luminance . 61 A.3 Calculation of non-matrix equivalent areas . 64 A.3.1 Equivalent area for a line of elements. . 64 A.3.2 Equivalent area for a symbol fully populated with elements . 65 A.3.3 Equivalent area for a symbol partially populated with elements . 65 Annex B (normative)
VMS performance declaration codes for marking . 67 B.1 General . 67 B.2 Code for continuous retro-reflective VMS . 67 B.3 Code for externally illuminated continuous retro-reflective VMS . 67 B.4 Code for discontinuous VMS . 68 Annex L (informative)
Terminology used in this European Standard . 69 Annex M (informative)
Guidance on graphics for discontinuous light emitting signs . 71 M.1 General . 71 M.2 Apparent luminance of lines and letter strokes . 71 M.2.1 General . 71 M.2.2 Further technical explanation of Apparent luminance . 72 M.3 VMS with colour inversion . 73 M.4 VMS without colour inversion . 78 SIST EN 12966:2015
Guidance on dimensions , luminance, beam width,
legibility and efficiency for discontinuous VMS . 80 N.1 General . 80 N.2 Dimensions . 80 N.2.1 General . 80 N.2.2 Text . 81 N.2.3 Circles . 81 N.2.4 Triangles . 82 N.3 Luminance and beam width classes . 82 N.4 Beam width and distances of legibility . 87 N.4.1 Group of VMS, centred above the road . 87 N.4.2 Group of VMS, not centred above the road . 88 N.4.3 Curved road sections . 89 N.4.4 Limits of legibility due to vertical beam . 90 N.4.5 Calculation of recognition time . 92 N.4.5.1 General . 92 N.4.5.2 Distances in metres per second at various speeds . 92 N.4.5.3 Example of calculation of the recognition time . 92 N.4.5.3.1 General . 92 N.4.5.3.2 Using beam width class B2 . 93 N.4.5.3.3 Using beam width class B4 . 94 N.4.5.3.4 Using beam width class B6 . 95 N.4.5.4 Conclusions after calculation of recognition time . 95 N.4.6 Luminance and luminance ratio . 96 N.4.7 Beam width . 96 N.5 Energy efficiency . 96 Annex O (informative)
Specific design issues . 97 O.1 Finish . 97 O.2 Front panels . 97 O.3 Front screens . 97 O.4 Appearance . 97 O.5 Electrolytic compatibility . 97 O.6 Protection against thermal overload . 97 O.7 Physical security against unauthorised access . 97 O.8 Interfaces between VMS, control, and higher order equipment . 97 O.9 Diagnostic . 97 Annex P (informative)
Guidance for design of VMS messages . 99 P.1 Design of VMS messages . 99 P.2 Specifying text dimensions . 100 Annex Q (informative)
Technical documentation . 102 Q.1 Sign enclosure . 102 Q.2 Electrical equipment . 102 Q.3 Mounting devices (if applicable) . 102 Q.4 Retro-reflective and non retro-reflective components . 102 Annex R (informative) Example of recommended summary of class combinations . 104 Annex ZA (informative)
Clauses of this European Standard addressing the provisions of the EU Construction Products Regulation . 112 ZA.1 Scope and relevant characteristics . 112 ZA.2 Procedure for AVCP of VMS . 115 ZA.3 CE marking and labelling. 119 Bibliography . 128 SIST EN 12966:2015
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