ISO 3560:2013

Road vehicles - Frontal fixed barrier or pole impact test procedure

ISO 3560:2013 specifies a general frontal test procedure for impact on fixed barrier or pole. There are several applicable test configurations, some with specific test procedures. ISO 3560:2013 describes general testing requirements for conducting accurate and uniform frontal testing.

Véhicules routiers — Procédure d'essai de choc frontal contre barrière fixe ou poteau

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 17-Jun-2013
• ICS: 43.020 - Road vehicles in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 22/SC 36 - Safety and impact testing
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 22/SC 36/WG 1 - Car collision test procedures
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 07-Mar-2024
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO 3560:2001 - Road vehicles - Frontal fixed barrier or pole impact test procedure
• Effective Date: 28-Feb-2009

Overview

ISO 3560:2013 - Road vehicles: Frontal fixed barrier or pole impact test procedure specifies a general, uniform procedure for conducting frontal impacts of road vehicles against fixed barriers or poles. It defines test-site requirements, barrier and pole characteristics, vehicle preparation, dummy installation, instrumentation and measurement practices to ensure accurate and repeatable frontal crash testing across a range of applicable configurations.

Keywords: ISO 3560, frontal impact test, fixed barrier, pole impact, vehicle safety testing, crash test procedure

Key Topics and Requirements

• Test site and surface: level, rigid crash pad with at least 10 m of suitable surface ahead of the impact object; slope tolerance ≤ 1 % over any 1 m for the last 10 m.
• Fixed barrier: block mass not less than 70 000 kg; permitted movement ±2 mm; minimum barrier face width 3 m and height 1.5 m. Barrier face options include rigid flat, deformable, rigid offset and anti‑slide device (ASD) configurations.
• Barrier face details: plywood covering 18–26 mm for rigid faces; ASD dimensions and placement are specified to control vehicle slide.
• Pole specification: circular, rigid pole 254 mm ± 3 mm diameter, mounted so the support does not introduce secondary impacts and set at least 1 500 mm away from vertical surfaces.
• Vehicle propulsion and alignment: vehicle released at least 0.5 m from the barrier; longitudinal axis within ±2° of intended impact angle; offset tolerance optimal ±20 mm (acceptable up to ±30 mm with caution).
• Velocity measurement: measured in the last 1.5 m (never less than 300 mm) after release; impact velocity tolerance ±0.5 km/h; measurement as per ISO 3784.
• Test vehicle mass and conditioning: includes kerb mass, specified cargo mass (0–136 kg depending on data) and test dummy mass; vehicle ballasted and balanced to within ±10 kg; fuel may be substituted with non‑flammable liquid of specified density range.
• Dummy installation and instrumentation: procedures cover dummy type, clothing, temperature, positioning (head, torso, pelvic angle, limbs) and measurement instrumentation per referenced measurement standards.

Applications and Users

ISO 3560 is used for:

• Vehicle manufacturers for design verification and occupant protection development
• Independent crash laboratories and test facilities to produce repeatable frontal impact data
• Regulatory and homologation agencies when comparing test protocols or harmonizing requirements
• Safety engineers, component suppliers and researchers conducting R&D or validation of restraint systems, structural design and crashworthiness

Related Standards

Normative references include ISO 612, ISO 1176, ISO 3784, ISO 6487, ISO 6549 and FMVSS 208. These govern dimensions, mass definitions, velocity measurement, instrumentation and dummy seating H‑/R‑point methods.

ISO 3560 provides the procedural backbone for consistent frontal barrier and pole impact testing to support vehicle safety assessment and comparative evaluation.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 3560
Third edition
2013-06-15
Road vehicles — Frontal fixed barrier
or pole impact test procedure
Véhicules routiers — Procédure d’essai de choc frontal contre barrière
fixe ou poteau
Reference number
©
ISO 2013
© ISO 2013
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Impact test set-up . 4
4.1 Test site . 4
4.2 Barrier . 4
4.3 Pole . 6
4.4 Test conditions . 6
5 Test vehicle . 7
5.1 General state and equipment. 7
5.2 Mass of the test vehicle . 7
5.3 Passenger compartment adjustments . 8
6 Test dummy . 9
6.1 Type . 9
6.2 Clothing and shoes .10
6.3 Temperature .10
7 Test dummy installation .10
7.1 General .10
7.2 Head .10
7.3 Torso .10
7.4 H-point of test dummy .11
7.5 Pelvic angle .11
7.6 Thighs and legs .11
7.7 Arms .11
7.8 Hands.12
7.9 Feet .12
8 Impact response measurements .12
9 Instrumentation .13
Bibliography .14
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 3560 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 22, Road vehicles, Subcommittee SC 10, Impact
test procedures.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (3560:2001), which has been technically revised.
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 3560:2013(E)
Road vehicles — Frontal fixed barrier or pole impact test
procedure
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a general frontal test procedure for impact on fixed barrier or pole.
There are several applicable test configurations, some with specific test procedures. This International
Standard describes general testing requirements for conducting accurate and uniform frontal testing.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 612, Road vehicles — Dimensions of motor vehicles and towed vehicles — Terms and definitions
ISO 1176:1990, Road vehicles — Masses — Vocabulary and codes
ISO 3784, Road vehicles — Measurement of impact velocity in collision tests
ISO 6487, Road vehicles — Measurement techniques in impact tests — Instrumentation
1)
ISO 6549 , Road vehicles — Procedure for H- and R-point determination
FMVSS 208:1997, Actions to Reduce the Adverse Effects of Air Bags
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 612 and the following apply.
3.1
impact angle
angle between the longitudinal median plane (of the vehicle) and a vertical plane perpendicular to the
contact plane of the barrier face
Note 1 to entry: The longitudinal median plane (of the vehicle) is also called the longitudinal plane of symmetry
or zero Y plane (see ISO 4130).
3.2
vehicle width
W
distance between two planes parallel to the longitudinal median plane (of the vehicle) and touching the
vehicle on either side of the longitudinal median plane
Note 1 to entry: All parts of the vehicle, including any lateral projections of fixed parts (wheels, hubs, door-handles,
bumpers, etc.) are contained between these two planes, except for the rear-view mirrors, side marker lamps,
tyre pressure indicators, direction indicator lamps, position lights, customs seals, flexible mud-guards, door-edge
guards, hinged side windows in the open position, fuel filler flaps in the open position, retractable steps, snow
chains and the deflected part of the tyre walls immediately above the point of contact with the ground.
1) Withdrawn.
3.3
overlap
percentage of the vehicle width covered by the barrier face (see Figure 1)
Note 1 to entry: The overlap may be left or right. Figure 1 shows a left side overlap.
Key
1 Barrier
2 Vehicle
A
Overlap=×100
W
Figure 1 — Overlap
3.4
offset
B
perpendicular distance between the longitudinal median plane (of the vehicle) and the centreline of the pole
Note 1 to entry: The offset may be left or right. Figure 2 shows a left side offset.
2 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Figure 2 — Offset
3.5
full frontal, 0° angle impact, 100 % overlap
type of impact in which the barrier face is wider than the impacting vehicle and the direction of travel of
the vehicle is perpendicular to the barrier face
3.6
frontal, angled impact
type of impact in which the barrier face is wider than the projected width of the impacting vehicle (see
Figure 3) and the angle of impact is other than zero
Note 1 to entry: The barrier face can be angled so that the initial contact is to the right or left of the longitudinal
median plane (of the vehicle).
3.7
offset frontal impact
type of impact in which the vehicle impacts a barrier face with an overlap of less than 100 %
Note 1 to entry: Any angle of impact can be used.
3.8
pole impact
type of impact in which the vehicle impacts a circular pole considerably narrower than the width of the
vehicle
Note 1 to entry: The pole can be offset to either side of the longitudinal median plane (of the vehicle).
a
Projected width of vehicle.
Figure 3 — Frontal, angled impact
4 Impact test set-up
4.1 Test site
The test area shall be large enough to accommodate the run-up track, barrier and technical installations
necessary for the test.
The crash site surface shall be level and rigid for a length of at least 10 m in front of the impact object, at
least along the tyre path, and ideally throughout the entire test pad – to account for a potential impact
of the vehicle underside structure with the ground. There shall be no more than a 1 % slope measured
over any 1 m length for at least the last 10 m.
4.2 Barrier
4.2.1 Fixed barrier
The barrier shall consist of a block made of a relevant material able to resist to impact. No cracks,
breakage or plastic deformation should occur to the fixed barrier. The width shall be at least 3 m and the
height at least 1,5 m.
The barrier face is secured to a mass not less than 70 000 kg. Its movement at impact shall be restricted
to ± 2mm. The barrier specifications given in 4.2.2 may be varied as necessary provided the barrier face
is large enough to accommodate the frontal crash area of the test vehicle.
4 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

4.2.2 Barrier face
4.2.2.1 General
A variety of barrier faces may be used. Some are specified below.
4.2.2.2 Rigid flat barrier face
The barrier face shall be flat and vertical and shall be covered with fir plywood 18 mm to 26 mm thick.
4.2.2.3 Anti-slide device (ASD) on rigid flat barrier face
The ASD, which shall be 40 mm thick, 40 mm wide and at least 1 500 mm long, fabricated from steel
and positioned to permit 20 mm ± 2 mm projection in front of the plywood, shall be mounted vertically
at a distance of 350 mm left and right of the theoretical (projected) point of impact of the longitudinal
median plane (of the vehicle).
4.2.2.4 Deformable barrier face
The deformable barrier face shall be vertical and either flat or with a bumper simulation. It shall have
sufficient height, depth and width to allow the desired test to be carried out.
4.2.2.5 Rigid offset barrier face
The offset barrier face shall have a sufficient width to allow the desired overlap, a height of at least
1 500 mm and a depth of at least 1 000 mm. The edge radius on both sides shall be 190 mm ± 2 mm. The
face may be set at an angle to the barrier and may include an ASD (see Figure 4).
a
As desired.
Figure 4 — Rigid offset barrier face
In the case of an offset deformable barrier face, the edges of this face shall be in line with the sides of the
main offset barrier and fully supported.
4.2.3 Ground clearance
The ground clearance shall be set according to the test type, and within a tolerance of ± 5 mm.
4.3 Pole
The pole, designed as a vertically-oriented, circular, rigid structure, beginning no more than 100 mm
above the ground and extending above the roof of the impacting vehicle, should be 254 mm ± 3 mm in
diameter and set off from any vertical mounting surface (such as attachment to a fixed rigid barrier face)
by at least 1 500 mm.
The pole support shall not interfere with t
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