SIST EN 16303:2020/kprA1:2026

• Abstract:

  This document defines the accuracy, credibility and confidence in the results of virtual crash test to vehicle restraint systems through the definition of procedures for verification, validation and development of numerical models for roadside safety application. Finally it defines a list of indications to ensure the competences of an expert/organization in the domain of virtual testing.

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 13-Oct-2024
• ICS: 13.200 - Accident and disaster control
• ICS: 93.080.30 - Road equipment and installations
• Technical Committee: OCE - Road equipment
• Current Stage: 5020 - Formal vote (FV) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 24-Jun-2026
• Due Date: 12-Aug-2026
• Ref Project: EN 16303:2020/FprA1 - Road restraint systems - Validation and verification process for the use of virtual testing in crash testing against vehicle restraint system

• Amends: SIST EN 16303:2020 - Road restraint systems - Validation and verification process for the use of virtual testing in crash testing against vehicle restraint system
• Effective Date: 08-Nov-2023

Overview

SIST EN 16303:2020/kprA1:2026 defines standardized procedures for the validation and verification of virtual testing in crash simulations for road restraint systems. This Slovenian and European standard is crucial for ensuring that numerical models used to simulate vehicle impact against safety barriers, crash cushions, terminals, and passive safety devices deliver results with proven accuracy and credibility. By harmonizing the evaluation of virtual crash tests, the standard supports both safety and innovation in roadside equipment testing, aligning with contemporary industry practices and regulatory demands.

Key Topics

• Virtual Testing Validation and Verification: The standard establishes clear procedures to assess the reliability, accuracy, and confidence level of results from virtual crash tests compared to physical tests.
• Development of Numerical Models: Guidance on creating robust numerical models of vehicles and restraint systems, with specific requirements for model elements, dimensions, properties, and instrumentation.
• Performance Evaluation: Introduction of systematic ranking via a stars-based rating system, using penalty points to gauge conformity of the virtual model to standard requirements.
• Expert and Organizational Competence: Criteria to ensure that organizations and professionals conducting virtual crash simulations are suitably qualified.
• Reporting Requirements: Prescribed templates and minimum data to be included in validation reports, including the integration of ranking tables to summarize conformity.
• Reference Integration: Updated references to key European standards for performance characterization, such as EN 1317 series and CEN/TS 1317-7:2023.

Applications

The primary application of SIST EN 16303:2020/kprA1:2026 lies in roadside safety engineering:

• Road Restraint System Assessment: Enables manufacturers, designers, and authorities to validate the performance of safety barriers, terminals, crash cushions, and passive devices through virtual crash testing.
• Type Approval and Certification: Supports regulatory bodies in verifying that road safety equipment meets performance standards via numerical simulation, reducing reliance on costly and time-consuming full-scale physical crash tests.
• Research and Development: Assists engineers and researchers in designing safer, more efficient road restraint systems by allowing effective prototype evaluation and optimization through virtual methods.
• Quality Assurance: Provides a transparent, repeatable process for documenting the adequacy of numerical models and their compliance with European safety standards.
• Cost and Resource Efficiency: Virtual testing supports sustainable engineering by minimizing physical testing where validated virtual methods are proven reliable.

Related Standards

SIST EN 16303:2020/kprA1:2026 interacts closely with the following core standards:

• EN 1317-1:2010 - General terminology and definitions for road restraint systems.
• EN 1317-2:2010 - Performance characterization and test methods for safety barriers and crash cushions.
• EN 1317-3:2010 - Additional test methods for road restraint systems.
• CEN/TS 1317-7:2023 - Test methods and performance characterization for terminals of safety barriers.
• EN 12767:2019 - Passive safety requirements and testing for support structures on roads.
• CEN/TR 1317-10:2023 - Technical guidance for performance assessment.

These standards, referenced within SIST EN 16303:2020/kprA1:2026, ensure that virtual crash simulation aligns with the accepted state of the art for road safety devices in Europe.

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Keywords: virtual crash testing, road restraint systems, vehicle impact simulation, safety barriers, validation and verification, numerical models, European standards, SIST, EN 16303, CEN/TS 1317-7, road safety equipment, virtual testing competence, crash simulation reporting.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN 16303:2020/oprA1:2024
01-oktober-2024
Oprema cest - Postopek validacije in verifikacije računalniške simulacije
preskusnih trčenj v sisteme za zadrževanje vozil
Road restraint systems - Validation and verification process for the use of virtual testing
in crash testing against vehicle restraint system
Rückhaltesysteme an Straßen - Validierungs- und Nachweisverfahren für die Nutzung
von Computersimulationen bei Anprallprüfungen an Fahrzeug-Rückhaltesysteme
Dispositifs de retenue routiers - Processus de vérification et de validation pour lutilisation
dessais virtuels dans les essais de choc contre un dispositif de retenue pour véhicules
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 16303:2020/prA1
ICS:
13.200 Preprečevanje nesreč in Accident and disaster control
katastrof
93.080.30 Cestna oprema in pomožne Road equipment and
naprave installations
SIST EN 16303:2020/oprA1:2024 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

SIST EN 16303:2020/oprA1:2024
SIST EN 16303:2020/oprA1:2024
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 16303:2020
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
prA1
July 2024
ICS
English Version
Road restraint systems - Validation and verification
process for the use of virtual testing in crash testing
against vehicle restraint system
Dispositifs de retenue routiers - Processus de Rückhaltesysteme an Straßen - Validierungs- und
vérification et de validation pour l¿utilisation d¿essais Nachweisverfahren für die Nutzung von
virtuels dans les essais de choc contre un dispositif de Computersimulationen bei Anprallprüfungen an
retenue pour véhicules Fahrzeug-Rückhaltesysteme
This draft amendment is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 226.

This draft amendment A1, if approved, will modify the European Standard EN 16303:2020. If this draft becomes an amendment,
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for inclusion of
this amendment into the relevant national standard without any alteration.

This draft amendment was established by CEN 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, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 16303:2020/prA1:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

SIST EN 16303:2020/oprA1:2024
EN 16303:2020/prA1:2024 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Modification to European foreword . 4
2 Modification to Introduction . 4
3 Modification to Clause 2, “Normative References” . 4
4 Modification to Clause 3, “Terms and definitions” . 4
5 Modification to Clause 5, “Requirements for numerical vehicle model” . 4
6 Modification to Clause 8, “Requirements for validation of virtual testing against test
item” . 4
7 Modification to Annex A, “Virtual testing – Template for report” . 5
8 Addition of Annex K, “Ranking table” . 6
Annex K (normative) Ranking table . 6

SIST EN 16303:2020/oprA1:2024
EN 16303:2020/prA1:2024 (E)
European foreword
This document (EN 16303:2020/prA1:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 226
“Road equipment”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
SIST EN 16303:2020/oprA1:2024
EN 16303:2020/prA1:2024 (E)
1 Modification to European foreword
In the 5th paragraph, add as new 6th bullet:
“— an Annex K, Ranking table (Normative) has been added to provide rules for the evaluation of
numerical models through a stars rating system”
Replace the 6th paragraph with the following one:
“Annexes A, B, C and K are normative and Annexes D to J are informative.”
2 Modification to Introduction
Replace the 1st paragraph with the following:
“This document provides a common basis for the use of virtual testing to reproduce vehicle impacts
against vehicle restraint systems including safety barriers, crash cushions, terminals and passive safety
devices in accordance with the EN 1317-1:2010, EN 1317-2:2010, EN 1317-3:2010,
CEN/TS 1317-7:2023 and the EN 12767:2019.”
3 Modification to Clause 2, “Normative References”
Add the following reference:
CEN/TS 1317-7:2023, Road restraint systems - Part 7: Performance characterisation and test methods for
terminals of safety barriers
Delete the following reference from Clause 2 and throughout the text:
“ENV 1317-4:2011, Road restraint systems – Part 4: Performance classes, impact test acceptance criteria
and test methods for terminals and transitions of safety barriers “
4 Modification to Clause 3, “Terms and definitions”
Replace definition 3.8 with the following:
“3.8
vehicle restraint system
device tested according to EN 1317-1, EN 1317-2, EN 1317-3, CEN/TS 1317-7:2023,
CEN/TS 1317-9:2023 or CEN/TR 1317-10:2023”
5 Modification to Clause 5, “Requirements for numerical vehicle model”
Add as last sentence of 5.3.1:
“A ranking table related to the overall conformity to the requirements of this standard shall be created
according to Annex K.”
6 Modification to Clause 8, “Requirements for validation of virtual testing
against test item”
Replace the entire subclause 8.2.3.1 with the following:
“Vehicle impact tests shall be carried out in compliance with criteria given in CEN/TS 1317-7:2023,
Table 3.
Type and characteristics of vehicles are described in EN 1317-1:2010, 5.2.”
SIST EN 16303:2020/oprA1:2024
EN 16303:2020/prA1:2024 (E)
Replace the entire subclause 8.2.3.2 with the following:
“Tests shall be carried out according to methods given in EN 1317-1:2010, Clause 5 and in
CEN/TS 1317-7:2023, 5.3.1 and 5.4.”
Replace the entire subclause 8.2.3.3 with the following:
“Tests shall be carried out according to methods given in EN 1317-1:2010, Clauses 5, 6, 7, 8 and in
CEN/TS 1317-7:2023, 5.5.”
Replace the entire subclause 8.2.3.4 with the following:
“Tests shall be carried out according to methods given in EN 1317-1:2010, Clause 5 and in
CEN/TS 1317-7:2023, 5.6.”
Replace the entire subclause 8.2.3.5 with the following:
“Tests shall be carried out according to methods given in EN 1317-1:2010, Clause 5 and in
CEN/TS 1317-7:2023, 5.7.3.”
Replace Table 4 with the following:
Table 4 — Comparison table – Terminals
Qualitative validation requirements - Is VT in accordance with result from
critical behaviour of test vehicle and real test?
item
Containment level (CEN/TS 1317-7:2023, Yes/no
5.3.1 and 5.4)
Rollover (CEN/TS 1317-7:2023, 5.7.3) Yes/no
Redirection zone (CEN/TS 1317-7:2023, Yes/no
5.7.3)
Failure of longitudinal elements Yes/no
Failure modes Yes/no
Penetration of part of the terminal inside Yes/no
the vehicle
Quantitative validation requirements - Is VT in accordance with the requirements
essential characteristics
Lateral displacements criterion (8.3.6) Yes/no
7 Modification to Annex A, “Virtual testing – Template for report”
Replace 1st paragraph of A.1 with the following:
“The report for the virtual testing contains one or more parts related to validation (one for each validated
test) and one or more parts related to the evaluation of new performances (one for each virtual test). Any
missing data shall be justified and the ranking table, according to Annex K, shall be added to the report
including for each section the final score and the related star rank.”
Replace the entire A.2.12 with the following:
“a) Summary of the activity, reporting the main results
b) Ranking table according to Annex K.”
SIST EN 16303:2020/oprA1:2024
EN 16303:2020/prA1:2024 (E)
8 Addition of Annex K, “Ranking table”

Annex K
(normative)
Ranking table
As already mentioned in 5.3.1, in special situations where requirements criteria provided by the present
standard cannot be satisfied, deviations from the given rules shall be reported and motivations shall be
explained and then checked and agreed by an independent expert.
For each requirement that is not satisfied by the numerical model, a certain amount of points, called
penalty points, are given. The description of the penalty points is reported in Table K.1.
Table K.1 — Penalty points description
Value Description
3 Simplification
5 Minor deviation
7 Important deviation
10 Strong deviation
20 Very strong deviation
The evaluation is divided in 5 sections:
— Vehicle model
— Vehicle restraint system/Passive safety device model
— Comparison table
— Verification evaluation criteria
— Reporting
The penalty points for each section shall be summed up. Once the final section score is obtained, a 5-stars
rating is awarded according to Table K.2.
SIST EN 16303:2020/oprA1:2024
EN 16303:2020/prA1:2024 (E)
Table K.2 — Stars rating
Penalty points in the
Threshold Rank description
relevant section
***** (5-stars) < 5 Top ranking
**** (4-stars) < 10 Good conformity
*** (3-stars) < 20 Low conformity
** (2-stars) < 35 Very low conformity
NC ≥ 35 Non-compliant
The assignment of the penalty points score related to each section requirement is defined in Tables K.3
to Tables K.7.
Table K.3 — Ranking table for Section 1
Penalty
a
Section 1 : Vehicle model
points
Frame/Body 20
Suspension systems, front and
rear
A 3D numerical model of a
Wheels 20
real test vehicle according to
b
1.1 EN 1317-1:2010 or
Steering system 10
EN 12767:2019 including, at
least, the following part
...