EN 13422: what the standard really requires of your traffic cones
Retroreflection classes, wind stability, cold-weather impact resistance, marking: we decode the European standard for traffic cones and cylinders — and what to check before you buy.
EN 13422 is the European reference standard for portable traffic cones and cylinders. First published in 2004 and amended in 2009 (EN 13422:2004+A1:2009), it was fully revised in 2019: EN 13422:2019, approved by CEN in September 2019, now supersedes the earlier editions.
In practical terms, the standard defines the minimum visual and physical performance characteristics of a new cone, together with the test methods used to verify them and communicate them to the buyer.
What the standard covers
Retroreflection: classes R1, R2 and R3
This is the heart of the standard. Cones are classified R1, R2 or R3 according to the minimum coefficient of retroreflection of their reflective sleeve — in other words, how well they bounce headlight beams back towards the driver. The higher the class, the more visible the cone is at night and from a distance.
An A suffix (R1A, R2A, R3A) indicates that the product also meets the optional requirement measured at a 2° observation angle — representative of a driver close to the cone, in a high cab for instance.
In practice: for night-time use, on fast roads or motorways, specify class R2 as a minimum. That is the choice we made at EHS with the Orafol 5934 high-intensity prismatic film, fitted as standard on our REVO cones.
Colour and daytime visibility
The standard also sets chromaticity and luminance requirements for the cone body. A bright, durable orange is not a styling choice: it is a safety requirement. A quality fluorescent colour, pigmented through the material, keeps its daytime visibility for the whole life of the product.
Physical performance
The standard provides performance levels and tests for:
- Stability: the cone has to stay put under defined wind conditions — a cone lying on its side no longer signals anything;
- Cold-weather resistance: impact and drop tests at low temperature, precisely where rigid plastics turn brittle;
- General endurance in worksite conditions.
This is where flexible PVC makes the difference: it absorbs the impact and springs back into shape, where a rigid cone cracks or shatters.
Marking and traceability
A compliant cone must be marked so that its manufacturer and its performance can be identified. That is what allows a safety coordinator or a client to check, on site, that the equipment installed matches what was specified.
National usage rules
EN 13422 defines product performance, but where and how cones are deployed on the road network is governed by national traffic regulations — in France, for instance, the interministerial instruction on road signing (IISR, part 8, “temporary signing”), where the cone is designated a K5a beacon used for lane closures, tapers and emergency marking.
In short: national rules tell you where and how to use a cone; EN 13422 tells you what it has to be worth.
What to check before buying
- The reference to EN 13422 and the version cited;
- The retroreflection class of the sleeve (R1, R2, R3), matched to your worksites;
- The availability of the manufacturer’s test reports or certificates;
- The marking on the product itself.
At EHS, the entire REVO range (500, 750 and 1000 mm) complies with EN 13422. Our data sheets and test reports are available on request.
Sources
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