CEN/TS 16786 is the European Technical Specification that defines crash-test requirements for Truck Mounted Attenuators (TMAs) used in road construction and maintenance. Published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), it establishes three speed classes (50, 80, 100 km/h), test vehicle masses, impact angles, and severity indices that TMAs must pass to be certified for European road-work deployment.
What does CEN/TS 16786 cover?
CEN/TS 16786 specifies how whole Truck Mounted Attenuator systems are tested under impact conditions. TMAs protect occupants of vehicles that collide with the rear of stationary or slow-moving trucks in road-work zones. During an impact, the host truck (the "mobile carrier") is accelerated forward as the colliding vehicle decelerates — which is why the specification covers the carrier-plus-attenuator as a single system rather than the attenuator alone.
It is the European equivalent of the American MASH 2016 standard.
Who publishes CEN/TS 16786?
CEN/TS 16786 is published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The "TS" prefix denotes a Technical Specification — a CEN document type used for emerging or rapidly developing fields, sitting one tier below a full European Norm (EN).
What are the CEN/TS 16786 speed classes?
The specification defines three speed classes based on the maximum certified impact velocity:
- Speed Class 50 — 50 km/h impact
- Speed Class 80 — 80 km/h impact
- Speed Class 100 — 100 km/h impact (the standard for highway and expressway deployment)
Each class requires distinct impact tests with different vehicle masses and approach angles.
What are the test vehicles and impact angles?
Tests use two specified vehicle masses to cover passenger-car and light-commercial-vehicle scenarios:
- 900 kg — small passenger car
- 2,000 kg — large passenger car or light commercial vehicle
Both head-on centred impacts and 10° offset impacts are required, replicating the real-world scenario where a driver attempts to swerve at the last moment.
How is a TMA evaluated under CEN/TS 16786?
Four evaluation criteria must be met during every required test:
- Structural adequacy — the TMA must achieve controlled stopping of the impacting vehicle
- Deformation — no TMA component may penetrate the passenger compartment of the impacting vehicle
- Trajectory — the impacting vehicle must not roll over during or after impact
- Severity indices — Acceleration Severity Index (ASI) and Theoretical Head Impact Velocity (THIV) must remain within prescribed maximums
What is "roll ahead distance" and why does it matter?
Roll ahead distance is how far the host truck (mobile carrier) moves forward during impact. It is a critical safety measurement because road workers are typically positioned in front of the support vehicle — the shorter the roll ahead, the safer the working area. CEN/TS 16786 requires roll ahead to be measured and reported as part of every certification test.
What test conditions does CEN/TS 16786 specify?
Beyond the impacts themselves, the standard defines exact conditions for the test site and equipment:
- Test surface type and friction requirements
- Impacting vehicle specifications — mass, dimensions, age, and condition
- Mobile carrier setup — transmission, brake configuration, steering angle
- The full test matrix for each speed class
This level of detail ensures that certification tests are reproducible across different test facilities and laboratories.
What documentation is required for certification?
Every CEN/TS 16786 certification test must produce a documentation package including:
- Video and photographic evidence of the impact
- Vehicle deformation measurements
- Trajectory data
- ASI and THIV severity-index calculations
- Detailed damage assessment of both the TMA and the impacting vehicle
Why does CEN/TS 16786 compliance matter?
For contractors, road authorities, and procurement teams across Europe, CEN/TS 16786 compliance is the proof that a TMA has been rigorously crash-tested under realistic conditions. The standard establishes a common safety baseline recognised across European member states — meaning a TMA certified to Speed Class 100 in one country is accepted across the rest of the European market.
For an overview of how CEN/TS 16786 fits alongside the American MASH 2016 standard and Danish road-work requirements, see Safety Equipment for Road Work: CEN/TS 16786 and MASH 2016 Standards.
Where does NTS fit in?
NTS supplies truck-mounted attenuator systems and trailer-mounted attenuators for European road-work deployments. The BLADE EU TMA distributed by NTS is certified to CEN/TS 16786 Speed Class 100 — the highest certification tier, suitable for highway and expressway deployment. Contact NTS to confirm certification details for specific configurations.
Frequently asked questions
What is CEN/TS 16786?
CEN/TS 16786 is the European Technical Specification for Truck Mounted Attenuators. It defines crash-test requirements, three speed classes (50, 80, 100 km/h), test vehicle masses, impact angles, severity indices, and documentation requirements for TMA certification across European member states.
Who publishes CEN/TS 16786?
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN). "TS" stands for Technical Specification, a CEN document tier used when a standard is still evolving — one step below a full European Norm (EN).
What is the difference between CEN/TS 16786 and MASH 2016?
Both standards govern Truck Mounted Attenuators, but CEN/TS 16786 is European and uses a speed-class system (50, 80, 100 km/h), while MASH 2016 is American and uses a test-level system (TL-2, TL-3). MASH specifies heavier test vehicles than CEN/TS 16786 and includes mandatory angled and off-centre impact tests, but the two standards are not mutually recognised — equipment must be certified to the relevant regional standard.
What does CEN/TS 16786 Speed Class 100 mean?
Speed Class 100 indicates that a TMA has been certified for impact velocities up to 100 km/h. It is the highest tier in the specification and is required for deployment on highways and expressways across Europe.
Are NTS TMA systems CEN/TS 16786 certified?
Yes — the BLADE EU TMA distributed by NTS is certified to CEN/TS 16786 Speed Class 100, suitable for highway and expressway road-work deployment across the European market.