By submitting a product for assessment, the proponent certifies that they have the legal right and authority to provide the information and agrees that all information may be used by road agencies for their business activities. Product information and design parameters for recommended products may be published for public information.
All submissions must be made via the Online Submission Portal
Documentation Pre-assessment
Upon electronic receipt of a submission via the Austroads Safety Barrier Assessment Submission Portal the Secretariat will ensure that the submission contains all of the required documentation. Submission status is ‘submission received’.
Incomplete submissions will not proceed to Technical Pre-assessment and the submission status will be marked as ‘submission – rejected(incomplete)’. Submission assigned this status will not be considered by the Panel and a new and complete submission will be required.
Technical Pre-Assessment
Submissions are assigned to one or two Panel members to undertake an initial technical pre-assessment. The submissions status will be updated to ‘assigned pre-assessment’. Following technical pre-assessment submissions progress to a full technical and risk assessment.
Technical and Risk Assessment
The technical and risk assessment is undertaken by the Panel to determine the risk to road users and stakeholders. The assessment is based on Australian/New Zealand Standard 3845 Road Safety Barrier Systems and Devices Part 1 and Part 2, which provides a framework for evaluating safety barrier products.
The assessment of safety barrier system and device attributes may affect the panel recommendation and technical conditions for use. The evaluation includes consideration of the following:
- Documentation and training material provided for installation, maintenance and repair
- Full-scale crash testing
- Justification for waiving required tests
- Ability to withstand a second impact
- The devices ability to reduce the severity of injuries to vulnerable road users
- Component durability
- Work health and safety during installation and maintenance
- Ease with which maintenance can be undertaken including the requirement to use specialised tools and the expected time to replace damaged components following impact
- Installation on a range of foundations
Crash test performance alone is not sufficient justification for acceptance of a product.
The Panel assesses the submission based on the following:
- Evaluation of risk associated with operational performance and safety of road safety barriers and road safety devices, as well as compliance with crash test procedures.
- Ensuring that safety barriers and road safety devices installed on Australian/New Zealand roads under the care and control of individual Road Agencies support road safety objectives and minimise risk to errant vehicle occupants, other road users, including vulnerable road users (e.g. motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians) and road workers.
- Providing guidance on Technical Conditions for Use.
Assessment Outcomes and Feedback
Once the Panel has made a recommendation the submission status will be updated to ‘Panel outcome’.
Based on the assessment, the Panel assigns one of the following outcomes:
- Recommended for Use: The product is recommended as suitable for use.
- NOT Recommended for Use: The product is not recommended as suitable for use.
- Phase Out: Existing installations can remain in service until the end of service life, no new installations permitted after a specified date.
- Legacy: Existing installations can remain in service until the end of service life. No new installations permitted.
Assessment outcome letters will be provided to Proponents. Letters for products ‘not recommended for use’ will outline the reasons for the Panel’s determination. Submissions will be assigned one of the above outcomes.
Technical Conditions for Use
All products ‘recommended for use’ will have Technical Conditions for Use determined by the Panel. Recommendations for use are issued without an expiry date, however the Panel may re-assess a product, withdraw or modify Technical Conditions for Use at any time.
Use of products ‘recommended for use’ in individual jurisdictions is subject to receipt of Road Agency specific acceptance and conditions.