Penetration and debris measurement
Penetration is the greater of the dynamic and static distance from the datum line to the vehicle datum point or the furthest part. Major debris is measured to the furthest piece of at least 2 kg.
Basis. Annex A is normative; the public guidance explains the measurement. The clause number and defined terms are the standard's; the explanation is our own.
Annex A is normative. It is the measurement sheet for the test vehicle. The control ids on this site are our record codes; the citation names the annex and the clauses that supply the facts.
What annex A-06 asks
This control covers the measurement record for penetration and debris. Vehicle penetration distance is the largest perpendicular gap between the barrier datum line and either the vehicle datum (where yaw or pitch stays under 90 degrees) or the most distant point of the load bed or vehicle (where yaw or pitch reaches 90 degrees or more). It is taken during the hit or after it, whichever gives the larger figure. Major debris is a piece of the barrier, the vehicle or the ballast with a mass of at least 2 kg. The report records the distances, and the classification code carries the penetration and the debris distance after the colon.
Why it matters
The measurement is the point of the whole exercise. A static measurement taken after the vehicle has settled can be shorter than the dynamic distance reached during the impact, and the standard requires the greater of the two. A debris field measured only to the first large piece understates the hazard behind the barrier. The buyer needs both numbers, and needs to know which method produced them, because the protected side is designed around them.
What good looks like
Record the dynamic and the static penetration and take the greater. Photograph the debris field with a scale and weigh or classify the pieces at the 2 kg threshold. Record the measurement method and the accuracy. Put the penetration and debris distances into the decoded rating table and compare them with the stand-off at the site.
Evidence an assessor asks for
The reviewer will ask whether the reported penetration is dynamic or static and whether it is the greater. A single number with no method is not the clause.
- Dynamic penetration record The maximum distance during the impact, with the video frame or sensor record
- Static penetration record The distance after the vehicle has come to rest, with the datum and the measurement points
- Debris record The furthest major debris, the 2 kg threshold and the weighing or classification method
- Measurement method The equipment, the accuracy and the person who took the measurement
- Site comparison The penetration and debris distances against the protected stand-off
Where it commonly fails
- Only the static penetration is reported
- Debris is counted at 25 kg instead of the 2 kg threshold
- The furthest part of the vehicle is not measured after a severe yaw
- The measurement accuracy is not stated, so the number cannot be compared with the site stand-off
What to do before the amendment publishes
Add the dynamic and static records to the report checklist. Re-measure any rating where only one figure is available.
Read across
- 6.7 Test procedure
- 7.2 Classification code
- A-04 Datum point and reference marks
- D Post-impact foundation and VSB measurements
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