Inland navigation vessels - Railings for decks and side decks - Requirements, designs and types; German version EN 711:2016
1Key Takeaways
This European Standard applies to deck and side deck railings of inland waterway vessels. It specifies the structural types, dimensions, strength requirements, and test conditions that must be followed for safety reasons. Railings are used to protect personnel from falling from the vessel.
2Expert Interpretation
An in-depth look at the EN 711:2016 standard for deck and side deck railings on inland waterways vessels, covering design requirements, structural types, material specifications, and safety testing requirements. This section analyzes the different protection standards for commercial and passenger areas, providing implementation guidance for compliance with international safety regulations.
Interpretation of the core content of the EN 711:2016 standard
EN 711:2016 "Inland navigation vessels - Deck and side deck handrails - Requirements, design and types" is an important safety standard issued by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), which replaces the 1995 version of EN 711:1995. This standard sets out detailed technical specifications for handrail systems in the deck and side deck areas of inland vessels, aiming to prevent people from falling into the water and falling from height.
Analysis of the main updated contents of the standard
Compared with the 1995 version, EN 711:2016 has undergone a comprehensive technical upgrade, mainly including 17 major revisions:
| Updated items | 1995 edition | 2016 edition | Safety significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title definition | Brief description | Clearly distinguish between requirements and types | Enhance the applicability of the standard |
| Spring element definition | Undefined | Added 3.7 to clarify the definition | Improve the technical terminology system |
| Kickboard position | Not clearly specified | 4.1 to clarify the installation position | Prevent personnel Slide out |
| Climbing restrictions on passenger ships | Not prohibited | Design of climbing structures is explicitly prohibited | Enhanced fall protection safety |
| Material requirements | Plastic ropes are allowed | Only steel wire ropes are allowed (Article 4.1) | Improve material strength standards |
Guarding types and applicable areas
The standard divides guardrail systems into two categories and six specific types according to the use areas:
Commercial areas (working areas): including CF (fixed), CT (tippable), and CD (detachable), which are mainly used in cargo operation areas and staff activity areas. Passenger Areas: These include PF (Perimeter Panel), PG (Vertical Barrier), and PZ (Zone Bar). These are specifically designed for passenger safety and require higher standards of protection. The standard specifies the dimensions of each railing component: railing height is 950 ± 50 mm for general areas and a minimum of 1100 mm for areas with limited mobility. The spacing between columns varies from 800 to 3000 mm depending on the type of railing. The height of the skirting board from the deck must be 50 mm.
Strength Requirements
According to Table 3, commercial area railings must withstand a horizontal load of 500 N/m and a maximum allowable deflection of 50 mm. Passenger areas have even higher requirements, requiring a load of 1000 N/m with a deflection not exceeding 25 mm.
Material Selection and Corrosion Protection
Clause 5.3 of the standard specifies that all railing components must possess durable weathering protection. Steel components other than stainless steel must be hot-dip galvanized (in accordance with EN ISO 1461), and wire ropes and chains must be protected against corrosion (e.g., galvanized in accordance with ISO 2232).
Implementation Recommendations and Compliance Guide
To ensure compliance with EN 711:2016, ship designers and builders are advised to:
1. Identify the type of handrails for each area during the design phase and select appropriate handrail structures according to Table 1
2. Strictly select materials and dimensions according to Table A.1, or perform appropriate strength calculations and verification
3. Pay particular attention to not using materials such as heat-strengthened glass in passenger areas that lose their protective function upon breakage
4. Adopt the design examples provided in Appendix B for the transition area between mooring equipment and bulwarks
5. Establish a comprehensive inspection system, including strength calculations, visual inspections, and dimensional measurements
Significance and Safety Benefits of Standard Implementation
The implementation of EN 711:2016 has significantly improved deck safety on inland vessels. Through clear technical requirements and test methods, it provides a unified standard for ship design, construction, and inspection, effectively reducing the number of fall accidents. The enhanced requirements for passenger areas, in particular, embody a people-oriented safety philosophy.
This standard has been adopted as a national standard by 28 EU member states and countries such as Switzerland and Norway, forming a unified technical specification system for inland waterway vessel safety, which plays an important role in promoting inland waterway shipping safety.