The Red Book recommends high visibility rear chevrons on vehicles


The Red Book gets


many things right for operatives, but has


missed the opportunity to provide guidance


Providing guidance


The publication of the Red Book last October has created renewed interest in the compliance of these works and the products used to sign, guard and light them. It does a good job of presenting information simply and uses diagrams and tables to concisely convey some of the information needed by operatives. But in keeping it simple, some important things have been missed. This article highlights a few of these.


Traffi c signs


Very little is said in the book about the temporary signs used in street works and roadworks. In fact there is a British Standard to which they should comply – BS 8442. All signs must be fully refl ectorised (apart from black symbols and text) and, of course, they need to be consistent with the TSRGD sign diagrams.


The Red Book indicates that the standard of refl ectorisation of signs “be of the correct class for the speed of road,” but doesn’t tell specifi ers where to fi nd guidance on what classes to use where. The national annex of BS EN 12899-1:2007 provides the only published guidance on this.


Sizes of signs to use


The table on the inside back cover of the Red Book details, among other things, the size of signs to use on


different types and speeds of roads. The faster the approaching traffi c, the more room to slow or stop is required. This is achieved by using larger signs on faster roads to increase the distance from which warning signs can be recognised. This information should be consistent with Chapter 8, yet is not in the case of single carriageway roads with a speed limit of 50mph or more. As we all know, single carriageway roads with 50mph and derestricted speed limits make up a large proportion of our network. Yet on these roads, which seldom have steet lighting or room for run out, the Red Book informs operatives that 750mm high signs are to be used and not 900mm as instructed by Chapter 8.


Vehicle requirements


The Red Book requires that vehicles used for mobile or short duration works be conspicuous and strongly recommends high visibility rear chevrons to achieve this. In fact Chapter 8 provides all the specifi cs on size, angle, colour and type of materials to use for the alternating stripes and on the overall coverage of the marking on the vehicle.


High visibility clothing


The Red Book states that these garments must conform to BS EN 471. However, BS EN 471 has been revised and republished as an international standard – ISO BS EN 20471. While it will be possible for a little while to purchase garments that comply


to those selecting and purchasing products


Liz Newell-Hart, chairman of the Retrorefl ective Equipment Manufacturers Association (REMA), responds to questions and comments that the association has received from specifi ers on different products described in the revised version of ‘Safety at street works and road works: a code of practice’


and are certifi ed with BS EN 471, all future compliance testing and certifi cation for these garments will be to ISO BS EN 20471. The important point to remember when specifying high visibility warning clothing for professional use is that operatives need to be seen by day and at night when working at street works and roadworks. It is vital that the garments they wear have refl ective braces over the shoulder in addition to the horizontal bands to ensure that the visibility of operatives is maintained even when they are bent over in their tasks.


The Red Book gets many things right for operatives, but has missed the opportunity to provide guidance to those selecting and purchasing products. Many companies that manufacture the equipment (signs, cones, barriers, high visibility garments, conspicuity vehicle markings, lamps) used in street works and roadworks are members of REMA. The association produces a series of guidance notes for the equipment used to sign, guard and light street works and roadworks. These guidance notes provide straightforward information for specifi ers on the specifi cation and use of products to enable specifi ers and purchaser to get compliant products and use them correctly.


REMA manufacturers’ produce products with compliance built in. For further information visit www.rema.org.uk


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