BULL BAR STANDARDS

After years and years of speculation over the controversial bull bar matter on road registered vehicles, finally a resolution has been reached. The new safety standard applying to protection bars for new model vehicles first introduced after the 1^st of January 2003, can be found in the publication of the Australian Standard for Motor Vehicle Frontal Protection Systems.

 

The new safety standard will apply to protection bars for new model vehicles first introduced after January 1^st 2003, meaning current products on the market all ready fitted to registered vehicles are not affected.

 

Protection bars must have a profile that follows the shape and design of the vehicle for which the bar is manufactured, bars must also have all exposed edges free of burrs or sharp edges, all forward facing edges must have a radius greater than 5mm and have no open ended frame members because the focus will be on design and geometric requirements.

 

All accessories like lights, winches, aerials or anything else situated on the bar must not project forward past the protection bar’s most forward profile.

 

 This standard also states that the fitting of front protection bars must not compromise the vehicle’s compliance with any ADR’s, obviously includes ADR69 which covers safely systems including impact protection (airbags).

 

For all new vehicles first introduced after January 2005 all protection bars that are above 1m high from the roads surface when fitted to each applicable vehicle will have to pass a safety performance test.

 

These new standards have been legislated in Australia and are now law, meaning any product that does not meet the requirements of the hew standard for new vehicles will therefore be illegal.

 

Most bullbars manufacturers see the finalisation of this standard as positive step for the industry.

 

The view is that now finally there is a credible standard that answers all concerns over protection bars.

 

The requirements of the standard are high, but most companies such as ECB believe they are still achievable.

 

The standard was developed in agreement too many involved parties including the protection bar industry, vehicle manufacturers, government traffic bodies in Australia and New Zealand, peak motoring bodies and insurance companies, universities and customer and health and safety groups.

 

Don't forget to check out our huge protection bar range we can do full bumper replacement bars, loop/profile bars & nudge bars for a range of 4wd's, 2wd passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and trucks.

 

Just remember if you don't see it on our website doesn’t mean we don't do it drop us a line and find out.