Trailers and vehicles built to the EN 12642 XL standard can withstand a minimum of 40% of the rated payload to the side - without extra load securing - when following the manufacturer’s guidance.
DVSA accept an EN 12642 XL rated vehicle/trailer keeping 50% of the rated payload to the side without any extra securing, as long as the load fills the entire load area to the front, rear and to within 80mm of the side. This is often called a ‘positive fit’.
It’s acceptable to fit lateral bulkheads or use packing material to fill any gaps in the load to guarantee positive fit when loading.
Using XL rated vehicles to transport diminishing or part loads isn’t ideal but it’s still possible as long as the following are met:-
any gaps created by a diminishing load are blocked keeping a positive fit
a partial load which doesn’t fill the load area has extra securing - this should be enough to meet the DfT rules: 50% to the side, rear and 100% to the front
For example, the use of rated lashing straps across the rear of the load must provide security for 50% of the entire load. This will secure the load in the same way as the rear of the vehicle would for a full load.
Or, the load should be secured as it would in a non-‘XL’ rated vehicle.
The EN 12642 XL standard refers to the entire vehicle or trailer and not just the curtains. So, reinforced curtains fitted to an ordinary trailer don’t meet the XL standard. There’s no such thing as an ‘XL curtain’.
XL-rated bodies have stickers in prominent positions - usually on the rear door or front bulkhead - to show they meet the standard.
The curtains of an XL-rated body also have to be built to EN 12641.
Stickers confirming this are usually found on the inside of the curtains at the rear of the body.
XL stickers should provide the following information:
confirmation that the body structure - not just the curtain sides - meets the EN 12642 XL standard
the name of the vehicle or trailer manufacturer
the year of manufacture
XL bodies are also given a certificate, specific to the vehicle tested, from the organisation responsible for testing vehicles and trailers to the standard.
The Vehicle Certification Agency does this in the UK.
There’s no need to carry this certificate with the vehicle or trailer. But you may find it useful to either provide a copy of the certificate or other documentation so they can be shown to enforcement authorities at the roadside.
Some vehicles are tested to a higher standard than EN 12642 so that they can carry larger or unusual loads. In these cases, DVSA expects you to be able to show the relevant certificate at the roadside.
gov.uk/government/publicati … r-guidance
Hope that helps
