Austroads Safety Barrier Assessment Panel
The Austroads Safety Barrier Assessment Panel (ASBAP) implements the Duty of Care requirement for Australian/New Zealand Road Agencies to assess the crashworthiness and suitability of road safety barriers, systems and devices for deployment on roads under their care and control; providing agencies with recommendations on product use. ASBAP provides recommendations to participating road agencies, removing the need for each jurisdiction to individually assess products.
ASBAP uses a structured system to assess products proposed for deployment in Australia and New Zealand. Products are evaluated in accordance with AS/NZS 3845 in relation to testing protocols and other information, the Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice published by Safe Work Australia, and the Safety in Design requirements of the Work Health and Safety Acts enacted by Australian State Governments. The assessment process streamlines operations for road agencies and ensures they meet their due diligence obligations.
Participating Agencies
- Transport for NSW
- Department of Transport Victoria
- Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Main Roads Western Australia
- Department for Infrastructure and Transport South Australia
- Department of State Growth Tasmania
- Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Northern Territory
- Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate, Australian Capital Territory
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is important to install safety barriers?
Run-off-road crashes are one of the most common types of crashes in urban environments. Installing high performance safety barriers can create a safer roadside environment for road workers, pedestrians, bicycle riders, motorcyclists and drivers by preventing errant vehicles from leaving the roadway and instead directing the vehicle towards the traffic lane.
What is the purpose of ASBAP?
ASBAP assesses the crashworthiness and suitability of road safety barriers, systems and devices for deployment on roads managed by Australian/New Zealand transport agencies.
Is crash testing alone sufficient justification for ASBAP acceptance?
No. Crash test performance alone is not sufficient justification for acceptance of a product.
What technical assessments are undertaken by ASBAP?
The ASBAP evaluation includes consideration of the following:
- Documentation and training material provided for installation, maintenance and repair.
- The safety barriers’ ability to reduce the severity of injuries to vulnerable road users.
- Component durability.
- Work health and safety during installation and maintenance.
- Ease with which maintenance can be undertaken including the requirement to use specialised tools and the expected time to replace damaged components following impact.
- Installation on a range of foundations.
What risk assessments are undertaken by ASBAP?
ASBAP’s risk assessment is to ensure that safety barriers and road safety devices installed on Australian/New Zealand roads under the care and control of individual Road Agencies support road safety objectives and minimise risk to errant vehicle occupants, other road users, including vulnerable road users (e.g. motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians) and road workers.
What is the ASBAP Technical Conditions for Use?
When ASBAP determines that a product is ‘recommended for use’, Technical Conditions for Use are issued. ASBAP may withdraw or modify at any time, the ‘recommendation for acceptance’ or ‘technical conditions’ without notice.
Does ASBAP acceptance of a road safety barrier provide automatic acceptance by the participating road agencies?
No. Austroads Technical Conditions of Use do not imply that products may be used on roads under the care and control of individual Road Agencies. Each participating road agency will issue acceptance documents for products.
Are ASBAP meetings publicly accessible?
No. Given the commercial sensitivity of product information, meetings are not open to those outside the participating jurisdictions.
How often does ASBAP meet?
Typically, ASBAP meetings are held every three (3) months.
What is an ASBAP Technical Advice?
From time-to-time ASBAP may issue Technical Advice Notes which are designed to assist safety barrier system designers, installers and managers to ensure that such systems are deployed safely and effectively.
