LED flashing Beacons, reg 65 beacons, chapter 8 beacons

The regulation ECE R65 (R65) is a United Nations standard for beacons, light bars and other vehicle warning lamps. This regulation is designed to ensure that certain key standards governing light output, light dispersion, flash frequency and colour are being met. Cold start, heat resistance and water ingress are also measured under the R65 standard.

Traffic Signs Manual ‘Chapter 8’ are a series of traffic safety measures for vehicles on road works and temporary situations. They include specific recommendations for vehicle warnings, including beacons, when a vehicle is stopped on the road for inspections or works purposes, as well as entering, leaving or moving within a work site and when travelling in traffic at less than usual traffic speed (slow moving vehicles). Recommendations included say that vehicles should be equipped with either a roof mounted, flashing, amber, warning light bar (made up of at least two independent light sources) or alternatively two independent, roof mounted, flashing, amber, warning beacons which are visible through 360°. All work vehicles in Europe must be fitted with R65 approved products; although in the UK this is not yet mandatory, Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual recommends that R65 approved products are still used. A large number of the UK fleet operators and insurance companies have therefore adopted the guidelines which set out in this manual as a matter of best practice.

R65 products are tested under stringent laboratory conditions, and once approved are issued with a certificate. The ‘E’ mark must also be clearly displayed on the product. Every beacon, Light Bar or directional lamp is tested for light intensity and light dispersion to meet set conditions for Class I or Class II (night and day intensity levels) for its colour range and category. Work vehicle operators using R65 approved equipment can be confident they meet the necessary standards in all markets and countries which have adopted ECE Regulation 65.