EN 12642-XL Rated Vehicle Bodies for Enhanced Load Security
Fitzgerald’s Vehicle Body Builders can provide EN 12642-XL commercial vehicle body solutions designed for operators who require enhanced body strength and load security.
EN 12642 is the European standard covering the minimum structural requirements for commercial vehicle and trailer bodies. Code XL applies to reinforced vehicle body structures and sets higher strength requirements than the standard Code L specification.
What is EN 12642-XL?
EN 12642-XL considers the strength of the vehicle body structure, including the front wall, rear wall and side walls. For Code XL structures, the standard specifies test forces equivalent to 50% of payload at the front, 40% at the sides and 30% at the rear.
This makes EN 12642-XL particularly relevant to commercial transport operators where the vehicle body itself is intended to contribute to securing and containing the load.
EN 12642-XL Curtain Sider Bodies
The distinction is particularly important for curtain side vehicles. On a standard curtainsider, the curtains should generally be regarded as weather protection rather than a load restraint system. The HSA states that unless the curtains and trailer body are purposely designed according to EN 12642-XL, the curtains must not be considered part of the load restraint system.
An XL-rated body must therefore be designed, constructed and verified as a complete system. Simply fitting stronger or XL-rated curtains to a standard body does not make the complete vehicle EN 12642-XL compliant.
Built Around Your Transport Requirements
Fitzgerald’s Vehicle Body Builders can work with fleet operators, transport companies and vehicle dealers to develop commercial vehicle bodies with EN 12642-XL requirements in mind, combining robust construction with practical solutions for everyday loading and distribution.
The appropriate body specification and load restraint requirements will depend on the cargo being transported and how the vehicle is loaded. An XL-rated body does not mean additional load securing is unnecessary in every situation; each load and application must still be properly assessed.