As of 1 January 2013, vertical (permanent) signs must mandatorily be CE marked in accordance with the harmonised European standard UNI EN 12899:2008. In addition, with the entry into force on 1 July 2013 of Construction Products Regulation (CPR) 305/2011/EU, which replaces the Construction Products Directive (CPD), an important new feature has been introduced: Declarations of Product Performance replacing Declarations of Product Conformity
For the purposes of the application of UNI EN 12899:2008 at national level, the Ministry suggests with the directive of 5 August 2013 to refer to UNI 11480:2013 for the definition of technical-functional requirements for vertical signs, specifying among other things the values of wind resistance, taking into account the national average conditions.
The UNI 11480:2013 standard, published on 7 March 2013, aims to put road management bodies in a position to draw up (technical) specifications for the vertical signage section in compliance with the standards and to allow the application of the standards in compliance with the Regulation of execution and implementation of the new Highway Code, application decrees, circulars and the recent UNI and UNI EN regulations on road safety.
The value of UNI 11480:2013 - drafted with the contribution of the Ministry itself, of many Assosegnaletica member manufacturers and of operators in the road supply chain - is to create a clear dividing line between compliant and non-compliant products. For this reason, Assosegnaletica is playing an active role in disseminating it to manufacturers and users in the road supply chain, reminding them of their respective responsibilities:
- the firsts (manufacturers, agents, importers and distributors) are liable for the production, placing on the market and trade of the products
- the seconds (designers, construction or site managers, users, public and private companies or bodies) are liable for the purchase and use of vertical road signs, which must bear the CE marking.
On 16 June 2016, the new edition of UNI 11480 "Guideline for the definition of technical-functional requirements for vertical (permanent) signs in application of UNI EN 12899-1:2008" was published, which incorporates the indications of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) contained in Directive Prot. no. 4867 of 5 August 2013 - "Instructions and guidelines for the supply and installation of road signs" and updated with Directive Prot. no. 5373 of 7 September 2017.
Finally, it should be noted that on 10 July 2017, Legislative Decree No. 106 of 16 June 2017 "Adaptation of national legislation to the provisions of Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011 (CPR), which establishes harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products (including vertical signs) and repealing Directive 89/106/EC" was published.
For further information please consult the Manuale Assosegnaletica - Segnaletica Verticale.