EN 12811-4:2013
(Main)Temporary works equipment - Part 4: Protection fans for scaffolds - Performance requirements and product design
General Information
- Abstract
This European Standard specifies product requirements, methods of structural and general design and tests for protection fans for scaffolds to protect workers as well as members of public from objects that may fall off the outside edge of scaffolds being used close to where they are working or passing by.
This European Standard only applies to protection fans while the scaffold is being used as a working place.
Protection fans attached to structures other than scaffolds as defined in EN 12811 1 are outside the scope of this European Standard.
This European Standard applies only to protection fan systems on to which construction debris may fall from 24 m or less.
This European Standard ensures resistance of protection fans for most blunt falling objects representing an impacting energy not exceeding 720 J.
NOTE This energy corresponds to a 3 kg object falling from 24 m.
This European Standard does not cover the requirements for the total area to be protected against falling items.
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 26-Nov-2013
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 53 - Temporary works equipment
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 53/WG 13 - Protection Fans on Scaffolds
- Current Stage
- 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
- Start Date
- 03-Dec-2024
- Completion Date
- 17-Sep-2026
Overview
EN 12811-4:2013 - Temporary works equipment: Part 4 - Protection fans for scaffolds - defines performance requirements, product design methods and test procedures for protection fans attached to scaffolds. The standard applies to protection fan systems intended to arrest construction debris or blunt falling objects from heights of 24 m or less, and ensures resistance to impacts with an energy up to 720 J (equivalent to a 3 kg object falling from 24 m). It covers material selection, structural design, classification, testing, marking and product documentation while clarifying limits (e.g., it does not cover the total protected area or fans attached to non-scaffold structures).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & limits
- Applies only while the scaffold is used as a working place and only to scaffold-attached protection fans.
- Maximum design impact energy covered: 720 J.
- Classification
- Classes for snow load (SL0 / SL1), shape (V0 / V1) and width (B1–B7) to standardize product families and performance claims.
- Materials
- Material-specific requirements for steel, timber and aluminium components are specified; compatibility with scaffold components is required.
- Design and structural requirements
- Structural design methods reference Eurocode principles and include rules for arresting surfaces, external supports, fixings and partial safety factors.
- Special provisions for timber elements and connections are included.
- Actions and load combinations
- Defines permanent and variable imposed loads, and variable imposed load classes relevant for protection fans.
- Testing & verification
- Test procedures describe representative test samples, impactor characteristics, test setup and required results to demonstrate compliance.
- Test reports and product manuals are required to document assessed configurations and installation instructions.
- Marking & documentation
- Product manuals and marking requirements ensure traceability, safe installation and use.
Applications and users
- Who uses it
- Scaffold manufacturers, component designers, rental companies, façade contractors, site safety managers, certifying bodies and local authorities.
- Practical uses
- Urban construction and renovation projects where scaffolds are erected over public areas, pavements or roads; any site where falling debris could hit workers or passers-by.
- Standardizes selection, installation and testing of protection fans to reduce the risk from falling objects and support compliance with work-at-height regulations.
Related standards
- EN 12811 series (Part 1: scaffolds; Part 2: materials; Part 3: load testing)
- EN 74 (couplers and connections)
- Eurocodes referenced for structural design: EN 1990 / EN 1993 / EN 1995 / EN 1999
Keywords: EN 12811-4:2013, protection fans for scaffolds, temporary works equipment, scaffold safety, falling objects, performance requirements, product design, impact testing, 720 J.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
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German Institute for Building Technology.
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 12811-4:2013 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Temporary works equipment - Part 4: Protection fans for scaffolds - Performance requirements and product design". This standard covers: This European Standard specifies product requirements, methods of structural and general design and tests for protection fans for scaffolds to protect workers as well as members of public from objects that may fall off the outside edge of scaffolds being used close to where they are working or passing by. This European Standard only applies to protection fans while the scaffold is being used as a working place. Protection fans attached to structures other than scaffolds as defined in EN 12811 1 are outside the scope of this European Standard. This European Standard applies only to protection fan systems on to which construction debris may fall from 24 m or less. This European Standard ensures resistance of protection fans for most blunt falling objects representing an impacting energy not exceeding 720 J. NOTE This energy corresponds to a 3 kg object falling from 24 m. This European Standard does not cover the requirements for the total area to be protected against falling items.
This European Standard specifies product requirements, methods of structural and general design and tests for protection fans for scaffolds to protect workers as well as members of public from objects that may fall off the outside edge of scaffolds being used close to where they are working or passing by. This European Standard only applies to protection fans while the scaffold is being used as a working place. Protection fans attached to structures other than scaffolds as defined in EN 12811 1 are outside the scope of this European Standard. This European Standard applies only to protection fan systems on to which construction debris may fall from 24 m or less. This European Standard ensures resistance of protection fans for most blunt falling objects representing an impacting energy not exceeding 720 J. NOTE This energy corresponds to a 3 kg object falling from 24 m. This European Standard does not cover the requirements for the total area to be protected against falling items.
EN 12811-4:2013 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 91.220 - Construction equipment. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 12811-4:2013 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 1999-1-1:2023, EN 74-3:2007, EN 12811-1:2003, EN 74-2:2022, EN 1995-1-1:2025, EN 1993-1-1:2022, EN 12811-2:2004, EN 338:2016, EN 12810-1:2003, EN 74-1:2022+A1:2025, EN 17293:2020. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 12811-4:2013 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Temporäre Konstruktionen für Bauwerke - Teil 4: Schutzdächer für Arbeitsgerüste - Leistungsanforderungen, Entwurf, Konstruktion und Bemessung des ProduktsÉquipements temporaires de chantiers - Partie 4: Pare-gravats pour échafaudages - Exigences de performance et conception du produitTemporary works equipment - Part 4: Protection fans for scaffolds - Performance requirements and product design91.220Gradbena opremaConstruction equipmentICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 12811-4:2013SIST EN 12811-4:2014en01-februar-2014SIST EN 12811-4:2014SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 12811-4
November 2013 ICS 91.220 English Version
Temporary works equipment - Part 4: Protection fans for scaffolds - Performance requirements and product design
Équipements temporaires de chantiers - Partie 4: Pare-gravats pour échafaudages - Exigences de performance et conception du produit
Temporäre Konstruktionen für Bauwerke - Teil 4: Schutzdächer für Arbeitsgerüste - Leistungsanforderungen, Entwurf, Konstruktion und Bemessung des Produkts This European Standard was approved by CEN on 28 September 2013.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2013 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 12811-4:2013: ESIST EN 12811-4:2014
(a) example of a horizontal protection fan (b) example of an inclined protection fan
Key 1 ties 2 protection fan 3 fan tie 4 scaffold 5 stiff structure Figure 1 — Examples of protection fan systems 3.1 protection fan system set of interconnected components used for the purpose of arresting falling objects, which includes (a) an assessed set of configurations and (b) the product manual 3.2 component part of a protection fan system which cannot be dismantled further Note 1 to entry: For example a support or a vertical frame. 3.3 element integral part of a component Note 1 to entry: For example a welded connection. 3.4 connection device device for the connection of components 3.5 configuration particular arrangement of connected components 3.6 protection fan configuration configuration of
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