When snowy winter knocks on the door, standards are here

The first days of the New Year have brought heavy snowfall to parts of Serbia. While snow represents joy and play for children, it brings justified concern for drivers, pedestrians, and road services—slippery roads, reduced visibility, and snow-covered vehicles become a daily reality.

In such conditions, caution is necessary for everyone—from children sledding and skating to adults walking, driving, or performing daily chores. Therefore, the public eye is rightly fixed on winter services and the equipment they use. To reduce worry and increase safety, it is crucial that their operations and equipment comply with current standards.

Equipment for winter maintenance services

SRPS EN 15597-1:2020, Winter maintenance equipment - Spreading and spraying machines - Part 1: General requirements and definitions

This standard specifies requirements for the design and construction of bulk material spreaders and sprayers, spreader trailers, and towed spreaders with speed-dependent dosing for winter service. It also provides information on minimum requirements for operating instructions, which is particularly important for safe and efficient operation.

SRPS EN 15597-2:2020, Winter maintenance equipment - Spreading and spraying machines - Part 2: Requirements for distribution and their test

This standard enables the certification of vehicle and trailer models used as spreaders in winter conditions, using defined standard parameters. At the same time, it allows manufacturers room to improve performance while clearly prescribing minimum requirements for instructions for use.

Equipment for winter maintenance and road service area maintenance

SRPS EN 15431:2009, Winter and road service area maintenance equipment - Power system and related controls - Interchangeability and performance requirements

This standard applies to the power systems of equipment that drive attachments, such as snow blowers and spreaders on winter service vehicles, as well as mowers on road maintenance vehicles. Vehicles are equipped with a front-mounting plate in accordance with the EN 15432 standard, which allows for system interchangeability and contributes to its reliability.

Winter maintenance equipment and products

SRPS EN 16811 series, Winter maintenance equipment and products – De-icing agents

This series of standards establishes essential requirements for de-icing agents, such as sodium chloride (salt), calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride, which are used for gritting roads during winter. The standards cover quality testing and prescribe requirements for agents in solid form, as well as in the form of aqueous solutions delivered to users.

In all weather conditions, and especially in extreme and unusual ones, the importance of using equipment and operating in accordance with standards is clearly demonstrated. Above all, they ensure safety, quality, and reliability—the foundations necessary for the smooth functioning of society.