Which forces the load must be secured against (0.8 g forward, 0.5 g sideways and backward), the main lashing types, the role of friction, and how body strength (EN 12642 L/XL) can be offset.
Introduction
The load must be secured against shifting when the vehicle brakes, turns or accelerates. DS/EN 12195-1:2010 lays down which forces you calculate with and how you dimension the lashing.
The design accelerations
| Direction | Proportion of the load's weight | Safety factor f_s |
|---|---|---|
| Forward (braking) | 0,8 g | 1,25 |
| Sideways | 0,5 g | 1,1 |
| Reverse | 0,5 g | 1,1 |
Vertical coefficient c_z = 1.0. These figures mean that under full braking the load must be restrained against a force equal to 0.8 times its own weight in the forward direction.
Top-over lashing (friction lashing)
The friction between load and bed
| Material pair | µ (example) |
|---|---|
| Sawn timber ↔ plywood | ≈ 0,45 |
| Wood ↔ aluminium | ≈ 0,4 |
| Wood ↔ steel | ≈ 0,3 |
| Anti-slip mats | ≈ 0,6 |
| Smooth plastic/steel combinations | down to 0.15 |
Body strength (EN 12642 L/XL)
An XL-rated body with sufficient friction (µ ≥ 0.3) and correctly stowed cargo can in many cases carry a full load without additional lashing — but this requires documentation. An L-rated body gives less, e.g. front wall 0.4·payload, rear wall 0.25, side wall 0.3.
Slipping and tipping — two things to secure against
The load can move in two ways, and both must be prevented. Slipping is when the load slides along the bed; here friction and lashing help. Tipping (overturning) is when the load tips over an edge; here the security depends on the load's height and width (centre of gravity position) and on how high up the lashing grips. A tall, narrow load can be secured against sliding and still overturn — therefore EN 12195-1 calculates for both.
Direct binding (diagonal, loop and head-loop binding)
Whereas top-over lashing (friction lashing) presses the load DOWN against the deck and increases friction, direct lashing opposes the load's movement DIRECTLY. The strap or chain runs from a lashing point on the deck to an attachment point on the load. In direct lashing it is the strap's capacity LC (lashing capacity) — not the pre-tension STF — that carries, because the strap is pulled directly.
- 01Diagonal lashing: four straps diagonally out to the corners — the most common direct method; four diagonal straps can replace eight top-over straps.
- 02Loop/bight lashing: strap is placed around the load and secured at two points on the same side — holds against sideways slip.
- 03Head-loop lashing: a loop around the end of the load — holds against sliding forward/backward, e.g. for long items.
Blocking and bumping
Blocking (chocking) is the simplest and often strongest method: the load is supported directly against a fixed structure — cabin wall, side wall, stanchion, support bar or another load unit — so it cannot slide at all. Blocking against the cabin wall uses the vehicle's structural strength (EN 12642) and can completely or partially replace lashing in that direction.
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