CEVLAB TESTS STEERING WHEELS FOR SMALL BOATS ACCORDING TO THE UNI EN ISO 23411:2021 STANDARD

In our laboratories we have carried out the tests required by the UNI EN ISO 23411 standard on behalf of the European Naval Authority (ENAVE) in order to homologate a steering wheel intended for small boats. Cevlab is one of the partner laboratories of ENAVE (European Naval Authority) which offers evaluation services for safety certificates and CE markings in the field of pleasure boating.

The steering wheel is made of composite material with a polymer matrix and carbon fiber reinforcement. We performed three different tests on this product:

• EXPOSURE TO UV RAYS

The steering wheel was exposed to UV rays, with an irradiated power of 257 W/m2, for 110 hours at a temperature of 60°C, with lamps placed at a distance of 480 mm;

• DIMENSIONAL CONTROL

Following exposure to UV rays, we carried out a dimensional check using a CMM (Coordinate Measurement Machine) to check for any deformations caused by conditioning;

• IMPACT TEST (n°1)

Impact test n° 1 was carried out using an impact mass of 80 kg and with a diameter of 250 mm, held suspended by a 2250 mm long chain and dropped from a height of 204 mm to have an impact energy equal to 160 J on the top of the steering wheel;

• IMPACT TEST (n°2)

Impact test No. 2 was carried out using an impacting mass of 80 kg and with a diameter of 250 mm, held suspended by a 2250 mm long chain. The difference compared to impact test n°1 is the drop height of 345 mm, which created an impact energy of 270 J on the upper part of the steering wheel.