Swap bodies specifications

The EN 283 standard provides the test requirements for swap bodies, a means of containment designed for road and rail transport. Unlike the container, which is specifically designed to be stacked, in general the swap bodies are not stackable and are equipped with grappler arms that allow installation and removal from the vehicle.

Structural strength

Walls resistance values of the swap body are specified in the EN 283 standard. The minimum resistance values required coincide in certain cases with those provided for vehicles approved with code “L” according to the EN 12642 standard:

Front and rear wall: they shall be capable of withstand 40% of the permitted payload “P”, if the load is uniformly distributed on the wall

Side walls: they shall be capable of withstand 30% of the permitted payload “P”, if the load is uniformly distributed on the wall

with P = (gross mass – tare) x 9.81

For example, a swap body with a permitted payload of 20.000 kg guarantees the following resistance values:

Front and rear wall: Resistance = 20.000 x 9.81 x 0,4 = 78.480 N = 7.848 daN

Side walls: Resistance = 20.000 x 9.81 x 0,3 = 58.860 N = 5.886 daN

If the cargo is secured by general blocking using the swap body walls, it must be checked that the resistance values obtained above are higher than the required blocking capacity calculated according to the EN 12195-1 standard. Otherwise, auxiliary securing devices shall be used, for example by resorting to the use of web lashings to secure the load by lashing.

In case of use of forklift truck or other similar devices for loading, it shall be considered that the floor of the swap body is designed to withstand:

• axial loads of 4.400 kg
• wheel loads of 2.200 kg

Forklift trucks or other lifting means shall be compatible with the resistance of the floor. Vehicles with a lifting capacity of 2.5 tons are usually compatible with the axial and wheel load values indicated above.