ADAC Technology Centre

Our test know-how for your success

• Under the lead of ADAC
  The ADAC crash test is a further development of the type approval and consumer protection crash test first developed in the US in the 1980ies. Headed by ADAC, a number of automobile clubs have implemented these tests in Europe as early as 1987.
  
• Our own Euro NCAP-approved crash facility
  

  In the 1990ies, a European consortium was formed to develop the Euro NCAP pan-European crash test standard (New Car Assessment Programme). Today, ADAC is an active member of this consortium. Since 1999, ADAC Technik Zentrum has used its own crash facility, which is one of a few Euro NCAP-approved facilities in Europe and covers a variety of different tests ranging from vehicle crash tests to pedestrian protection tests and component tests.
  
• A multitude of tests
  

  More than 300 vehicles have been “crashed against the wall” since the inauguration of ADAC Technik Zentrum. We simulate all scenarios a car and passengers might have to face in real life: side and frontal crash, collision between two vehicles, vehicle side crashing against a pole to the point of rollover. Completely wired dummies deliver important findings about occupant protection. Pedestrian protection is another key issue of the ADAC test programme, since both the passengers of a vehicle and vulnerable road users deserve optimum protection.

  In addition to crash-testing new car models, we focus on the investigation into accidents of different types of vehicles as, for instance, SUV and passenger car, which we simulate in our crash facility. Other crash tests cover the rollover behaviour of convertibles and the specific accident risks of gas-powered vehicles, mobile homes and rescue vehicles.

  
  
• New methods
  ADAC engineers are continually developing new test methods for every safety-relevant aspect. The tests’ focal points are increasingly derived from the results of ADAC accident research, which ADAC successfully launched in 2005 in cooperation with ADAC air rescue, government departments, fire brigades and hospitals.
  
• For more safety
  

  Safety deficiencies not only alert car buyers. Automobile manufacturers are watchful as well. This is why every ADAC test helps encourage manufacturers and services providers to continually improve their products to survive on the market.
  
• Test the facts. Develop improvements. ADAC suggestions for better protection
  ADAC tests deliver well-founded data material providing impressive proof of safety improvements promoted by ADAC.

  A prominent example is the rear-end collision between passenger car and HGV. In a series of tests, ADAC was able to demonstrate that the underrun protection system as provided in the EU Directive implemented in 2007 cannot adequately protect the occupants.

  In a first crash test, the underrun protection system in line with the new EU Directive was used. The results were not convincing: The passenger car underruns the HGV to a considerable extent. In addition, the rear panel of the HGV pushes the airbags of the car down so that they cannot offer any protection for the passengers. The cabin is completely destroyed up to the rear door. Conclusion: The driver and front passenger are at high risk facing life-threatening injuries. Results of the second crash test with the system optimised by ADAC were clearly better: the underrun protection was reinforced with an additional diagonal support to the HGV chassis and ground clearance was reduced. The impact was absorbed by the underrun protection. Crumble zone and airbag effectively protect the vehicle occupants. While there is still a risk of injuries, life-threatening situations are unlikely to occur!

  ADAC’s demands to industry and the EU for improvement of the underrun protection are based on the results of the second test and aim at optimising the protection of vehicle passengers. ADAC has put forward solutions and will promote their implementation.

  
  

• Accreditation
  The ADAC crash test facility has been officially accredited as a Euro NCAP test laboratory. In addition, quality management has been certified to EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standards.
  
• Test methods of the future
  

  As a manufacturer you will benefit from the ADAC professionals’ acknowledged test know-how. Being engaged in a number of consumer protection bodies, the ADAC engineers know and define the state of the art for developing new test methods.
  
• Euro NCAP
  ADAC is an active member of Euro NCAP and in the front line of the development of new test methods. A certified Euro NCAP inspector is responsible for inspecting the crash vehicles at ADAC Technik Zentrum. This aims at ensuring a qualified subjective evaluation and obtaining valuable data to optimise vehicle safety which are important elements to your market success!
  
• For your product development. For the protection of consumers
  The Club has gained a reputation also in the area of component tests. In the car seat test segment, ADAC is a major player in developing the Euro NCAP test methods and a competent partner for manufacturers who value instructive test results.
  
• Market leader for child restraint system tests
  

  As the European market leader for CRS tests, ADAC supports manufacturers in their product development, actively ensuring that safety aspects are continuously enhanced for the benefit of consumers.
  
• High level of professionalism. High level of confidentiality
  Competence, flexibility and professionalism distinguish the team of ADAC testers. All test series conducted at the request of industry customers are naturally performed behind closed doors. In addition, mirrorglazing screens the crash hall from view.
  
• The Crash Test Facility. Facts & Figures

  The facility

  • Indoor test range: 20x20x6.5m metres
  • Acceleration track: 168m total, of which 72m covered
  • Collision speeds: min. 5kph max. 120kph
  • Collision speed sled: max. 80kph
  • Overall mass: max. (car-on-car) 5,000kg
  • Max. vehicle mass (up to 120kph): 3,500kg
  • Max. payload on sled: 1,500kg
  • Precision of photo camera actuation: +/– 1ms
  • Cameras: high-speed video cameras allowing on-board photography even under tight conditions of installation
  • Measurement instrumentation shockproof up to 100g, 150 lead channels

  
  Annex building

  
  The adjacent building houses spaces for
  

  • mechanically preparing vehicles for testing
  • taking the static measuring of vehicles before and after testing
  • conducting pedestrian protection tests
  • client office with Internet access
    

  The annex building also houses a large conference room.

  
  Climate chamber

  
  The first section of the covered acceleration track is a climate chamber. Here, crash vehicles and dummies can be conditioned to precisely defined temperatures, which is an essential prerequisite for keeping the dummy reaction and load values reproducible.

  
  
• State-of-the-art technology to yield significant results
  The ADAC crash test facility was designed to comply with current and future crash test standards. In the present structure, we can implement the following test configurations for you:

  Vehicle tests

  • Frontal impact one vehicle to rigid or deformable barrier with
    selectable offset
  • Side and oblique impact vehicle or moving barrier to stationary vehicle
  • Vehicle to pole impact, frontal and side
  • Rear-end impact vehicle or moving barrier to stationary vehicle
  • Rolling cart rollover test
  • Frontal impact vehicle to vehicle, offset selectable
  • Frontal impact motorcycle to obstacle or vehicle
  • Special test configurations, e.g. HGV underrun protection
  • Pedestrian protection

  Sled tests

  • Car seats/head rests
  • Child restraint systems
  • Vehicle furniture e.g. for delivery vans
  • Car accessories e.g. roof rack systems, bicycle racks, roof boxes
  • Other superstructures / bodies in white at request

  The facility complies with all applicable ECE and FMVSS requirements and the Euro NCAP standards.