German court rules against Grandfather Clause for rides

[SimonSays99]

A German Court has rules in a last instance ruling that enacting a new EU safety rule for rides without a Grandfather Clause is legal. All rides must be re-evaluated and if necessary made compliant with the new EU rules.

Taking this to court was a showmen operating the Zierer darkride coaster "Black Hole" which tech is based on the Zierer Flitzer. The German Showmen Association assumes that up to half of German rides need substantial changes - and as most of them are older might be sold to non-EU countries.

One of many new safety rules for example states that a seat has to hold at average 100kg now - instead of 75kg before.

As no revision is granted to take this case to a federal court the showmen is planning to take this to the federal appeals court as last resort.

Source (German): http://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersac ... s2922.html

 

[Smithy]

Very interesting development that, thanks for sharing it.

How likely is that ruling to affect the bigger touring coasters?

 

[SimonSays99]

Cannot say right now. For the Zierer Flitzer built and still running the tech from the 70s the cost is assumed at €900.000. However the TÜV has announced that it will hold all re-evaluations pending until the appeals court has ruled - so next year is save as permits are prolonged before the season. But all coasters built before 2000 could be affected starting 2017. The only coasters fully refurbished after 2000 are the "Teststrecke" (Schwarzkopf Double-Loop with SAT trains) and the "High Explosive" (Zierer Flitzer).