Guard Rails and Crash Barriers for Safety of Property and People

Traffic barriers, also known as guardrails or crash barriers keeps the vehicles on the roadway and prevents them from crashing into sign supports, boulders, buildings, bridge abutments, large storm drains, and walls. It also prevents vehicles from climbing steep slopes or entering deep waters. Guardrails on the center of the road help prevent vehicles from crossing the road and making a head-on collision with the opposing traffic.

Use of crash barriers

We classify and name barriers according to their use. The types of barriers used on highways is known as a Highway Crash Barrier. At times, they may use bollards instead of barriers. Use of barriers is useful because the high speed involved will usually lead to death. In all, 2% of the highway crashes are fatal. They use these safety barriers only when the danger caused by hitting the barrier is less than that of a collision with an oncoming vehicle. This way the fatality is reduced.

Check the specifications

It is recommended that you order your requirements of crash barriers from reputable manufacturers who will supply them at affordable rates. These items need to be made from high-quality material to international standards. The specification for a single and double W beam highway road crash barrier is like this:

• W beam made from Fe 410/360 conforming to IS 5986 or IS 10748 or equivalent.
• Width of vertical post is 150 mm height is 75 mm and thickness 5 mm. Length ranges between 1500mm to 1800mm to 2000mm.
• Spacer of channel section had width 150 mm height 75 mm and thickness 5 mm. Length is 330 mm.

If you need barriers for use on your private land, you can approach the Crash Barrier Manufacturers to get more details. You must order the barrier by taking two factors into consideration. One is the containment level and the other is working width. The working width takes into account the width of the barrier plus the amount of deflection.

Testing for barriers

A barrier is tested by hitting it with a vehicle travelling at a standard speed. The hit angle is 20 degrees. Usually a 1.5 ton car travelling at 70 mph is used. For commercial barriers a vehicle weighing 38 tons travelling at 40 mph is used. The minimum length of the barrier is 30 m at the approach to a bridge. But on trunk road bridges and highways, the length of the barrier is increased.

The choice of barriers is important since use of wrong barriers could increase risk of death. Always follow the specification set down by the highways department when installing your crash barrier. Most common choice of material is steel. They choose steel because of its inherent strength. It gives good protection to pedestrians and property especially those such as schools, stadiums, cemeteries, corporate buildings, marinas, shopping centers, and storage warehouses.

You may also need barriers near the building where you store valuable equipment or heavy machinery. At times, use removable crash barriers in places where there is no need for heavy duty protection. Collapsible crash barriers are also in vogue. We use them when we need temporary protection only.