Crash barriers are supposed to deform

It is our job to ensure that the people we work with have sufficient protection against the dangers of vehicles. To this end, we supply top quality crash barrier items. These come in open box beam and Armco designs. We even have a choice of posts in a multitude of styles and sizes too. As a result, we can cater to the different needs of every client.

You have probably seen crash barriers before. They exist on roads, in car parks, and on industrial sites. But, do you really know the finer details about how they work? It is a good idea to look at this, especially if you need to install some.

Maximising safety

Barriers are obviously put in place to enhance safety. You would install some variety of barrier in a place where there is potential for a collision, particularly between vehicles and pedestrians. There may be an Armco barrier, something temporary, or a concrete design. Each option works in its own way. What you may not realise however is that the barriers are meant to deform by design.

It is understandable to think that barriers should be rigid and strong enough to immediately stop collisions. However, this would actually do more harm than good. In reality, a crash barrier is meant to deform to a certain degree. When a vehicle hits it, the barrier will bend and crumple prior to snapping. This happens for multiple reasons.

Reducing the force

One reason why is to lower the g-force by stopping the motor from instantly coming to a hard stop on collision. This reduces the impact on the occupants of the vehicle and can save lives.

The barrier also deforms to spread the energy over different areas of the beam. This is instead of one impact point. Again it works to reduce the danger to people in the vehicle.

Safety

A final reason for the deformation is to stop sharp metal sections from flying or snapping off the barrier. This can be a huge hazard. Instead, barriers will generally crumple and deform in a much safer manner.

Variables

Saying this, each situation has several variables. The force that your vehicle will exert on the barrier varies depending on the design. How fast the motor is moving and its weight are important too.

Crash barriers must still have the capacity to endure significant forces. This is for them to have the right safety effects. For that reason, they are often made of galvanise steel. Also, you fix them to the ground using dig-in or bolt-down posts to provide stability.

Choose us if you need a crash barrier

At Barrier Mart, we supply the UK with the highest quality products. We manufacture everything in house and install them nationwide. In addition, we can offer consultancy and design services if you need them.

So, if you would like to do business with us, feel free to get in touch and let us know what you need for your crash barrier solutions. We can offer them for almost any kind of setting.