Think about visibility and barrier height

The goal of every crash barrier system is to reduce the chance of accidents being fatal. They work to absorb the impact energy to protect people in vehicles. At the same time they can prevent collisions with immovable objects, structural elements, and pedestrians. Some models even work to hold and slow vehicles rather than redirecting them back into danger.

To maximise safety, the barriers must be strong, sturdy, and the correct height. In terms of the latter, there is often the choice of using a single row or a double. The second increases the height to help make the barrier more visible and prevent serious incidents with taller vehicles.

Think about commercial and industrial traffic

You can often see crash barriers in commercial and industrial facilities. Here it is vital for the site operator to consider the type of traffic on the site and factor this in when choosing the barrier design.

One thing to remember here is that taller vehicles like HGVs have a higher ride height. In addition, this can vary depending on if the vehicle is loaded or unloaded and how heavy the load is. What that means is it can be harder for the driver to see crash barriers if they are very low. With this in mind, it is often wise to choose double height models. They can even feature a bright yellow or highly reflective finish to improve visibility.

Where to use them?

There are many potential locations where site operators may choose to use these barriers. Firstly they may want them on access roads to mark the edges and prevent tall, heavy vehicles from leaving their lanes. On top of this, they can be very useful in the middle of these roads to prevent a collision between vehicles moving in opposite directions.

Most commonly you will see a crash barrier near loading bays. They provide several benefits here, including making each bay more visible to drivers. This can make it easier for them to line their vehicles up and can reduce the risk of confusion and delays. Plus, they can reduce the risk of vehicles colliding when they reverse into or pull away from a bay.

While it may be rarer for tall vehicles to drive into facilities, it is not unheard of. They may do this for repairs, loading, or unloading. Here it may be necessary to use barriers inside to show the route for the vehicles to take. This can prevent them from coming into contact with pedestrians. It can also be a good idea to have barriers to protect stacks, columns, pillars, and even doors.

When using barriers inside a facility you must once again think about visibility. Crucially, it is important to consider the light level. If it is poorly lit inside, the barriers need to be even more reflective to ensure they can be seen.

We can meet your crash barrier needs

Barrier Mart is a UK supplier with an excellent reputation. We can design barriers for all sorts of non-motorway use, including for access roads, car parks, loading bays, and internal use. Clients can speak to us for advice about heights, visibility, positioning, type of installation, and more.

So, if you want a reliable crash barrier system, choose us. You can even order online if you know what kind of rails and posts you need. We also stock corners and fixings.