Changing perceptions
September 1st 2008

Plastic safety barriers could be the answer to achieving high safety levels while still being pleasing to the eye

Traditionally barriers have been synonymous with strength.

Accordingly the materials from which barriers have been manufactured have been materials with high physical strength properties such as concrete and steel.

Advances in technology, design and manufacturing processes means there are alternative materials available with equivalent physical strength that offer significant advantages and benefits when used to manufacture a barrier.

Unfortunately when materials such as concrete and steel are used, the resulting barrier presents a rigid structure that is very unforgiving under impact conditions.

The barrier may fulfil its' function, but the result of an impact will cause damage, quite often extensive, to whatever causes the impact, to the barrier itself and to the structure to which the barrier is attached.

This can mean very expensive repairs to both the barrier, the vehicle that hits it and the structure itself. Even minor impacts caused by nudges and scrapes have an associated maintenance cost to return the barrier to its' original appearance, repainting or repairing.

Attempts have been made to impart some sort of forgiveness, or flexibility, to steel barriers by the use of sprung steel posts. Even with sprung steel posts the barrier has a rigid steel rail that will eventually buckle under impact conditions.

The post may allow the barrier to move under the force of an impact however the rigid steel rail means impact damage, whilst being reduced, will still be caused.

A further possible reason promoting the perception and mindset that a barrier should be metal is the often-used term 'Armco' when referring to or specifying barriers. 'Armco' is actually a trademark, first registered in 1924, and refers to the composition and content of metal from which a barrier section or profile is manufactured, not the barrier itself.

Another reason to think metal when a barrier is needed.

What is a barrier for? What is required from it? How should it ideally react and perform under impact conditions? Thinking laterally about the answers to these questions a barrier doesn't have to be concrete or metal. There are materials that will provide equivalent strength, have a forgiving nature under impact conditions and have the physical properties to provide additional benefits.

A-Safe barriers are manufactured from a special high impact coloured polypropylene plastic. The plastic sections from which the barrier is assembled are inherently strong and have a forgiving nature under impact conditions. Combined with innovative design the assembled plastic barrier when installed provides high impact absorption with little or no damage to the barrier, the vehicle causing it or the structure to which it is attached. Its' impact absorption properties are not degraded by an impact and it will look the same after an impact as it did before.

The barriers are strong and durable but most importantly they are forgiving on impact. They are visually appealing and also require very little maintenance.The barrier sections are coloured all the way through so even if scratched or chipped their appearance is not degraded. If it does get marked or dusty a simple wipe down is all that is needed for cleaning. The barriers require no screws or welding to assemble and are simple, quick and easy to install.

The Barriers are covered by certificates of conformity confirming compliance with impact loadings required by current standards, building regulations and other relevant documents.

The documents concerned are: BS 6180 – Code of practice for barriers in and about buildings BS 6399 Part 1:1996 – Horizontal forces required to be withstood by a vehicle barrier DETR – Edge Protection in Multi-Storey Car Parks Building Regulations Part K – Vehicle Barriers and Loading Bays The automotive and engineering industries are increasingly using plastic and plastic materials to replace more traditional materials in their manufacturing processes for component parts used in products. Quite often the plastic component will provide improved performance, cost reduction or sometimes both compared to the more traditional material. The industries' perception and mindset has changed over recent years. Why should the same change not apply to safety barriers made from plastic? A-Safe believes that it's simply a matter of time.

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