What Speed Of Vehicle Can Anti-Ram Barriers Stop?

In a world where security concerns are on the rise, protecting important sites like government buildings, crowded events, and other critical sites has become a top priority.

Vehicle impact can cause major damage to a high-security site, so mitigating this risk is crucial.

One of the powerful tools we have to prevent these dangerous situations are anti-ram barriers. These barriers act as strong shields that can stop or slow down vehicles that might be used to cause harm.

When specifying an anti-ram barrier, you might consider the speed in which the vehicle is travelling in order to protect your site from it.

In this blog, we’ll dive into what these barriers are all about, how we measure their effectiveness to different speeds, the different types available, and how specifying high-security fencing can make them even better at mitigating danger.

Understanding Anti-Ram Barriers And How to Specify Them

Anti-ram barriers are a crucial part of creating a secure environment, and when you are looking to specify the right kind of protection, it’s important to grasp the basics.

Think of anti-ram barriers as your first line of defence against vehicle threats. These barriers are designed to mitigate the risk of vehicles that might cause damage when used purposely, or accidentally.

As you specify the right anti-ram barriers for your site, remember to think about the potential threat, the type of barrier, and the speed of impact.

It’s important to consider the following things before asking the question of “up to what vehicle speeds can the barrier stop”:

Risk Assessment: Begin by carefully evaluating the level of security risk that your facility faces. This assessment is the foundation of your barrier choice. The higher the risk, the stronger your barriers should be.

Types of Barriers: There’s a range of anti-ram barriers to consider, like sturdy bollards, strong concrete structures, and specialised gates. To pick the best one, you need to understand what your specific location needs.

Crash Ratings and Impact: A key factor in barrier effectiveness is their ability to mitigate the damage caused by moving vehicles. This is where “crash ratings” come in. They help you know how much energy a barrier can handle from an impact.

Placing Barriers Strategically: Figuring out where to put your anti-ram barriers requires careful thought.

All of these factors will determine what speed the barrier can attempt to stop a vehicle at.

Crash Ratings And Their Role in Barrier Selection

When it comes to specifying anti-ram barriers, understanding the concept of crash ratings is essential.

When you see a crash rating, it’s usually represented as a speed and weight. This speed corresponds to the velocity of a vehicle at impact. The force of impact is determined by the speed and weight of the vehicle. For instance, if a barrier has a crash rating of 30 mph (48 km/h), it means that the barrier is designed to effectively halt a vehicle traveling at that speed.

A higher crash rating, such as 50 mph (80 km/h), indicates that the barrier can withstand a more forceful impact from a faster-moving vehicle.

Ratings, such as the K4 security rating, mean that the product’s vehicle mitigation could stop a 15,000lbs American style vehicle at 30mph in under 50 feet.

In recent years, crash-rated vehicles are tested to the ASTM F2656 standard – the “Standard Test Method for Crash Testing of Vehicle Security Barriers”.

By deciphering these ratings, you can confidently chart a course towards a security infrastructure that aligns precisely with the threat you intend to mitigate.

Enhancing Anti-Ram Barrier Efficiency With Crash-Rated Fencing

Ultimately, to get the best result when it comes to hostile vehicle mitigation, integrating multiple forms of security measures is effective.

Crash-rated fencing is specifically designed and tested to withstand the impact of vehicles attempting to breach security perimeters. When integrated with anti-ram barriers, such as bollards, concrete barriers, or crash gates, it provides several benefits that contribute to increased protection.

So, how do we know what speed of vehicle this team of protection will stop?

Similarly to how we judge what size of vehicle a crash barrier will stop, crash barrier crash testing is a systematic process that evaluates the barriers’ performance under various impact scenarios, simulating real-world crash conditions.

Therefore, different standards reflect different effectiveness against varying speeds.

For example, specifying an anti-ram barrier that stops a vehicle travelling at 30mph, such as SecureGuard RCS, when your site is located on in a place that vehicles can gain speed up to 60mph, would be a waste.

As earlier mentioned, understanding your site and its individual security needs will allow you to make the right specification accordingly to the speed you are expecting.

Conclusion

By grasping the significance of crash ratings, security managers can aptly specify barrier systems that align with the unique risk profiles of their facilities.

The selection of barrier types, from robust bollards to resilient concrete structures, empowers security managers to craft a tailored defence.

By specifying anti ram barriers according to your site location, and according to the various standards available, you can mitigate the risk of vehicle impact efficiently.

Although stopping a vehicle isn’t guaranteed, the more understanding you have of your project, and the type of vehicle you’re expecting, mitigation is enhanced.

If you are unsure on what you should be looking for when it comes to specifying your fencing, make sure to reach out to an expert company such as Barkers Fencing.

As experts in the perimeter security industry, a member of the team can discuss your project with you and ensure you are specifying the right fence for you.

FAQs

What Exactly Are Anti-Ram Barriers, And How Do They Work?

Anti-ram barriers are specialised security structures designed to stop or slow down vehicles used in potential attacks. They include various types like bollards, concrete barriers, and crash gates. These barriers are strategically placed to prevent unauthorised vehicles from entering protected areas.

What Is The Role Of Crash Ratings In Anti-Ram Barriers?

Crash ratings are standardised measures of a barrier’s ability to withstand vehicle impacts. They indicate the speed at which a barrier can effectively stop a vehicle. A higher crash rating signifies the barrier’s capacity to handle more forceful impacts from faster-moving vehicles.

Can Crash-Rated Fencing Enhance The Effectiveness Of Anti-Ram Barriers?

Yes, crash-rated fencing can significantly enhance the protective capabilities of anti-ram barriers. Crash-rated fencing is engineered to absorb and dissipate impact energy, adding an extra layer of defence against potential threats.

How Do Security Managers Specify The Right Anti-Ram Barriers For Their Facilities?

Security managers assess their facility’s risk level and potential threat scenarios. Based on this evaluation, they select barrier types with suitable crash ratings and spatial placement. The integration of crash-rated fencing is also considered to augment overall security.

Are Anti-Ram Barriers And Crash-Rated Fencing A One-Size-Fits-All Solution?

No, these security measures are not one-size-fits-all. The effectiveness of anti-ram barriers and crash-rated fencing depends on various factors, including barrier type, crash rating, risk assessment, and spatial analysis.