Frequently Asked Questions

A Crash Barrier is a length of horizontal beam fixed to vertical posts, used to restrain or redirect a moving vehicle and protect people, plant, racking and building structures behind it.

Crash Barriers work by absorbing the forces of an impact with a vehicle and transferring the load to the Crash Barrier. Some systems use a strong, more rigid posts to transfer the load to the posts as well as the horizontal beams so they do not deflect so much under impact. Other types use weaker posts that give way and the load is mainly transferred to the horizontal beam meaning it deflects more but is safer for the occupants of the vehicle.

A Crash Barrier is installed by fixing the vertical posts to the ground first — either cast into concrete, bolted down to a baseplate on a finished slab, or fixed to a wall using brackets. The horizontal rail is then bolted to the posts using the appropriate fixings, with end terminals and corner pieces added where the run starts, stops or changes direction.

Crash Barriers are used wherever vehicles and pedestrians, plant or structures share the same space — car parks, loading bays, warehouses, factories, yards and around plant equipment. They are positioned along the line you need to protect and laid out as a continuous run with the correct posts, fixings and end pieces.

You can buy Crash Barriers directly from BarriersUK. Order online through the website and we will help you specify the right rail, posts and fixings for your project.

Bollards are used to guide or restrict the movement of vehicles, to protect buildings, shopfronts, pedestrians, racking and equipment from accidental impact, and to mark out pedestrian areas, walkways and parking bays.

The Bollards supplied by BarriersUK are manufactured from steel tube and are typically galvanised to resist corrosion in external environments.

Bollard heights vary by model and application. Typical fixed bollards stand roughly 1 metre above ground level so they are clearly visible to drivers while still allowing pedestrians to see over them.

Retractable Bollards are bollards that can be lowered into a ground socket when access is required and raised back into position to block the route again. They are used to give controlled, occasional vehicle access to areas that are otherwise restricted.

Security Bollards are heavier-duty bollards designed to physically stop a vehicle rather than just guide it. They are used in front of buildings, entrances and other sensitive locations where vehicle-borne impact is a concern.

A Handrail provides support and guidance for people walking along steps, ramps, walkways and raised platforms, and it marks the edge of routes where there is a risk of falling or of stepping into a hazardous area.

Handrails should be fitted alongside stairs, steps, ramps, raised walkways and any pedestrian route where there is a change in level, an edge with a fall risk, or where pedestrians need to be separated from vehicles.

Handrail height depends on the application and the relevant regulations for the site. As a general guide, pedestrian handrails are typically fitted around 900mm to 1100mm above the walking surface.

A Handrail should start before the first step or hazard and continue past the last step or hazard so that users have something to hold on to before they reach the change in level and after they have passed it.

Handrails can be installed using a Key Clamp system — galvanised tube assembled with cast iron fittings tightened by an Allen key. Posts are fixed to the floor, wall or steps using base flanges or side fixings, and the horizontal tube is then clamped into the fittings to form the rail.