Car Park Barriers FAQs
What is a car park barrier?
Car park barriers are a specific range of safety barrier systems designed for the protection of people, buildings, plant and equipment. Their design and function are specific to vehicle movements encountered in a car park environment. Specifiers of a crash park crash barrier should consider that impacts are likely to be perpendicular to the barrier and impact damage should be confined to the barrier system and not damage the car park structure.
What should designers consider when selecting a car park barrier?
Designers should consider the following when specifying a car park barrier system:
- The barrier should be capable of withstanding the impact loads nominated by the Australian Standard.
- Vehicle impacts are likely to be perpendicular to the barrier.
- There may be pedestrian walkways adjacent to the barrier.
- The barrier is likely required to shield a drop to a lower level.
- Any impact damage should be confined to the barrier system.
What Australian Standards are applied to the evaluation of car park barriers?
AS/NZS 2890.1 sets out the minimum requirements for the design and layout for off-street parking facilities, including multi-storey car parks. AS/NZS 2890.1 states that barriers shall not be made from brickwork, unreinforced concrete or other materials likely to shatter on impact and shall be designed structurally to the loading requirements of AS/NZS 1170.1.
When is a car park barrier required?
A car park barrier shall be provided to prevent vehicles from running over the edge of a raised platform or deck of a multi-storey car park including the perimeter of all decks above ground level. They are required wherever the drop from the edge of the deck to a lower level exceeds 600mm.
What are the impact conditions nominated by AS/NZS 1170.1?
The horizontal imposed action on barriers required to withstand the accidental impact from vehicles during parking shall be taken as follows:
- For light traffic areas (Type F)
- Barriers – 30kN
- Barriers at the end of straight ramps exceeding 20m in length and intended for downward travel – 240kN
- b) For barriers in medium traffic areas (Type G) – 40kN
The impact force shall be distributed over a 1.5m length at any position along the barrier and shall be assumed to act 0.5m above floor level for light traffic areas and at 1.0m for medium traffic areas.
What is a Light Traffic Area?
AS/NZS 1170.1 defines a Light Traffic Area as parking, garages, driveways and ramps restricted to cars, light vans, etc., not exceeding 2500 kg gross mass.
What is a Medium Traffic Area?
AS/NZS 1170.1 defines a Medium Traffic Area as driveways, ramps, repair workshops, footpaths with vehicle access, and car parking used by vehicles between 2500 kg and 10,000 kg.
What are the limitations of AS/NZS 1170.1?
The 30 kN impact load is derived from a 1500 kg vehicle travelling at 2 m/s (7.2 km/h). This vehicle mass and impact speed does adequately represent a real-life impact scenario. The 40 kN impact load is derived from a 2000 kg vehicle travelling at 2 m/s (7.2 km/h). This impact speed does adequately represent a real-life impact scenario.
In addition, the Standard does provide sufficient guidelines for the crash test evaluation of a barrier system including impact location, test article length and positioning of the barrier on a concrete slab. This omitted information makes it difficult to compare the impact performance of various barrier systems.
Why is it important to understand the crash test performance of a barrier system?
Crash testing is designed to evaluate the behaviour of the barrier and vehicle during a collision. It is important that the crash tested configuration is representative of a real-life installation. Therefore, a barrier promoted for use in a multi-storey car park should be assessed when installed on the edge of an elevated concrete deck. In addition, shorter installation lengths place a higher load on the supporting posts increasing the potential for failure. These considerations are adopted by Safe Direction for the crash test assessment of its RhinoStop product range.
Why is it important to consider a 2000 kg vehicle when selecting a crash barrier system?
The average weight of new vehicle sold in Australia is approximately 2000 kg as the vehicle fleet continues to shift towards SUVs and dual cab utility vehicles. It is therefore important that the specified car park barrier has demonstrated the ability to withstand these heavier vehicle impacts.
How does RhinoStop work?
RhinoStop posts are significantly stronger than similarly sized and anchored rigid posts. All RhinoStop barriers incorporate a unique patented yielding base plate that minimises the peak loads transferred to the anchor bolts.
The defining feature of the RhinoStop posts are the long cuts in the base plate allowing the baseplate to deform. Â The load capacity of the base plate deformation is designed to be less than the pull-out capacity of the anchor bolts and the deflection of the system allows impact load transfer to adjacent posts.
Car Park Barrier Products
Combining the strength of w-beam guardrail with energy absorbing posts, absorbing vehicle impact energy and reducing the peak loads transferred to the anchor bolts.
Architectural excellence. RhinoStop Elite is the benchmark in modular car park safety barriers combining vehicle impact containment with pedestrian fall protection.
RhinoStop Heavy Duty is designed to withstand high speed impacts up to 30km/h typically encountered at the ends of ramps and straight aisles in car parking areas.
RhinoStop TruckGuard features double height w-beam guardrails supported by heavy duty posts designed to withstand impacts from high-centre-of-gravity vehicles.
Can be configured to a system height of up to 2.5m. The preferred barrier on the upper deck of multi-storey car parks or in parking areas adjacent to critical infrastructure.
The unique design of RhinoStop SkyEdge positions the crash barrier on the outer edge of the car park deck preserving valuable car parking space.
Wheel stops are often installed at the end of a car parking spacing preventing nuisance impacts with other vehicles or other obstacles at the end of the parking space.
