Warehouse Barriers FAQs
What is a warehouse barrier?
A warehouse barrier is designed to withstand the accidental impacts from vehicles manoeuvring throughout a factory environment. Warehouse barriers are designed to control traffic risks by shielding pedestrian areas and reducing the risk to machinery operators.
What should designers consider when selecting a warehouse barrier?
Designers should consider the following when selecting a warehouse barrier system:
- The barrier should be capable of withstanding high-energy impact loads.
- 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.
When is a warehouse barrier required?
Managing warehouse traffic is an important part of reducing risk to health and safety. Vehicles, including powered mobile plant, moving in and around a workplace, reversing, loading and unloading are frequently linked with death and injuries to workers and members of the public. Where eliminating all risks is not reasonably practicable, warehouse barriers provide physical separation between vehicles and pedestrians and highlight the safe passage for drivers.
Why is it important to understand the crash test performance of a barrier?
Crash testing is designed to evaluate the behaviour of the barrier and vehicle during a collision. It is important that the capacity of the crash barrier system is representative of a real-life impact condition that may occur within the warehouse environment.
How do I determine the barrier impact capacity?
The capacity of a barrier system or impact energy is calculated from the vehicle mass and impact speed providing comparison between barrier systems. Refer to the Crash Test Evaluation table provided for each RhinoStop barrier system.
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. 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 transfers impact loads to adjacent posts.
Are RhinoStop barriers suitable for pedestrian areas?
Yes. The narrow design of RhinoStop barriers makes them ideal for installation adjacent to pathways. All RhinoStop barriers can be configured with handrail attachments. For added safety, the w-beam guardrails can be powder-coated yellow matching line marking and improving pathway visibility.
What additional attachments are recommended in forklift areas?
To prevent the forklift tines from encroaching into pedestrian areas, a steel plate is recommended along the bottom of the crash barrier system, running parallel to the w-beam guardrail.
What is the preferred barrier for loading docks?
The twin w-beam guardrail design of RhinoStop TruckGuard has been specifically designed for high-centre of gravity vehicles. Providing a system height of 1.0 m, RhinoStop TruckGuard has become the preferred solution in areas frequented by heavy vehicles.
How do I shield the blunt end of w-beam guardrail?
The attachment of stumpy bullnoses, fishtails, or yellow end caps shield the blunt end of w-beam guardrails and prevent accidental injury.
Warehouse 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.
RhinoStop Elite is the benchmark in modular warehouse safety barriers combining vehicle impact containment with pedestrian fall protection.
RhinoStop Heavy Duty is the preferred warehouse barrier system to withstand impacts from forklift trucks and heavy mobile machinery.
The system height of 1.0 m improves visibility for truck drivers and forklift operators making it the preferred barrier for loading docks and transport logistic warehouses.
Standing up to 2.5m high, RhinoStop Screen is the preferred crash barrier solution to shield pathways adjacent to pallet racking or areas where stock items are stacked vertically.
The alignment of the w-beam guardrail with the edge of the deck ensures the barrier does not encroach into valuable factory or warehouse space.
Featuring w-beam guardrail, column guards may be configured in half-circle or full-circle protection and feature single or double w-beam guardrails.
