Industry Guidelines
The installation and specification of a crash barrier system requires careful consideration to ensure the most appropriate barrier system is selected. Full-scale crash testing evaluates the impact performance of the barrier system and should represent worst practical impact condition. It is important that crash test configurations closely represent real-life applications providing guidance for designers and specifiers.    Â
Industry guidelines document the principles that lead to the design of safer roads & car parks, and assist designers to identify hazards, undertake a risk assessment process, establish the need for the treatment of hazards, and determine the most appropriate hazard treatment option. Â
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the importance of crash testing?
Crash testing provides uniform guidelines and recommended evaluation criteria. Crash test guidelines and criteria incorporate current technology and the collective judgment and expertise of professionals in the field of safety barrier design. Crash testing provides a basis on which researchers and user agencies can compare the impact performance merits of safety barrier systems, guidance for developers of new safety barrier systems, and a basis on which user agencies can develop performance specifications for safety barrier systems.
How is the impact severity of a crash test impact calculated?
The severity of an impact is normally measured in terms of the kinetic energy of the vehicle collision and is an indicator of the magnitude of loading on a crash barrier system.Â
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. For example, 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.Â
Why is it important to consider a heavy passenger vehicles when selecting a crash barrier system?
The average mass 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 roadside or car park barrier has demonstrated the ability to withstand these heavier vehicle impacts.Â
What is a vulnerable road user?
A vulnerable road user is any person at increased risk of injury in a crash due to limited physical protection compared to vehicle occupants. Vulnerable road users include motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists.Â
What features of crash barriers consider vulnerable road users?
Whilst the primary function of a crash barrier system is to contain errant vehicles, their design can be tailored to provide consideration for vulnerable road users as follows:Â
- Attachment of handrail and mesh infill to provide pedestrian fall protection.Â
- Rounded corners on supporting posts eliminating potential snag points.Â
- Plastic caps for attachment to the top of the supporting posts.Â
- Attachment of motorcyclist protection rail systems on roadside barriers.Â
What is a risk assessment?
A risk assessment process evaluates the collective risk of an errant vehicle colliding with a hazard and considers exposure, likelihood and the severity of a collision with the hazard. Â
What is a proprietary crash barrier system?
A proprietary crash barrier system is owned and protected by a company with usage rights controlled by the owner though licences. The range of RamShield roadside barriers and RhinoStop car park barriers have been developed by Safe Direction and feature innovative designs protected by intellectual property.   Â
What are the major differences between a safety barrier designed for roadway applications and a car park barrier?
A roadway barrier is designed to contain and redirect errant vehicles during high-speed, shallow-angle impacts. The supporting posts of a roadway barrier are typically driven directly into the ground and rely upon soil strength to provide lateral support to the barrier system.Â
A car park barrier is designed to withstand low-speed, high-angle vehicle impacts. The supporting posts of a car park barrier are typically anchored to a concrete foundation and are positioned on the perimeter edge of a car parking structure.Â
How can Safe Direction assist designers and purchasers of crash barrier systems?
Safe Direction’s experienced sales team are trained to provide technical support and assist engineers through the design process. As the developers of numerous proprietary car park and roadside crash barrier systems, we have performed more than sixty (60) full-scale crash tests to meet the needs of the Australian designer and constructor. Â
