An automatic car park barrier only controls access. It is relatively easy for an unauthorised person to drive through it. The boom is designed to be light, and a car can simply snap it.
This works for almost all business car parks. The problems come when an installer believes that a standard barrier will provide protection from a crash. They may also think that a crash-rated system is not needed and buy a less expensive system.
What crash-rated means
Crash-rated barriers are tested by driving a real vehicle into them at a certain weight and speed. How far the vehicle penetrates the barrier is recorded. The two main standards for barriers are PAS 68 in the UK and IWA 14 in the rest of the world. PAS 170 covers lower speed barriers, used for approach roads that are too short for vehicles to gain speed.
A rating tells you the weight and speed of the vehicle it was tested against and how far the vehicle penetrated. Those are the numbers to compare, not the product name.
Who needs one
Examples of locations that must be concerned with a vehicle being driven into a building or crowd: government, utilities, transport hubs (airports, train stations, bus stations, ferry terminals, etc.), stadiums, and high-profile commercial buildings. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) provides guidance on assessing risk. Most locations needing this level of protection will have a security adviser.
A typical barrier for a business park, retail site or office car park would provide good access control and be the right solution in that instance.
What changes if you do need one
Almost everything. Crash-rated barriers require much deeper foundations, although some options exist where services are located under the road. They cost much more than traditional barriers, and the rating only holds if the product is installed exactly as it was tested. Look for suppliers where the product has been independently verified.
Back to the full guide: Car Park and Vehicle Barriers