Hydraulic Road Blockers: A Deep Dive into their Applications, Types, and Benefits
A hydraulic road blocker is a highly effective traffic safety device that is used for securing the perimeters of limited-access establishments and controlling traffic flow and security. Also referred to as a hydraulic road barrier, it consists of a section of solid high-strength metal that can withstand immense impact from high-speed collisions, even from large vehicles like 7.5-ton trucks.
The most used types of road blockers barriers measure between 1 to 6 meters in length and are usually located at entry and exit points of establishments. They are usually embedded into the surface of the road, inside a solid metal and concrete foundation, with a blocker component that can be raised above the surface to desired heights of half to 1 meter or even more. The road blockers are raised and lowered through a hydraulic-powered mechanism, which can be operated remotely and safely with an electrical control system.
Applications of Hydraulic Road Blockers
There are many establishments and locations around the world that require heavy security due to the sensitive nature of their operations, and consequently, are vulnerable to unlawful entry or terrorist attacks.
Road blockers are used to prevent unauthorized or forceful entry of vehicles into such sensitive locations or secure facilities that include government buildings, hotels, airports, banks, prisons, ports, warehouses, military establishments, and many other critical infrastructure sites.
They are also useful in controlling the movement of vehicles on access-controlled roads such as highways, toll-controlled roads, and check points at state and international borders. They can also be deployed to control vehicular movement on roads experiencing heavy traffic conditions.
The hydraulic system powering the road blocker mechanism can be activated to raise the road blockers within 3 to 5 seconds, which is a very impressive reaction time to thwart unwanted entry such as vehicular terrorist attacks. Often, the blockers are studded with sharp metal spikes that can easily deflate tires upon contact.
Different Types of Road Blockers
Depending on their location and usage requirements, road blockers barriers can be categorized into different types, each having unique specifications to suit their role. Some of the common types of road blockers are briefly covered below:
According to design
Road blockers can be single-sided or double-sided, though the most used types belong to the single-sided category.
According to type of installation
- Fixed Hydraulic Road Blockers: These types of road blockers are usually fixed permanently by embedding them in a deep foundation up to a depth of 1500 mm. They are usually installed at entry points where vehicular access is limited or prohibited and offer a high level of security.
- Movable Hydraulic Road Blockers: They are designed for temporary access control, and can be easily uninstalled and moved to other locations. They are usually deployed at events that require high security such as sporting events, concerts, political rallies, VIP visits, etc.
- Shallow Mount Hydraulic Road Blockers: This type of road blocker offers similar capabilities to fixed road blockers, but the depth at which they are installed is much shallower, typically around 200 to 300 mm. They are deployed at locations where it is not possible to dig deep foundations, such as underground parking areas.
- Surface Mount Hydraulic Road Blockers: This type of road blocker is fixed directly to the surface of roads where digging is not possible or allowed.
According to crash rating
Hydraulic road blockers are also categorized according to the impact they can withstand from high-tonnage, speeding vehicles. They are usually determined by the weight of the vehicle, the speed at which it moves, and the distance covered by the front bumper of the vehicle after impact with the road blocker.
K-Ratings: Rated for a 7.5-ton vehicle
K4: travelling at 48 kmph
K8: travelling at 64 kmph
K12: travelling at 80 kmph
Road blockers are certified L1, L2, or L3 according to the distance moved by the vehicle beyond the barrier, ranging from a maximum of 1270 mm to less than 84 mm.
M-Ratings: The K-Ratings have been replaced in recent times by the M-Rating, which are governed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). For the same specifications as the K-Rating, the corresponding M-Ratings are M30, M40, and M50. Further, they are certified from P1 to P4, with P1 representing a vehicle that moves less than 84 mm after impact, and P4 representing movement beyond 2500 mm.
Leading road blocker manufacturers in Saudi Arabia SABTECH’s RB3M1000CT model is an example of a road blocker with an M50-P1 ‘zero penetration’ certification.
PAS 68 and IWA 14-1 ratings
PAS 68, developed by the British Standards Institutions (BSI), and IWA 14-1, which is an ISO standard, are two internationally recognized standards for the certification of impact resistance of road blockers and other hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) products. The HVM products undergo rigorous tests to determine their ability to withstand various kinds of real or simulated vehicle attacks at different speeds and angles of impact. PAS 68 and IWA 14-1 ratings are composed of a string of characters that indicate various parameters of the test undertaken.
For example, the SABTECH RB3MI000CT model is rated to both PAS 68 and IWA 14-1. Its PAS 68 rating is V/7500(N3)/80/90:1.5/4.6. This rating can be decoded as follows:
V – indicates that an actual vehicle was used to test the road blocker
7500 (N3) – indicates the type of vehicle used, in this case, a 7500 kg truck with an N3 classification
80 – indicates the speed of the vehicle, i.e., 80 kilometers per hour
90 – indicates the impact angle, in this case, 90 degrees
1.5 – indicates the impact penetration, i.e., the distance moved by the vehicle after impact past a pre-determined datum line, which is 1.5 meters (within acceptable parameters)
4.6 – indicates debris dispersion, i.e., the farthest distance covered by debris (weighing more than 25 kilograms) from the impact, which, for this model is 4.6 meters (within acceptable parameters)
The IWA 14-1 rating is like the PAS 68 rating, except for the debris dispersion component.
Benefits of Hydraulic Road Blockers
Hydraulic road blockers come packed with several amazing benefits, which make them extremely effective against forced incursion attempts. Some of these benefits are described here:
- In comparison to pneumatic powered systems, the hydraulic power provides excellent reaction speed, and the mechanism operates smoothly and silently, which helps to prevent panic and alarm.
- Hydraulic road blockers have low energy consumption and low power voltage, which makes them very environment friendly.
- Due to their anti-rust, corrosion resistance properties, and limited electrical wiring in the main body, road blockers are low maintenance, long-lasting, and reusable.
- The remote controller is multi-functional, allowing various configurable options to operators to adjust the height, lifting speed, and timing of the road blocker. In case of power failure, the road blockers can be manually raised or lowered.
- They can be integrated with other vehicle control equipment such as parking barriers, traffic signals, biometric or RFID card readers, and loop detectors to create safer and more effective vehicle control mechanisms.
Where to Find the Best Road Barriers Suppliers
SABTECH is the leading manufacturer and supplier of hydraulic-powered perimeter protection equipment in Saudi Arabia. The high-quality, and feature-rich hydraulic road barriers manufactured by them provide the highest levels of security against vehicular terrorist attacks for a wide range of establishments and occasions. The company also provides warranty, maintenance contract, and dedicated after-sales service for all hydraulic, mechanical, and electronic components.
Conclusion
Hydraulic road blockers are vital pieces of equipment to help keep important locations safe and secure from unauthorized vehicular intrusions. They are designed to withstand massive impacts and are powered by a hydraulic system that supports fast and reliable operation. They are long-lasting, cost-effective, and have a low impact on the environment. They are easy to operate, integrable with other traffic-control devices, and can be configured for multiple purposes and events.
Get in touch with SABTECH today to explore options and get the best road blocker price in the market.
