Crash Barriers [F.H.Brundle]2026-05-28T16:43:15+01:00
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Why choose Armco Crash Barriers?

What are Crash Barriers?

Crash Barriers (or more commonly called Armco Barriers) are protective galvanised steel systems used primarily in off-road environments – such as vehicle carparks, factories, warehousing and industrial premises to safeguard people, property, and plant installations from the dangers of moving vehicles and forklift trucks.

These barriers minimise expensive repairs and consequential losses by shielding valuable stock and buildings from accidental impact. Built for durability, their components are fully replaceable and offer a virtually maintenance-free lifespan of up to 30 years, or more, in applications ranging from vehicle restraint and boundary delineation to pedestrian guardrails and race track safety.

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What are the choices when it comes to Crash Barriers?

At F.H.Brundle, we offer the options between concrete-in or bolt-down posts to match your Crash Barrier ground installation needs. Additionally, configurations can be customised by choosing the required number of beams for the layout’s length, alongside specialized corner and end components. Our barriers are supplied as 3mm thick, galvanised (to BS EN 10 025) S275 mild steel full beams, 3.5m lengths (for 3.2m nominal lengths once installed).

Feature Category Key Benefit Detail
Material & Build Longevity and cost-efficiency Durable hot-dip galvanised steel components that provide a maintenance-free operational life of up to 30 years.
Asset Protection Minimizes industrial damage and losses Gives valuable stock, plant installations, and buildings the best possible protection from moving vehicles and forklift trucks.
Safety Application Versatile hazard prevention Protects people and property across diverse uses, including vehicle restraint, boundary delineation, pedestrian guardrails, rockfall protection, and race track safety.
Component System Easy repairability and sustainability Components are completely replaceable, ensuring individual parts can be substituted without replacing the entire run after an accident.
Post Installation Choices Adaptability to different surfaces Offers a choice between bolt-down posts (for existing concrete/hard surfaces) or concrete-in posts (for setting directly into the ground).
Layout Flexibility Customizable structural configurations Can be tailored to specific site layouts by calculating custom beam lengths and integrating dedicated corner or end pieces.

Note: Our Armco crash barrier system (beams, brackets and posts) have not been tested to N2 / BS EN 1317 standards for use on British Highways.

“Think of Off-Road Armco Crash Barriers as the high-impact safety solution for car parks, factories, and industrial sites. You get the ultimate in structural protection for your valuable stock, buildings, and plant installations, meaning a massive reduction in expensive repairs and consequential losses caused by moving vehicles or forklifts. Because the system features highly durable, easily replaceable components that boast a maintenance-free life of up to 30 years.”

Where can Crash Barriers be used?

Crash Barriers can be used in the following locations and applications:

Primary Environments:

• Car parks – Full beam installed between 560mm and 610mm standard height
• Factories – Full beam installed between 560mm and 610mm standard height
• Industrial premises – Full beam installed between at 760mm standard height
• Warehousing – Full beam installed between at 760mm standard height
• Loading bays – Double-stack two full beams to 1100mm height

Specific Functional Applications:

• Vehicle restraint
• Protection barriers against rockfall
• Pedestrian guardrails / protection
• Delineating boundaries
• Barrier control
• Race track safety barriers
• Protecting valuable stock, plant installations, and buildings from moving vehicles and forklift trucks

Why are Armco Crash Barriers so ubiquitous?

Crash Barriers are highly popular because they offer a combination of long-term asset protection, exceptional durability, and versatile safety applications.

(1) Superior Asset and Cost Protection: They provide the best possible protection for valuable stock, plant installations, and buildings from damage caused by moving vehicles and forklift trucks, which effectively minimizes expensive repairs and consequential financial losses from accidents.

(2) Exceptional Durability and Low Maintenance: They feature a maintenance-free operational lifespan of up to 30 years, making them a highly cost-effective and reliable long-term investment.

(3) Sustainable and Replaceable Design: If an impact does occur, the barrier components are fully replaceable, meaning individual damaged parts can be swapped out easily without needing to replace the entire system.

(4) High Versatility: They can be adapted to a wide variety of off-road safety needs, including vehicle restraint, pedestrian guardrails, boundary delineation, barrier control, racetrack safety, and even protection against rockfall.

How to order.

Now you have more insight into the benefits and use cases of crash barrier, you’ll need to know how to buy this product.

 

(1) Overall length of each run = Number of beams required
(2) Bolt-down or concrete-in posts = Number of posts
(3) Any corner or ends = Number required
(4) Number of lap bolts = 8 per beam
(5) Number of post bolts = 1 per post

FAQs

How do I calculate the exact number of crash barrier beams & posts needed for a specific run length?2026-05-28T16:14:53+01:00

Standard Armco corrugated beams have an overall length of 3.5m, but because they overlap at the joints, they provide an effective coverage length of 3.2m.

To calculate your required materials:

(1) Divide your total required length by 3.2m to get the number of beams (round up).

(2) For post spacing, the standard is 3.2m centres (one post per beam lap) for general use, or 1.6m centres (two posts per beam) for high-impact areas requiring double the structural strength.

(3) Always add one extra post to finish the end of the final run.

What are the standard heights for installing Armco barriers?2026-05-28T16:12:21+01:00

To ensure the corrugated beam strikes a vehicle at its optimal centre of gravity, follow these standard guidelines measured from the ground to the top of the barrier beam:

• Car Parks & Light Commercial (560mm – 610mm): Standard height to catch the bumper of a typical passenger car or estate.

• HGV & Warehouse Yards (760mm): Elevated height designed to stop larger commercial vehicles, rigid trucks, and trailers.

• Double-Row Barriers (1100mm): Utilises two stacked beams on a single tall post to provide full-height protection against both cars and high-clearance HGVs simultaneously.

What is the difference between RSJ & Z-posts for Crash Barriers, and which do I need?2026-05-28T16:06:40+01:00

The choice comes down to the environment and budget:

• RSJ Posts (Rolled Steel Joist): These feature an ‘H’ or ‘I’ cross-section. They are incredibly rigid, heavy-duty, and offer maximum resistance. If you are protecting high-value machinery, structural building columns, or dealing with heavy HGVs, RSJ is the industry standard.

• Z-Posts: These are manufactured from lighter steel folded into a ‘Z’ shape. They are designed to bend and absorb energy progressively during an impact, making them highly cost-effective for lower-speed environments like car parks or commercial perimeters.

How do I know whether to choose bolt-down or concrete-in posts?2026-05-28T16:04:37+01:00

It completely depends on your substrate material and the level of impact protection you require:

• Bolt-down (Base-plated) Posts: Best for existing, solid concrete surfaces (like service yards or multi-storey car parks). They are quicker to install but rely heavily on the structural integrity of the concrete slab and the anchors used.

• Concrete-in Posts: Ideal for tarmac, block paving, or raw ground/soil. Digging in and concreting the posts provides much higher resistance against heavy-vehicle impacts because the surrounding earth absorbs the kinetic energy.

If bolting down to concrete, ensure the slab is at least 150mm thick and fully cured to prevent the anchors from pulling out or cracking the concrete upon impact.

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