Understanding Crash Ratings
Understanding crash ratings will help anyone decide which bollard is right for them. Knowing the difference between the ratings will help you choose the right vehicle barrier to buy. There are three ratings to understand, broken into three categories. The first category is weight. This refers to the vehicle's weight. It is classified into C, PU, M, and H. The second rating is the vehicle's speed. It is broken down into speeds of 30, 40, and 50 mph. The last rating category is penetration distance. They are shown as P1, P2, P3, and P4. Before diving into these ratings, there is an older rating made by the Department of Defense that is still occasionally used. It is the K rating.
K-Rating
The K-Rating was developed by the Department of Defense in the 1980s. It rated vehicles based on speed and how far the front bumper penetrated a barrier. It is still used in some product ratings today, but most new products use a newer rating called ASTM F2656. The K-Rating breaks down vehicle speed into three categories: K4 (30 mph carrying 15,000 lbs.), K8 (40 mph carrying 15,000 lbs.), and K12 (50 mph carrying 15,000 lbs.). The penetration distance is also broken down into three categories: L3 (less than 3 features), L2 (between 3 features and 20 features), and L1 (between 20 features and 50 feet).
Example: A K12 L2 Barrier will stop a 15,000 lb. vehicle traveling 50 miles per hour and will stop within 3 - 20 feet
ASTM F2656 Rating
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard is replacing the K-Rating standard. It was originally adopted in 2007, but it has been revised since. Both methods use the same miles-per-hour testing, but the M-ratings replace the L-ratings with a P-rating. Some people refer to this new standard as the M-Rating. The "M" signifies 1a 5,000 lb. vehicle weight. The speed is either 30, 40, or 50 mph. The penetration distance is shown as P1 (< 3.3 feet), P2 (3.3 - 23 feet), P3 (23.1 - 98.4 feet), and P4 (> 98.4 feet).
Example: A M30 P1 Barrier will stop a 15,000 lb. medium-duty truck traveling 30 miles per hour and will stop before 3.3 feet
Top-level protection: The full range of BFT bollards covers every type of use, from simple residential car parks to places requiring special security measures, with knock-proof, break-proof anti-terrorism devices. The assortment includes electromechanical and hydraulic products, as well as manual bollards with internal gas springs. They can even be integrated into the U-link network for control and maintenance.
BFT Anti-Terrorism Rated Bollards Catalog
Once you understand crash ratings and what they mean, it should be much easier to decide which bollard or accessory suits your needs. If you would like to place an order or have any questions, do not hesitate to call one of our friendly sales representatives. We are happy to help in any way we can.
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