Vehicle Barrier FAQ
What is an Anti-Terrorism Crash Barrier System?
A barrier meant to stop, disable, or destroy vehicles intentionally driven into the perimeter of a protected area. These barriers may be active (movable at the push of a button) or static (permanently in a vehicle-stopping posture) and be located at gate entrances or along perimeters between vehicle access points.
Are Crash Barriers ever attacked?
Several notable attacks in the past few years involving airports, military, and oil refinery installations have been stopped partially or completely by vehicle barriers designed to deter a terroristic attack. Other instances of malicious intent involving disgruntled employees, drunk drivers, etc. have been stopped by crash barriers as well. Many smaller instances of non-terroristic attacks have been stopped which were a threat to the facilities protected even though there was no terroristic intent. Some areas with large perimeters and significant traffic are hit annually or more often due to uncontrolled vehicles that may not be intentional attacks, they are still dangerous due to their unpredictability.
Can Guard Rails be used as a Crash Barrier?
What is the difference between a Crash-Rated and Crash-Engineered system?
How is site grading an important factor in crash-rated barrier installation?
Grading impacts the flow of water drainage into or around security barriers. Water damage to barriers has the potential to rust out the steel and damage electronics. Stormwater should be directed away from security barriers.
Should security barriers be galvanized?
We would recommend galvanizing all security barriers to prevent premature rusting of steel to ensure the barrier has a full 20 year lifespan.
The barrier company doesn’t have gates like the ones I need. Who should manage the procurement?
Buying equipment from multiple companies is complicated because often the gates and barriers are activating together. (gate opens, barrier drops, gate arm raises in sequence) Gate, barrier, and traffic arm companies don’t generally work collaboratively at a manufacturer level so this is where it makes sense to buy the full equipment package from a barrier integrator like Sloan. Sloan procures barriers and gates from over 20 manufacturers and then integrates them together.
What is the first issue that usually goes wrong on a security barrier project?
Often during procurement the ordering of the equipment from the manufacturer is done incorrectly and the wrong barrier or the right barrier without the correct options is ordered.
Why are vehicle barrier controls so difficult to order?
Controls are complex as they include programming the sequence of operations, impact multiple pieces of equipment including safety sensors, obstruction loops, vehicle barriers, integrated gates, traffic arms, signal lights, warning systems and other aspects of the barrier systems.