Road barriers are an integral part of highways. Their main function is to indicate the trajectory of traffic, as well as to mitigate the consequences of an accident and prevent the car from tipping over into a ditch. Increasingly, such barriers are used not only on intercity routes, but also on urban roads as security fences.
Main types of road barriers
There are 2 main groups of fences:
- Barrier-type structures (parapets, curbs, etc.), which are used to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway, flyovers, overpasses, as well as to avoid collisions and collisions with structures located in allotment lane. Road barrier fencing can be metal, concrete and plastic.
- Perail-type structures - metal nets designed to prevent animals from entering the roadway, as well as to streamline the movement of pedestrians.
Metal fences
Thanks to myadvantages, this type of fencing is the most popular. It is a structure that deforms upon impact. The metal profile is fixed on separate steel or wooden racks. When a car hits, part of the energy is taken over by a shock absorber located between the strut and the profile. Therefore, the main role of the fence is to reduce accidents on the road and reduce the consequences of road accidents.
Such designs are easy to install and dismantle. Metal road barriers are used not only on highways, but also on construction sites, and for fencing pedestrian areas.
These fences are made in accordance with the special requirements of GOST. When choosing structures, in addition to their practical purpose, it is necessary to take into account climatic and seismic conditions. In accordance with these factors, special attention is paid to the load-bearing supports.
Concrete railings
These are non-deformable structures made of concrete or reinforced concrete. In the form of borders, fences are used:
- up to 35 cm high, which have a rounded smooth edge and serve as a decorative border for sidewalks;
- Structures between 35cm and 50cm high with a steep edge to keep a vehicle on the roadway.
In addition to them, there is also a parapet fence - its height is more than 50 cm. In appearance, this design resembles a solid wall that separates the roadway from the pedestrian paths and prevents the car from leaving thesidewalks. The facade surface of these fences, as a rule, is inclined with a rounded top edge.
Water-filled blocks
Quite often now there is a road barrier made of plastic. Such structures have significant advantages over concrete or metal. In addition to being easy to transport and install, these railings provide the greatest safety in the event of a car accident.
The most common are water-filled road blocks made of red and white plastic. When filled with water through the hole in the upper part with a plug, they form fairly stable structures that serve to redirect the traffic flow, as well as to ensure safety as a reliable fence for roadworks. A drain hole is provided at the bottom of the fence. The plastic used for the manufacture of water-filled barriers is resistant to sudden changes in temperature, withstands frosts down to -40 ⁰С, does not fade in the sun, is easy to clean and does not require painting.
Possibility of arranging blocks at different angles to each other allows you to fence off any sections of the road, including various turns, as well as pits and pits. Additional reflective markings can be glued to such a fence. As a bright visual reference, plastic road barriers help keep traffic safe.
Other types of fencing
In ordersafety during construction work, it is imperative to use special road barriers made of both plastic and any other materials.
The best option for construction sites are bright plastic nets that are clearly visible in any weather. They are highly durable, lightweight and resistant to decay, which allows them to be used for a very long time.
Mesh railing type are used to streamline the movement of pedestrians and to prevent the appearance of animals on the roadway.
Instead of a mesh, a protective tape with alternating red and white colors is sometimes used. Soft cone-shaped road barriers, signal garlands or movable barriers with a logo can warn about uneven road ground, holes or any obstacles.
