Construction site managers, municipal workers, and event managers should provide safety in high-risk areas. For this purpose, you can use pedestrian barriers. In your construction zones & public sites, these barriers maintain order and control the overall movement of people and your vehicles.
In this article, you will read about the types, uses, materials, and particular laws about pedestrian barriers.
What Are Pedestrian Barriers?
As the name suggests, pedestrian barriers are physical structures that allow you to modify the pedestrian pathways. You can guide, block, or divert the way of pedestrians. Commonly, they are placed in crowded areas to handle the rush, like events, transit stations and public places.
Types of Pedestrian Barriers
Pedestrian Walkway Barriers
Pedestrian walkway barriers are physical safety structures such as metal rails or concrete blocks. You can install these barriers to clearly mark safe walking areas and separate people from vehicles or dangerous areas. These barriers are lighter and mainly used for guidance to control pedestrian movement in sidewalks or public areas.
Pedestrian Crash Barriers
Pedestrian crash barriers are designed to protect people from vehicles and machines. You must place these safety tools to separate walking areas from danger zones. These barriers can absorb crash force well and redirect vehicles to prevent injuries on roadsides and in warehouses. This way, you can prevent traffic and pedestrian crashes in high-risk areas.
Safety Fences
You can use safety fences to protect pedestrians from the machinery, hazardous materials, and traffic. Mostly, these fences are used in commercial places to channelize the pedestrian pathway. You will be directed in a certain direction through physical and visual guidelines. These pathways are equipped with lights to provide clear visuals at night.
Modular Barrier Systems
The modular barrier system is a flexible type of barrier structure in which single units combine to make temporary barriers. You can easily deploy them anywhere without any technical installation.
You can reshape or extend the barrier anytime. They are common at places like cinemas, traffic controls, industrial safety and construction zones. These barriers can be equipped with reflective tapes to increase their visibility. Steel and plastic are the most commonly used materials for these types of barriers.
Guardrails
They are the preventive barriers that are installed at road sides, highways, industries, and other such places where a pathway is present for pedestrians. You can protect your pedestrians from heavy traffic and prevent any vehicle movement on the tracks. These guardrails are usually made of galvanized steel, high-impact plastic & flexible polymers. Normally, steel guardrails are deployed in heavy traffic areas.
Bollards
Basically, these are short, strong posts that stand upright. They are usually made up of steel or concrete. That’s why bollards are strong enough to stop cars from crossing into restricted areas. Permanent posts are embedded into the ground. But temporary ones are also available in the market. Commonly, the bollards are straight steel structures. But at some places you may see “U” shaped frames also.
Material of Pedestrian Barriers
Pedestrian barriers are made from strong and long-lasting materials. These include metal, plastic and concrete. If you need more solid barriers for busy areas, metal barriers made by steel & aluminum is the best option.
Manufacturers prefer plastic to achieve lightweight barriers. Hence it’s perfect for you at temporary events and small crowds. On the other hand, concrete barriers are generally heavier than plastic and metal barriers.
Pedestrian Barrier Features
Pedestrian control barriers have several features to improve safety and control movement. A standard pedestrian barrier design focuses on the following qualities.
Anti-Trip Feet: Anti trip feet keep pedestrian barriers stable and prevent slipping or movement. They also provide strong support on different ground surfaces for maximum safety.
Reflective Strips: These barriers are designed with reflective strips to improve visibility at night or in low light conditions. So, you can see barriers clearly and avoid possible danger.
Interlocking Mechanisms: Due to interlocking mechanisms, you can connect pedestrian barricades together. This way, you can create long and continuous safety lines for better crowd and traffic control.
Easy Installation: Barrier interlocking systems also allow you to install or connect quickly without tools. They also have built-in supports so you can place them directly on the ground.
Modular Design: Due to modular design of pedestrian barriers, you can adjust, expand or customize them to fit various sites.
Top Functions of Pedestrian Barriers
Pedestrian barriers are used at many places. You can see them on roads, in events or near buildings. Let’s look at their main functions.
Control Pedestrian Movement
As you know it’s very difficult to cross a road with heavy rush of traffic. Pedestrian barriers help in such a situation. They tell us where to walk or not. This stops people from going in the wrong way. It also keeps the crowd in order. Mostly, used in schools, events and near crossings.
Pedestrian Traffic Management
In busy areas, many people walk at the same time. Barriers can easily manage this crowd. They stop pushing and help people move in a line. This is very helpful during big events. In addition, they make walking easy and reduce the chance of accidents.
Safe Zones for Pedestrians
Barriers make a boundary for safe walking areas. Actually, these zones are created to secure the public from cars or heavy machines. It finally stops accidents. That’s why people feel safe while walking. Children and older people are more secure in these zones.
Block Dangerous Areas
Some places are risky, like construction zones or radiation areas. Barriers stop people from entering these places. They help avoid injury and danger. They are also used during road or heavy machine repairs.
Pedestrian Barrier Size
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Double Metal Foot
Barriers with double metal feet offer you extra support and stability. These barriers are 2.3 meters long and 1.1 meters tall in size. Its dimension is 490 mm wide at its base. You can place them in areas with heavy foot traffic and windy conditions.
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Thermo Plastic Foot
Well, thermo plastic feet are lightweight and durable too. Because they have a length of 1.1 meters from bottom to top. The weight is generally 16 kg which makes them easy to carry for you around your temporary setup.
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Barriers Blasts
These barriers are bigger and heavier than regular barriers due to its overall size of 2 meters. Manufacturers design its height according to the perdistain barriers standard that is 1.0 meter but some may be taller. You can place them when you need to tackle dangerous situations.
Places Where You Can Install Pedestrian Barriers
Pedestrian barriers are used at a wide range of places. Below, we will break down all the places where you can install these devices.
- Urban Streets and Crosswalks: Barriers are often used on busy streets. You can guide people on how to cross the road safely. They also stop people from walking into traffic.
- Schools and Parks: The main purpose of barriers around schools and parks is to keep children safe. Because they help in managing lines during school times or in busy park hours. Parents also feel more secure.
- Construction & Work Zones: Construction areas can be dangerous. Barriers keep people away from operational machines, tools, and deep holes. They also protect workers by keeping the public out.
- Concerts/Rallies: During concerts and rallies, many people gather in one place. At that time, barriers help to control the crowd and stop people from rushing toward celebrities.
- Public Gatherings: In public events like fairs or festivals, barriers are also used to give directions to people. Basically, they create safe zones and keep things well organized. This thing helps to avoid confusion and accidents.
Regulatory Requirements for Pedestrian Barriers
There are specific rules and standards designed by security authorities for pedestrian barriers. Everyone should follow them including security officers, construction site managers and workers as well.
- Government standards for design and installation: Barriers should have smooth edges and no sharp parts. They must be tall and wide enough to block pedestrian movement. There should be no gap when you place them. So that, barriers can’t slide or slip from their positions.
- Height, width and durability requirements: If we talk about the standard for height, the barrier must be at least 1.0 to 1.2 meters tall. However, the width of a single barrier panel should be around 2.0 meters. You have to care about the durability of the barrier and it is strong enough to handle heavy crowds.
- Accessibility considerations: Pedestrian barrier installed in a way that it is usable by people with disabilities. That means, paths should stay clear and there must be enough space for wheelchairs to pass. There should also be capacity for ramps, signals and loading zones to be added when needed.
Price Range of Pedestrian Barriers
Pedestrian barrier prices can fit different budgets. It ranges from low-cost plastic to high-end metal barriers.
However, the final price is also impacted by the strength, size and design of pedestrian barriers. The approximate cost for pedestrian barriers is generally around $8 to $25. The color and brand which you purchase is also an important factor that can change the overall cost of pedestrian barriers.
Final Words
So now you can see that pedestrian barriers are important parts at your workplaces and all construction areas. Remember that, you will get maximum benefits if you choose pedestrian barriers according to installation location, good material and type.
But, if you are looking for a top supplier and manufacturer in China for pedestrian barriers, JACKWIN will be your trusted partner. You can contact us today and we will ship your products at your doorstep.
FAQs
How Often Should Pedestrian Barriers Be Inspected?
You have to check pedestrian barriers daily for any damage. You have to do a full inspection every three months. In high traffic or risky areas, it’s good to maintain them daily or weekly. In case of collision, you have to inspect the barrier immediately.
What are Pedestrian Crossing Barriers?
Pedestrian crossing barriers are mainly designed for crosswalks and pedestrian safety. Unlike general pedestrian barriers, you can use them for the guidance of people to designated crossing points and block unsafe road entry.
What do Red and White Pedestrian Barriers Indicate?
Red and white pedestrian barriers are installed to show you restricted paths or dangerous areas like trenches or uneven surfaces. Due to these high contrast colors, you can see the barriers clearly from a distance.
When To Use Water Filled Pedestrian Barriers?
You can use water filled barriers to create temporary and visible safety boundaries in low speed traffic zones and public events. You should install them to separate pedestrians from vehicles, guide crowds plus restrict access.
