If high security is a concern for your property, a crash rated fence system may be exactly what you need. Anti-crash/anti-ram fences provide a superior barrier against vehicular attacks and are perfect for high-risk facilities, borders, and other sites of extreme sensitivity. To ensure property security from vehicular attack, a certified system of testing and analysis dictates the crash rating of fences based on impact and penetration.
Who Needs a Crash Rated Fence?
Certain types of establishments are more prone to vehicular attacks than others. Facilities that contain items or information of high value are at risk. Terrorists and other criminals will go to great lengths to enter such areas, therefore, maximum security measures must be taken. Other properties, such as stadiums, government agency buildings, and water treatment plants, may utilize crash rated fencing in order to ensure the safety of each individual inside.
Crash Ratings for Fences
The qualifications and guidelines for rating fences for crash protection are governed by a system recognized as the standard for anti-vehicle barriers. This system was developed using a combination of factors such as velocity, size and angle of the approaching vehicle, and the penetration distance allowed. Crash test certifications clearly indicate the penetration rate and impact conditions (as specified through the publications of the DOS and ASTM).
Vehicle Barrier Protection Specifications
Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (ATFP or AT/FP)
The Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection standards were established by the Department of State (DOS) for the purpose of qualifying a barrier’s ability to prevent a vehicle from forcibly entering a building or perimeter. DOS crash rating guidelines designate three main levels of protection: K4, K8, and K12.
These K ratings (the ‘K’ being derived from the kinetic energy contained within an object’s motion) are determined by measuring the penetration depth of a 15,000 pound vehicle after its initial impact with a barrier. In order to receive a K rating, a barrier must be capable of preventing a penetration depth of more than one meter at attack speeds of 30 mph (K4), 40 mph (K8), and 50 mph (K12).
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) certify crash rated products using a larger sample of attack vehicles and impact speeds. ASTM uses additional abbreviations to communicate the approximate size of the test vehicle, the test vehicle’s speed upon impact, and the depth of penetration. A K4 equivalent within these standards would be M30-P1, where M=medium-duty truck, 30=speed in miles per hour, and P1=penetration depth of less than or equal to one meter.