Concrete barriers are an effective means of blocking any unwanted vehicles into your construction site. But what about unwanted people? Can they climb over the barrier?
In this blog, we will be answering the question, ‘What is the height of a concrete barrier?’
As an established and trusted concrete provider, PPC Concrete Products aim to provide solutions for people in the construction industry. Alongside interlocking concrete blocks, we also provide Jersey Barriers.
For any building project, knowing the options you can select when it comes to barriers and other concrete solutions can be extremely helpful when it comes to protecting access to your project, building it, and possibly saving you money.
PPC Concrete Products is here to provide the answers you may be looking for whilst giving you an insight into the quality concrete options we supply.
The demand for construction is only increasing, on a private and industrial level. Whichever side you fall into, a concrete barrier may be an option to keep your site secure. Let us tell you more about them.
Why do we need barriers?
Barriers are vital for our everyday life, they come in many shapes and sizes, the front door to your home, the walls of your house, and even your shower cubicle, are all forms of barriers.
The purpose of a barrier is to keep something away from what is behind or inside the barrier. When it comes to construction sites, barriers play a vital role in ensuring the safety of all who are working on the site, and those who are passing by.
The uses of a concrete barrier
Although the purpose of a concrete barrier is quite simple, its level of application is wide. Here is where concrete barriers are used.
- On roads for traffic control.
- For perimeter protection during events (crowd control), construction and more.
- For temporary construction works.
- To protect workers from hazards such as heavy machinery.
- To ensure the safety of motorways and dual carriageways under work
- For security barriers at open rail lines.
- To support a large, temporary structure, such as scaffolding, a stage, or a marquee tent.
- To block unwanted vehicles (e.g. blocking vehicles from getting into a secure location, such as an airport).
- For docking next to waterways.
- For creating parking bays.
- For securing a vacant area.
- For preventing fly-tipping.
- To be used as a base for public seating, public artwork or a public garden feature.
- For use in a public playground or skate park.
What is the height of a concrete barrier?
The concrete barriers we provide are at a height of 90cm, and a width of 200cm.
The height of the barrier serves as an ample line of defence against any vehicle trying to enter a site it is not supposed to.
Our concrete barriers are more narrow on the top than they are on the bottom, this is done to ensure stability, the lighter the top area is, the less weight that can be used for leverage in knocking over the concrete barriers.
With that in mind, the thickness at the bottom of our concrete barriers are 542 mm, the top is 200mm.
These dimensions display that Jersey barriers aren’t tall structures, but more than tall and wide enough to barricade your site from vehicles. The thickness also ensures they become extremely difficult to make unstable, and adds an extra level of durability.
The highly durable and heavy nature of the concrete itself ensures that anyone attempting to move damage the barrier will have a very difficult time. Although some would argue a 90cm height isn’t enough to deter any potential trespassers from climbing over.
How can I make a concrete barrier taller?
Most if not all construction sites have some level of security, a concrete barrier is going to stop any vehicles from driving into the site that shouldn’t be. But there may be occasions in which you can’t have anybody even attempting to try to enter, whether that be through a vehicle or climbing over the barrier.
Using interlocking concrete blocks provides an opportunity to create a taller barrier, as these blocks have the ability to be stacked upon one another.
Interlocking concrete blocks explained
Interlocking Concrete Blocks are a unique form of pre-cast concrete blocks that are designed to hold together by using pre-measured studs and recesses. These concrete blocks are built with unique profiles and features, which allow them to fit perfectly into each other.
If you are not sure which interlocking block is suitable for creating your concrete barrier, then get in touch with us today. Our expert team can advise you on your query and answer any questions you may have.
What are the advantages of interlocking concrete blocks?
- Longer lasting and more durable than a Gabion basket
- Quicker and less hassle to install
- No need for mortar, saving you money and time
- No need for steel reinforcement or shuttering
- Resistant to extreme weather conditions
- Fire-resistant properties, mitigating the spread of fire depending on structure
- Little maintenance required
- Often, no foundation is needed before installing
- Sound resistant
- Sustainable
- Ability to stack them upon each other
- Flexibility in sizes
- Appropriate for temporary and/or permanent buildings
- Unlikely to be displaced due to the interlocking function
- Can be moved with standard lifting equipment
What are interlocking concrete blocks used for?
PPC Concrete Products supply interlocking concrete blocks, we can share with you what they are used for.
- Material Storage bays
- Blast walls
- Salt stores
- Crash protection
- Push walls
- Security barriers
- Segregation bays i.e recycling centres
- Retaining walls
- Industrial buildings
- Fire breaks
- Counterweights
- Roadblocks
Can barriers only be made from concrete?
No, for barriers can be made from many materials, the main forms you would find them in aside from concrete, would be metal or plastic.
Each has its pros and cons, but you must be aware that for a construction site, a metal or plastic barrier is much less durable and easier to move. As a result, if you’re using these styles of barriers to stop vehicles from entering, you will find that it won’t be effective.
That does not mean that these styles of barriers can’t be used on a construction site at all, on the contrary, a metal or plastic barrier can be placed in a way to serve a function such as directing people or cordoning off a space.
What happens if my site has no barriers at all?
Simply put, if you aren’t using a concrete barrier, your site has a higher likelihood of being trespassed by people and vehicles alike if they so choose. Additionally, you may be risking the health and safety of the workers on the site.
The risk to worker safety in conjunction with not using a concrete barrier arises as there may be a specific area that workers shouldn’t enter. With no indication that this area shouldn’t be accessed, there is a risk to health and safety.
Purchase concrete barriers today
As an established supplier all over the UK, PPC Concrete Products is always happy to help, which is why we encourage you to get in touch with any questions you may have or take a look at our FAQ.
In this article, we hope to have answered the question ‘What is the height of a concrete barrier?’ Whilst also providing extra information in regard to construction and the benefits of our concrete barriers.
Take a read of our case studies to truly understand how we have provided solutions for business in the past with the use of our interlocking concrete blocks, and ultimately, how we can help you today.
Read our blog page for more insights into our passion, construction.
Address:
The Old Gasworks,
Higginshaw Lane,
Royton,
Oldham,
OL2 6HQ
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday – 8 AM til 4 PM
Tel: 01706 655245
Email: info@ppcconcreteproducts.co.uk
