Concrete barriers act as a durable and stable source of protection for your site, though there may be other options available, those who are opting for a concrete barrier would want to know the types of concrete barriers that are available.
In this blog, we will be answering the question, ‘what type of barrier is made from concrete?’
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 are barriers necessary?
Barriers are necessary to indicate that an area is inaccessible, this can help maintain an ease of access to the area, as well as keep out people who should not be there, along with their vehicles.
Construction zones are dangerous for those not working on the site, so establishing a perimeter around the site also minimises the instance of a member of the public being injured by a potential hazard in the site.
What type of barrier is made from concrete?
In regards to types of barriers, there are two. Operable and stationary.
Stationary barriers as the name suggests, are barriers that remain in one place, though they don’t have to be fixed (unable to move). An example of a stationary barrier made from concrete are our concrete blocks, which are also sometimes referred to as Jersey barriers.
Operable barriers are more sophisticated, sometimes requiring machinery or electrical systems to operate, a very simple example of an operable barrier is a door that opens by pressing a button. It is unlikely these barriers can be made from concrete, but it may be possible.
Can barriers be made of other materials?
Yes, barriers can be made from plastic, metal or wood. There may be more options, but these are the general materials. Each material has its own pros and cons. Though here are some pros of the concrete barriers that override metal and wood.
- Concrete barriers are heavy, and thicker at the bottom, this ensures stability, durability and allows it not to be tampered with without the use of heavy machinery.
- Weather resistance prevents concrete barriers from being affected by issues such as rust and rot, which can be expected with metal and wood respectively.
- In terms of sustaining impact, concrete barriers are likely to be the least affected by a high velocity impact. In this instance, wood can break, and metal can bend, at the most, a thick concrete barrier will chip or crack.
What are the uses of a concrete barrier?
Although the purpose of a concrete barrier is quite simple, its level of application is wide. Here are the uses of a concrete barrier:
- For traffic control.
- For perimeter protection.
- For temporary construction works.
- To protect workers from hazards such as heavy machinery.
- For preventing flood damage.
- To ensure the safety of motorways and dual carriageways.
- For edge protection.
- To provide security at high-risk security situations (e.g. in response to a bomb threat or a terrorist attack).
- For crowd control (e.g. security barriers at music festivals.)
- For security barriers at open rail lines.
- To help provide security at temporary public functions (e.g. street parties, Christmas markets).
- To support a large, temporary structure, such as scaffolding, a stage, or a marquee tent.
- For preventing access for trespassers, intruders, thieves and squatters onto land/a building.
- To ensure the safety of pedestrians and road users during construction work.
- To keep pedestrians at a safe distance from landslides, deep water or debris.
- To keep passers-by away from dangerous land or a dangerous building.
- To contain large vehicles (e.g. HGV vehicles, caravans or buses).
- 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 helping to restrict views (e.g. if a view is distracting for drivers).
- For earth retention.
- 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.
Can interlocking concrete blocks be used for barriers?
Yes, you can use our interlocking concrete blocks as a barrier if needs be.
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
Will a concrete barrier prevent trespassing?
A concrete barrier can serve as a deterrent, or at the very least an indication that the site being barricaded does not allow trespassing. Unfortunately some may negelect this indication and continue to trespass.
Stopping trespassers is vital, as they could hurt themselves on the site, and even sabotage or tamper with elements of the worksite that could cause harm to others.
Having a level of security can help further deter people from trespassing. In regards to vehicles, a perimeter of concrete barrier is more than enough to prevent a vehicle from entering the site.
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 type of barrier is made from concrete?’ Whilst also providing extra information in regard to construction and the benefits of Jersey 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
