Steel barrier innovation boosts roadway safety

New developments in road equipment systems are the product of innovation in engineering and are helping boost safety. Despite an improvement in road safety over recent years, road accidents and their consequences remain a serious social problem. To limit the potential of accidents, the performance of road equipment such as safety barriers and lighting poles are defined by European standards (EN1317 and EN 12767). As CE-Marking to these standards is now based on performance requirements and not on national h
December 3, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
High roadway safety is claimed by ArcelorMIttal for its new barrier products

New developments in road equipment systems are the product of innovation in engineering and are helping boost safety. Despite an improvement in road safety over recent years, road accidents and their consequences remain a serious social problem.

To limit the potential of accidents, the performance of road equipment such as safety barriers and lighting poles are defined by European standards (EN1317 and EN 12767). As CE-Marking to these standards is now based on performance requirements and not on national habits, this has encouraged innovation.

According to Arcelor Mittal, the firm’s introduction of high strength steels to the barrier market offers benefits over conventional steel grades. The company says that the mechanical performance of high strength steel is better than that of commodity grades, while performance can be finely controlled during production. As a result, high strength steel solutions can be delivered that are lighter and are cost competitive.

In addition to steels which meet safety requirements, transport network owners want durable solutions for infrastructure. For steel road equipment, a new generation of metallic coatings have been developed by 3237 ArcelorMittal based on zinc-aluminium-magnesium alloys. ArcelorMittal markets this long-lasting coating under the name Magnelis. The new coating offers good durability, although Magnelis has a lower thickness than traditional galvanised coatings.

In partnership with customers, ArcelorMittal has developed solutions which combine high strength steels for structural resistance and Magnelis for durability. The co-engineering projects were carried out between ArcelorMittal and Mieres Tubos (Spain). And further co-engineering projects are underway.

In Europe, the 2013 Construction Products Regulation (CPR) encourages construction works to use natural resources sustainably. While the European Commission and the construction industry are still finalising the details, some standards have already been published and applied in different EU countries. The most advanced is EN 15804, which defines the methodology to produce an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for construction products. An EPD enables manufacturers to assess the environmental impact of products and ArcelorMittal has already published an EPD for its construction products. An EPD dedicated to safety barriers which utilise high strength steels and new coating solutions will be published in early 2015.

Road Markings, Barriers & Workzone Protection

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Crash cushion design
    February 13, 2012
    There are key differences in crash cushion design and quality for the United States and European markets. Developments in barrier technologies have followed the varying demands of specific markets, resulting in manufacturers offering different solutions for US and European needs.
    Read More
  • Siemens unveils passively safe traffic-signal poles
    March 12, 2018
    Siemens has unveiled a range of passively safe traffic signal poles that are performance-rated against BS EN 12767 They come in a wide variety of forms, finish and lengths from 2-6m, said Keith Manston, head of product management for Siemens. The poles are CE marked with a specification label confirming key features as required by BS EN 12899 including construction material, corrosion resistance and strength characteristics.
    Read More
  • Safety barriers deliver valuable road user protection
    February 14, 2012
    Safety barriers provide an invaluable service for all road users, Mike Woof reports The safety barrier market is a key one for the highway sector, with systems providing valuable protection for all categories of road users. The importance of passive protective devices such as safety barriers can often be overlooked by the road user but is well-understood by highway designers. Redirecting an errant vehicle back into the roadway and preventing it from crossing into traffic flowing in the other direction or fr
    Read More
  • Improving safety barriers for motorcyclists
    February 20, 2012
    Delays to better barrier safety pose further risks for Europe's powered two wheeled riders. The issue of safety for powered two wheeler riders (PTWRs) is a matter of some debate in Europe. Although Europe's PTWRs make up a mere fraction of the vehicle population, they figure highly in accident statistics. Safety provisions could be improved using available technology but a recent political decision has downgraded the importance of such a move.
    Read More

Highlighted Content