Imagine you are setting up a high-traffic worksite where vehicles pass just meters away, and the only safeguard for your crew is the barrier you’ve put in place. In such situations, the reliability and suitability of your crash barrier become critical. Choosing the wrong barrier can lead to safety risks, compliance challenges, and costly delays.
This guide walks you through the key considerations, from site conditions to certifications, so you can select the right crash barrier with confidence and keep your project running smoothly.
How to select the right crash barrier
Step 1: Site assessment
You can only select the right crash barrier if you know your requirements. No matter how good and strong a barrier is, if it doesn’t fit your site’s requirements, it will not do the job right. Hence, your first step is to thoroughly analyse your site.
- Analyse your site: Is it a highway, high-traffic road, bridge, parking lot, a construction site or a pedestrian walkway?
- Consider the speed limit: The higher the speed, the higher the crash-rated barrier you will need.
- Look for safety hazards and site conditions such as loose ground, suspended loads, sharp curves, and tight spaces, and consider how they might impact installation.
Consider how you want your barriers to function. When dealing with traffic, urban roads, bridges or highways, the barrier response should be carefully considered. The wrong barrier can result in devastating accidents.
In the case of a dual carriageway, the barriers should not have high deflection as they will become a hazard for the oncoming traffic.
Similarly, flexible barriers, no matter how strong they are, won’t be the right fit for a bridge. You need concrete barriers that are rigid and redirect the vehicle back to the bridge while preventing it from breaching the barrier.
Check out: How crash barriers work to save lives?
Once you have all the information about your location, estimate the area you need to barricade. This data will help you establish the quantity you need.
Step 2: Regulations
The next step is to be aware of your local regulatory requirements. Different locations may have specific requirements regarding the size, material and type of crash barrier. Always check your local requirements, as failing to comply can result in project suspension and costly fines.
Step 3: Duration of use and mobility
One thing that will narrow down your options is considering whether you need temporary or permanent barricading. If you need to barricade a construction site or work zone, where the barriers must move as the work progresses, opt for temporary barriers. They can be easily installed and removed, making them ideal for changing site needs.
Water-filled barriers are used as a temporary alternative to concrete and steel barriers due to their versatility and easy installation. If you need to install permanent barriers, your options will include concrete, w-beam and cable barriers.
Step 4: Select the barrier type
Once you are aware of your requirements, you can filter through different barrier types. The following table will help you choose the right barrier type based on the key factors we have discussed above.
| Concrete barriers | W-beam barriers | Cable barriers | Water-filled barriers | |
| Mobility and Installation | Heavy, difficult to move once installed | Requires installation, less bulky than concrete | Requires anchoring, not easily movable | Lightweight when empty, easy to transport and reposition |
| Duration of use | Permanent | Permanent | Permanent | Temporary |
| Barrier response | Rigid, redirects vehicles with minimal deflection | Semi-rigid barriers with controlled deflection | Flexible, absorbs energy and a large deflection zone is needed | Flexible, absorbs energy, but not ideal for high-risk locations |
Learn more about types of crash barriers and their applications in our crash barriers 101 guide.
Step 5: Appropriate crash rating
After short-listing the barrier type(s), you need to ensure that they offer the required level of protection. Crash ratings will show the barrier’s protection limit. These ratings ensure the barriers are tested for the specified speed limits and vehicle types.
You can learn more about the crash ratings and their levels in our guide on what crash ratings are. The speed limit and vehicle types you assessed in the first step will help you select the right crash-rated barrier.
Step 6: Certifications
Lastly, make sure the barriers are up to the Australian standards and have the necessary certifications. We build all our crash barriers to meet MASH ratings and Australian Standards, proving they perform as intended and giving you confidence in their reliability.
Get expert advice on selecting the right barrier for your project
If you are still unsure which barrier is the safest choice for your project, or want an expert second opinion, reach out to Legend Hire. Our team will guide you in selecting a crash barrier that’s both safe and fully compliant. We will guide you on assessing your site, checking the regulations and will offer you the best-suited options.
You can also explore our range of crash barriers and road safety equipment.