Vehicle barrier
Vehicle barrier systems
Just two simple words, vehicle barrier, but within those two words lays a world of security systems and technologies designed to meet the security challenges of the 21st century.
A simple definition of a vehicle barrier might well be: a vehicle barrier is any device, obstacle or barrier designed to stop or hinder the passage of a motorised vehicle. Sound simple right? But in today’s world of terror threats, miniaturised weapons delivery systems and fanatics willing to kill themselves in the name of their beliefs, a vehicle barrier system is much, much more than a that simple definition.
Today’s vehicle barrier systems are complex and specialized. Vehicle barrier systems are designed for specific needs, missions and situations. They utilize a wide variety of technologies, some new, some old, new materials, and new designs in order to make the job of security forces easier, more effective and safer.
Mobile vehicle barrier systems
A modern security of fast response unit has to be ready and to deploy within hours, sometime even minutes. This brings a need for a vehicle barrier system that is light but effective, can easily be transported and erected and modified in order to take into count terrain, surrounding conditions and also the expected threat. Here to, different types of vehicle barrier systems exist depending from those that can be transported on the back of a pickup truck and more complex systems that are transported on a specialized trailer.
The smaller vehicle barrier system is usually a series of metal barriers, designed to resist impact and to also slow down or stop a vehicle trying to force a way through so that security forces will have time to react. This type of vehicle barrier system is quick to erect and dismantle and enables security units to switch location fast and thus keep the element of surprise on their side.
Another form of mobile vehicle barrier system is larger, heavier and more cumbersome and is used for situations where the vehicle barrier is meant to be in place for an extended period of time or the threat assessment is such that the lighter vehicle barrier systems are deemed insufficient. The heavier vehicle barrier systems are usually mounted on specialised trailers which are part of the vehicle barrier.
Fixed vehicle barrier systems
Used in permanent installation the fixed vehicle barrier systems is a unit that costs a great deal of money. But if the installation to be protected is deemed important enough, then it is money well spent. Modern fixed vehicle barrier systems can take the form of massive concrete blocks to sophisticated technological systems consisting of bollards hidden beneath the road surface that can be pneumatically raised in less than one second from a distance, capable of stopping even a speeding truck and without putting security personnel at risk.
Published in Security