An integral part of highways are road fences. Their main function is to designate the trajectory of the vehicle, as well as mitigate the consequences of an accident and prevent the vehicle from tipping over into a ditch. Such fences are increasingly being used not only on intercity routes, but also on city roads as safety fences.
The main types of road fences
There are 2 main groups of fences:
- Barrier structures (parapets, borders, etc.) that are used to prevent vehicle exits from the roadway, overpasses, overpasses, as well as to avoid collisions and collisions with structures located in the right of way. Road barrier can be metal, concrete and plastic.
- The railings are metal grids designed to prevent animals from entering the carriageway, as well as to streamline the movement of pedestrians.
Metal fences
Due to its advantages, this type of fencing is the most popular. It is a construction that deforms upon impact. The metal profile is fixed to individual steel or wooden racks. When a car is hit, part of the energy is taken over by a shock absorber located between the strut and the profile. Therefore, the main role of the fence is to reduce the accident rate on the road and reduce the consequences of accidents.
Such designs are easy to install and dismantle. Metal road fences are used not only on highways, but also on construction sites, and for fencing pedestrian areas.
These fences are made in accordance with the special requirements of GOST. When choosing structures, in addition to their practical purpose, it is necessary to take into account climatic and seismic conditions. In accordance with these factors, special attention is paid to the support legs.
Concrete fencing
These are non-deformable structures made of concrete or reinforced concrete. In the form of borders, fences are used:
- up to 35 cm high, which have a rounded smooth edge and play the role of decorative bordering of sidewalks;
- Structures from 35 to 50 cm high with a steep edge, capable of holding the vehicle on the roadway.
In addition to them, there is also a parapet fence - its height is more than 50 cm. In appearance, this design resembles a solid wall that separates the carriageway from pedestrian walkways and prevents the car from moving onto sidewalks. The front surface of these fences is generally inclined with a rounded top edge.
Water filling blocks
Quite often now there is a road barrier made of plastic. Such designs have significant advantages over concrete or metal. In addition to being easy to transport and assemble, these guards provide the greatest safety in the event of a car accident.
The most common are water-filled road blocks made of red and white plastic. When filling them with water through a hole with a plug in the upper part, they form fairly stable structures that serve to redirect the traffic flow, as well as to ensure safety as a reliable fence of road works. A drain hole is provided at the bottom of the fence. The plastic used for the manufacture of water-filling barriers is characterized by resistance to sudden changes in temperature, withstands frosts of -40 ° C, does not fade under the sun, is easy to clean and does not require painting.
The ability to arrange blocks at different angles to each other allows you to enclose any sections of the road, including various turns, as well as pits and pits. An additional retro-reflective marking can be glued to such a fence. Being a bright visual reference point, plastic road barriers help to ensure traffic safety.
Other types of fences
For safety reasons, when carrying out construction work, it is necessary to use special road fences made of plastic and any other materials.
The best option for construction sites are bright plastic grids that are clearly visible in any weather. They are characterized by high strength, lightness and resistance to decay, which allows them to be used for a very long time.
Metal railing type nets are used to streamline the movement of pedestrians and in order to prevent the appearance of animals on the roadway.
Instead of a grid, sometimes a protective tape with alternating red and white colors is used. Soft cone-shaped road fences, signal garlands or mobile fences with a logo can warn of road irregularities, pits or any obstacles.