Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Barriers: Protecting People and Property
If someone tried to drive onto your property without stopping for fences, gates, or pedestrians, how far would they get? With the right security measures in place, you can effectively stop these vehicles in their tracks, safeguarding your people and assets. In this guide, we'll explore some of the most effective strategies you can adopt to defend against vehicle attacks.
Table of Contents:
- What Is a Vehicle as a Weapon Attack?
- How to Prevent Vehicle Attacks
- What Are Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Barriers?
- How Are Vehicle Security Barriers Tested?
- Types of Vehicle Mitigation Barriers
- HVM Applications
- Choose TYMETAL For Your Next HVM Product
What Is a Vehicle as a Weapon Attack?
Unfortunately, vehicle-related accidents happen frequently and can have devastating consequences. In 2020 alone, there were 42,060 fatal car crashes in the U.S., averaging over 115 daily. While most crashes result from negligence and aren't intentional, there has been an uptick in what's known as vehicle-as-a-weapon (VAW) attacks.
These incidents occur when a person uses a vehicle to harm others or themselves, either randomly or as part of a targeted terrorist attack. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence reports that vehicle-ramming attacks are the most common type in the U.S. A prime example was the 2016 incident in Nice, France, where a driver intentionally hit a crowd, killing 86 people. While not all VAW events are this severe, they often lead to fatalities and injuries. Additionally, these attacks can cause significant property damage.
How to Prevent Vehicle Attacks
Architects, engineers, and facility owners should be aware of the VAW threat and take steps to protect buildings and people. This is known as hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM). Two primary approaches exist:
1. Campus Design - Creating curved access roads or sharp turns before entrances to hinder vehicle speed.
2. Physical Barriers - Installing barriers like bollards, crash fences, and anti-ram gates to block unauthorized vehicles.
While these measures can't prevent someone from planning an attack, they can significantly slow or stop an attempt if implemented properly.
What Are Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Barriers?
HVM barriers are designed to stop vehicles from entering pedestrian zones or buildings. Due to their protective function, they're also called hostile vehicle mitigation barriers. Remember, force equals mass times acceleration. An average SUV weighs around 5,000 pounds, so imagine the force generated if it hits something at high speed. Larger vehicles like semi-trucks exert even more force. Proper barriers must absorb and deflect this energy to keep people and property safe.
You've probably seen HVM barriers around colleges, government buildings, and city centers without realizing it. In public spaces, they often appear as decorative bollards. Private properties might have more conspicuous barriers like fences surrounding the perimeter.
How Are Vehicle Security Barriers Tested?
HVM barriers must undergo crash testing to meet specific standards. Key criteria include:
- US DOS/DOD K Ratings: Though no longer official, K4 (30 mph), K8 (40 mph), and K12 (50 mph) ratings indicate a barrier's ability to stop a 15,000-pound vehicle.
- ASTM F 2656: Replacing DOS/DOD ratings, these standards measure penetration more precisely.
- BSI PAS 68: A key U.K. standard specifying vehicle impact performance.
- IWA 14: A global standard for essential impact performance.
For more details on understanding crash ratings, check out our guide.
Types of Vehicle Mitigation Barriers
Barriers come in various forms but fall into two main categories:
Active Barriers - Deployable when needed for access control. Examples include drop-arm crash beams that raise to let authorized personnel in.
Passive Barriers - Always present, guarding perimeters where vehicles shouldn't enter. Think of immovable features like walls, fences, and bollards.
Most properties need both types for comprehensive protection. Here are some common options:
1. Crash-Rated Planters
Standard landscaping often lacks sufficient security for high-risk facilities. Instead, consider HVM planters that blend aesthetic appeal with strength. TYMETAL's Universal Slimline Planter 40 can stop a 7.5-ton vehicle traveling at 40 mph. On the surface, it looks like a sleek planter filled with plants, but it's actually a concrete security unit.
2. Crash Beams
Ideal for access points, crash beams resemble parking garage arms but are far more robust. Made from durable materials like aluminum and steel, they anchor into concrete bases. TYMETAL offers models rated for impacts from 30 to 50 mph. Options include manual, hydraulic, and electro-mechanical operation.
3. Bollards
Bollards are cylindrical posts spaced to permit pedestrian/cyclist access while blocking vehicles. Available in removable and fixed varieties, they must be strong enough to stop speeding vehicles.
Removable bollards are capped with ground covers when retracted and can be redeployed as needed. Fixed bollards are permanently installed with deep concrete footings. TYMETAL's shallow-mount designs flex slightly on impact, reflecting much of the vehicle's energy back at it. Their heaviest model stops a 16,534-pound vehicle traveling at 50 mph.
4. Fences
Regular fences stop foot traffic but collapse under vehicle impact. To enhance perimeter security against VAW attacks, install crash-rated fences. Critical facilities especially need this added layer of protection.
These fences consist of posts/bollards linked by cables. Upon impact, the vehicle's energy deflects, halting further progress. TYMETAL offers models stopping vehicles up to 15,000 pounds at 50 mph in various configurations.
5. Gates
Gates control access to restricted areas. Normally, a closed gate suffices, but hostile intruders target gates during breaches. Anti-ram gates address this threat. Like standard gates, crash-rated gates open manually or automatically.
TYMETAL provides several types, including cantilever slide gates, overhead slide gates, and swing gates. Automating your facility with crash-rated gates is vital since attackers usually target entry points.
HVM Applications
HVM barriers serve numerous facilities crucial to maintaining security. Common examples include:
- Airports
- Government buildings
- Border stations
- Schools and universities
- Data centers
- Public utilities
- Banks
- Educational institutions
- Sporting venues
- Public parks and squares
Any facility wanting to strengthen counter-terrorism measures can benefit from HVM barriers. Even public areas like parks and shopping districts can employ barriers to protect pedestrians.
Choose TYMETAL for Your Next HVM Product
Boosting your property's HVM measures? Partner with TYMETAL. With decades of industry experience and a commitment to innovation, TYMETAL delivers top-tier HVM solutions. Learn more about how we can assist with your HVM security by filling out our online form or calling 888-978-GATE (4283).
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