Armco Crash Barriers

Armco Crash Barriers: Beams, Posts and Ends from Stock

Armco crash barriers put a line of corrugated galvanised steel between vehicles and the things they must not hit: walls, doors, racking, plant and people. We supply every part of a barrier run, from the 3500mm corrugated beams and the posts to the terminal ends, corners and fixing bolts, for use inside and outside. Car parks, factories, warehouses and delivery bays are where most of it goes.

Buy from us and you get the whole run on one order, quoted within one hour in working hours, with next-day delivery on stock orders. Not sure what the run needs? Send us a plan or a photo and our free design service will list the parts for you.

What Goes into an Armco Barrier Run

Fixing bolts for the run are part of the range, so a single order covers the whole barrier.

How an Armco Barrier Run Goes Together

Each standard corrugated beam is 3500mm long and 3mm thick. Beams overlap by 300mm where they join, which gives each one an effective length of 3200mm along the run. The beams fix to steel posts, and the run is finished with a terminal end at each open end and a corner piece wherever it turns through 90 degrees.

The barrier can be built as a single height barrier, with one beam, or as a multiple height barrier with beams stacked on taller posts. Posts are either bolted down to an existing surface or cast into the ground. The legs can also be adapted to carry an integral handrail, so the same run guides pedestrians as well as stopping vehicles.

Runs rarely come out at an exact number of beams, so we cut beams to length and the run finishes exactly where you need it. Beams can also be curved to follow a bend.

Working Out Quantities

1. Beams. Divide the run length by 3.2m and round up. A straight 16m run takes five beams. A 20m run works out at 6.25, so it takes seven, and we can cut the last one to length.
2. Ends. One terminal end for every open end of the run. A straight run with two open ends takes two.
3. Corners. One internal or external 90 degree corner for every turn.
4. Posts and bolts. Send us the run lengths and we will list the posts and fixing bolts with the quote.

If the run has gaps for doors or pedestrian access, treat each section as its own run with its own ends.

How to Choose Posts, Ends and Finish

Traffic Shield: Armco-Type Barrier in Safety Yellow

For vehicle routes inside warehouses and factories, the Traffic Shield range is an Armco-type corrugated steel crash barrier finished in highly visible traffic safety yellow powder coat. It is made to protect people, machinery, building walls, shelving, racks and doors from moving vehicles such as forklifts. The guardrail is a heavy duty, high strength rail designed for in-plant use, made from hot rolled, cold formed 11 gauge steel. It is available from stock and shipped with the components and hardware needed for the run.

The same range includes Rack Shield guards for pallet racking and the Track Shield guard for rolling door tracks. Those protect a single point rather than a route, so they are covered with our warehouse safety barriers.

Materials and Finish

Every Armco component is hot dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 as standard, which suits barriers that sit outside in car parks and yards. Powder coated yellow is available as an option where the barrier needs to stand out, such as inside a building next to a traffic route. Traffic Shield comes in traffic safety yellow powder coat as standard.

If your specification calls up a particular standard or performance requirement, send it with your enquiry and we will confirm what we can supply against it.

Where Armco Barriers Are Used

• Car parks. Protecting staff, customers and property from moving vehicles.
• Delivery bays and yards. Protecting building walls and doors from lorries and forklifts.
• Factories and warehouses. Lining vehicle routes, guarding racking ends and shielding plant. Read how we approach separating pedestrians, vehicles and equipment.
• Cold stores and distribution centres. See safety products for cold rooms.

Project: protecting a new extension

A customer's facilities and inventory manager was worried that delivery lorries and forklift trucks would damage a new extension. Around 20 metres of perimeter protection was needed, with three access points kept open for customer and staff entry. We supplied Armco crash barriers for the outside walls and a key clamp and galvanised tube rail for demarcation inside, where a damaged section can simply be removed and swapped for a new one. Both systems reached site within two days, and the customer's own staff fitted them. Read a project using Armco, key clamps and galvanised tube.

Where the barrier also needs to guide people, pair it with a pedestrian rail built from key clamp fittings and galvanised key clamp tube, or mark out walkways with demarcation systems.

How to Order Armco Crash Barriers

1. Measure each straight run and note every corner and open end.
2. Decide whether posts bolt down to a slab or cast into the ground.
3. Choose a single or multiple height barrier, and whether you need an integral handrail.
4. Choose galvanised, or yellow powder coat for visibility.
5. Request a quote, send us a plan or a photo, or call 01905 779944 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm). We reply within one hour in working hours, with the beams, posts, ends, corners and bolts listed.

Why Buy Crash Barriers from Fisher Alvin

• The whole run on one order. Beams, posts, ends, corners and bolts from the same stock.
• Next-day delivery on stock orders.
• Quote within one hour. Run lengths, corners and finish are all we need.
• Free design service. Send a plan, drawing or photo and we work out the parts and quantities.
• Beams cut to length, so the run finishes where you need it.
• Founded in Birmingham in 1912, now based in Cradley Heath, West Midlands.

Armco Crash Barrier Questions

How long is an Armco beam?

Each standard corrugated beam is 3500mm long and 3mm thick. With a 300mm overlap at each joint, each beam covers 3200mm of the run.

How many Armco beams do I need?

Divide the run length by 3.2m and round up. A straight 16m run takes five beams, plus a terminal end at each open end and a corner at each 90 degree turn.

Should I choose bolt-down or cast-in posts?

Bolt-down posts fix to an existing floor or slab and come in 610mm, 760mm and 1100mm RSJ, or a 610mm Z post. The 1200mm RSJ post is cast into the ground.

Can Armco barriers be used indoors?

Yes. Armco barriers work internally and externally, from car parks and yards to warehouse and factory floors. For internal routes, the Traffic Shield range comes in traffic safety yellow.

Can an Armco barrier follow a curve or a short run?

Yes. Beams can be curved to follow a bend, and we cut beams to length so the run finishes exactly where you need it.

Can Armco carry a handrail for pedestrians?

Yes. The legs can be adapted to carry an integral handrail, so the barrier protects people walking alongside it as well as stopping vehicles.

What finish are Armco barriers?

Every component is hot dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 as standard. Powder coated yellow is available as an option.

What is the difference between Armco and warehouse safety barriers?

Armco is a continuous corrugated beam run on posts, for keeping vehicles off walls, doors and routes. Warehouse safety barriers are individual hi-vis protectors placed at one point, such as a rack end, column, corner or pipe run.

Armco Crash Barrier Guides and Related Ranges

Read first: separating pedestrians, vehicles and equipment, forklift impact protection: where racking, columns and corners need guarding, a project using Armco, key clamps and galvanised tube and the work at Regatta's Cork warehouse.

Related ranges: warehouse protection, warehouse safety barriers, demarcation systems, mezzanine pallet gates, self-closing safety gates, key clamp handrail kits and key clamps and tube.