[{"category": "bollards", "text": "

Bollards

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What is a bollard?

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By far, the most common anti-terror security barrier is the bollard, a short, extremely reinforced, vertical post. Originally, bollards referred only to the post on a boat or dock for attaching a mooring rope. Today, bollards refer to steel or cement posts engineered to prevent cars and trucks from intentionally or unintentionally entering or breaching retail structures or pedestrian areas like open-air markets and promenades.

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Bollard pipes or cylinders are highly visible structural steel pipes anchored in the ground so as to provide protection from moving vehicles and car-ramming attacks or vehicle as a weapon – VAW - attacks.

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What materials are bollards made of?

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Bollard posts, sometimes called pipe bollards, are available in several materials, including cement, metal and composites. Some bollard suppliers offer steel bollard poles filled with cement for additional stopping power. Lighted bollards are illuminated for safety precautions and easy detection at night, especially where vehicle traffic is present.

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Where are bollards used?

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Bollard systems range from raw looking steel pipes or cement pillars that you might find at a loading dock where the primary goal is to protect the store’s infrastructure to exceedingly attractive polished metals and alloys that can house aesthetic and safety lighting and adorn the front entrance to a five-star hotel or prestigious government building like the UN.

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What is a bollard sleeve?

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More finished outer coverings can be achieved inexpensively using a variety of sleeve materials including ionized metal, polished alloys and plastics. Sleeves are both protective and visually enhancing. Think of a sleeve like you would a veneer for your tooth or dental implant. The key is a pleasing appearance overlaid on an incredibly strong protective structure. Unlike veneers, bollard sleeves come in a multitude of colors to match exterior building designs.

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Are bollards portable?

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Bollards are typically permanently fixed in place but some manufacturers offer arrays of removable bollards engineered for quick roadway/sidewalk installation in controlling vehicular traffic and pedestrian migrations during special events like parades, marches, protests as well as access to park and recreational area entrances. Street bollards by design allow pedestrian access while preventing vehicular incursion. These are frequently seen in retail districts with heavy vehicular traffic proximate to pedestrian populations.

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What are safety bollards?

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Similar to these traffic products are road safety bollards that can warn or corral cars and trucks away from dangerous roadway hazards like construction, drop-offs, cliff edges or waterways.

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Do bollards protect lives?

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One of the main reasons bollards for sale are so ever present in the protective design industry is that vehicle crashes into buildings occur approximately 60 times a day, causing nearly 500 deaths and 3600 injuries annually. According to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, of the locations for these crashes are retail stores, restaurants, and business or office spaces. Many incidents are accidental, but a growing number are deliberate as was seen recently at the Waukesha Christmas Parade.

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How much do bollards cost?

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Given the frequency and severity of these accidents, bollards offer an extremely affordable security solution to protect pedestrians and property like storefronts. These protective bollards mitigate building damage by preventing vehicles from reaching or breaching the storefront perimeter. Most importantly, the low cost, high impact absorption of bollards makes saving lives effective and efficient.

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Are Hostile Vehicle Attacks (HVA) increasing?

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The pace of attacks using motor vehicles, whether carrying explosives or not, is accelerating. These tragic incidents have increased dramatically in the years following the September 11th attack and became a favorite mechanism of terror for groups like ISIS as heightened security measures have systematically disrupted and prevented terrorists from gaining access to explosives and airliners.

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Why are Hostile Vehicle Attacks increasing?

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With most terrorist organizations being tracked and hunted down, centralized leadership is giving way to local or regional “lone wolf” actors or Internet recruits. Because most of these homegrown terrorists lack expertise and financing, vehicles are an all too viable a solution as a delivery instrument of destruction. They are easy to find and operate with little training necessary. Additionally, innocent pedestrians are high value public targets that do not typically attract a lot of security, making successful vehicle as a weapon (VAW) attacks easier.

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Bollards protect 24/7

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Law enforcement and counter terrorism cannot be everywhere at all times. Public safety must rely on strategic uses of protective resources like bollards and other vehicle barriers. Architects and engineers must be constantly aware of soft target vulnerabilities in order to better protect pedestrian areas like open-air markets, parks, and plazas. Bollards are the most cost effective, easiest way to deter or prevent VAW attacks.

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What types of vehicle attacks are there?

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While the leading causes of vehicle crashes into buildings are operator error, vehicle malfunction, DUIs and traffic accidents, in the past 10 years there has been an alarming increase in deliberate attacks on civilians and military personnel. These assaults are called Hostile Vehicle attacks (HVA) or Vehicle as a Weapon (VAW) attacks. In the case where the terrorist vehicle (car/truck) is carrying a bomb, it is described as a “vehicle borne improvised explosive device” (VBIED) attack.

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When did vehicle terror attacks begin?

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Among the first VBIED attacks were the Beirut barracks bombing in 1983 that killed 241 US soldiers. Ten years later, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the Oklahoma City bombing (1995) claimed another 174 lives and injured more than 1000 people.

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Following the Oklahoma City bombing and especially the 9/11 attacks, government agencies focused more and more on designing systems to \"target harden\" facilities that terrorists would likely want to attack. Bollard arrays can efficiently and effectively help with perimeter security and increase “standoff distance”, the distance between the placement and detonation of the explosives and the building itself, without producing a militarized, bunker-like environment.

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Vehicle as a Weapon Attacks increase

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In 2001, a terrorist from Gaza rammed a bus into Israeli soldiers, killing eight. On Bastille Day in 2016, a large cargo truck rammed and mowed down pedestrians in Nice, France, killing 86 and injuring 434. It was one of the worst VAW incidents in history. The 2016 Berlin Christmas Market tragedy left 12 dead, while a 2017 attack in Manhattan killed eight.

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In December of 2020, an assailant deliberately used his car to kill one Capitol Police officer and injure another. This was followed in 2021, by another deadlier VAW incident – the Waukesha, Wisconsin Christmas Parade tragedy that killed six people and injured 62.

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The unfortunate fact is law enforcement and DHS indicate that terrorist VAW and VBIED attacks will continue to increase in the coming years and this is why protective design professionals need to incorporate effective strategies to mitigate or prevent vehicle incursions.

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What are anti-ram ratings?

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Whether you are creating pedestrian or storefront safety or protecting strategic buildings as part of a perimeter security design, bollards are among the most affordable and aesthetically pleasing solutions. They can be installed individually as a single steel bollard post or in arrays to cover larger distances. And in each security scenario, there are specific anti-ram ratings that fit the mandated safety requirements for your construction project. To protect against vehicle as a weapon and VBIED terror attacks, bollards must be appropriately rated and tested. Among the most prevalent anti-ram crash ratings are ASTM F2656, DoD K ratings or PAS 68 for speeds of 30, 40 and 50 mph. For road, storefront and parking lot safety, there are low speed ASTM F3016 and PAS 170 ratings that test vehicle speeds from 10-30 mph.

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How do I find anti-ram crash products?

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Depending on options like materials, finishes, lighting and vehicle crash rating, steel bollard prices vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. For this very reason, Protogetic simplifies your search with our Comparison tool, which performs a side-by-side comparison of all the selected bollards that fit your project requirements. And once you have narrowed down your choice, Protogetic creates a direct on-site communication link with the manufacturer so you can effortlessly determine the cost and lead time of your selected safety bollard. You can even begin direct messaging (DM) with a vendor representative.

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The best anti-ram search engine in the world

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Protective design engineers can assess the needs of your project and make recommendations on the appropriate ratings for bollards. Just finding the right rated product is an enormously time-consuming process, forcing you to comb through Internet brochures and manufacturer websites.

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The Protogetic Solution

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Why search for a needle in a haystack in order to locate the very best safety bollard options for your project? When you sign up for a free account on Protogetic, you can use our proprietary, ground-breaking Filter to instantly find anti-ram rated and low speed rated bollard products as well as other types of high security vehicle barriers. Hours versus seconds… The choice is yours. The choice is Protogetic.com.

"}, {"category": "cable-barriers", "text": "

Cable Barriers

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What is a cable barrier?

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One of the most cost efficient anti-ram options to create perimeter security as well as protect buildings and their occupants is a cable barrier or passive cable barrier because it is fixed in place and has no moving parts, unlike an active device like a wedge barrier or retractable bollard.

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These tension cable systems use extremely strong, steel barrier cables strung between less resilient posts allowing the wire barrier to absorb the kinetic energy of a motor vehicle and thus prevent complete penetration.

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Are there different types of cable barriers?

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Many cable barriers are used along highways to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway or colliding with cars traveling in the opposing direction. These types of barrier cable systems are held to testing standards created by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and examine three main factors, structural adequacy, occupant risk and vehicle trajectory. NCHRP 350 guideline has six testing levels depending on the vehicle size/type, speed and impact angle. Interestingly, testing level three, for small cars traveling at 60 mph, encompasses the majority of U.S. automobiles. Not surprisingly, most of the traffic-dedicated barrier cable is rated at NCHRP TL-3 and TL-4. However, TL1-6 is not the same as anti-ram rated cable barriers. Therefore, when contacting cable barrier systems suppliers, be sure to indicate whether your project requires an anti-ram rated cable barrier.

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Crash-rated, anti-ram cable barriers are used to protect high-value targets like embassies, military installations, nuclear plants, petro-chemical facilities or airports and data centers.

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How is a anti-ram cable barrier different?

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An anti-ram cable barrier system is designed and engineered to prevent an intentional Hostile Vehicle Attack (HVA) by stopping incursion as fast as possible. Often these intentional attacks are at high speed and directed head-on at their target(s). Minimizing the penetration distance of an HVA is critical because often the car or truck is carrying an explosive payload. Denying penetration creates a greater the standoff distance from an explosion making it safer for people and building.

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Cable barrier systems designed for less intentionally criminal actions like accidents or road hazards. When protecting drivers, the NCHRP 350 employs a different strategy than the ASTM’s anti-terrorist concerns. A highway tension cable system is engineered for more incremental control of the impact or crash. The goal here is to mitigate damage and reduce injury by having the barrier cable absorb as much of the car’s energy as possible rather than immediately and catastrophically stopping the vehicle in its tracks. Such a violent, instanteous halt at high speeds would, more often than not, seriously injure or kill vehicle occupants, even with airbags. In fact, traffic cables are often specifically designed to avoid the car directly impacting an anchored post which cause more severe damage.

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The simplest way to think about the difference between the goal of ASTM standards and NCHRP 350’s is the former is almost exclusively concerned with protecting what is OUTSIDE the hostile vehicle – innocent pedestrians, buildings, etc. The NCHRP 350 is focused on protecting what is insde the vehicle – drivers and passengers – while insuring that the crash itself does not adversely impact what is outside – namely other cars and drivers.

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What are the advantages of cable barriers?

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Many anti-ram vehicle barriers are extremely expensive and often designed to protect access entry points. These products can be gates, crash arms, wedge barriers or retractable bollard arrays. Cable barriers also work well in these locations, and they have the added advantage of being capable of combined use with perimeter security fencing. Most cable barriers are not only less expensive, but they often are easier to install and thus offer additional cost savings.

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How do I find the right anti-ram cable barrier?

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Protogetic offers the largest selection of anti-ram cable barriers in the protective design industry, allowing our Users to search the important details their project requires. We even make it simpler by offering an incredible Compare Tool that displays your cable barrier choices side by side for easier evaluation. And if you have questions, with one click, you can chat directly with a manufacturer representative. Finding the best cable barriers has never been easier. Join us today at Protogetic.com!

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"}, {"category": "crash-arms", "text": "

Drop Arm Barriers

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What is a Drop Arm Barrier?

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A drop arm barrier is a type of vehicle barrier that both directs and controls traffic while also providing perimeter security. These security gate arms most often utilize a steel horizontal bar to prevent access or intrusion at facility and building entry points. As such, drop arm gates are frequently deployed in tandem with a guardhouse at strategic entrances to commercial, military and government locations. Drop arms raise vertically up to 90-degrees when engaged, either by manual, electric or hydraulic operation.

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Is a drop arm barrier and a crash arm barrier the same?

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Often incorrectly used, a crash arm barrier and a drop arm are not technically the same. A crash arm refers to an anti-ram rated vehicle barrier gate that satisfies extremely rigorous testing requirements for protection against hostile vehicle attacks (HVA). A drop arm could be as simple as the drop arms encountered at a railroad crossing or parking lot entrance or exit.

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Since the 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks bombing, we have seen significant increases worldwide of Hostile Vehicle Attacks (HVAs), often employing Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED). These terrorist threats require more robust security efforts to mitigate and/or prevent incursions at important access points. A crash-tested and anti-ram rated vehicle drop arm barrier is an extremely effective defense to manage these hostile attacks. The goal of protective design is to mitigate and eliminate vulnerable areas in a location’s physical perimeter security. In the case of VBIEDs, crash arms and anti-ram vehicle barriers can provide increased “standoff distance” and save lives by preventing explosive devices from detonating close to people and buildings. This is one reason why Protogetic is proud to be the world's leading aggregator of drop arm barriers and high security essentials.

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Recommended Security Gate Arm Products

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Barrier1 Model DACB-ELE-1200: The DACB-ELE-1200 is an electronically operated barrier gate arm certified to ASTM F2656-07 M50 P3, recognized by the US Department of Defense, and included on their Anti-Ram Vehicle Barrier list. And, because of its high-quality components, this device requires little maintenance and can be used in all types of weather.

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BBRSS Cable Reinforced Crash Beam: The Cable Reinforced CR25 Crash Beam from B&B Roadway Security Systems is created and intended to safeguard at-risk access points and prevent forced entry or departure for medium to high-security establishments. The CR25 drop arm gate is appropriate for oil refineries, chemical plants, storage facilities, technical centers, data centers, nuclear facilities, military, and government organizations. It is available in manual and electromechanical working modes.

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Protogetic Offers Premier Drop Arm Barriers

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Protogetic's Vehicle and Drop Arm Barrier products are built by the security design industry’s leading manufacturers, using the best quality materials and cutting-edge technology. Nearly our entire vehicle barrier listing is anti-ram rated having met or exceeded rigorous crash testing at accredited labs like Calspan and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.

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A Comprehensive Variety of Barrier Options

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Protogetic's marketplace of drop arm barriers also offers multi-purpose entrance drop arms that regulate traffic while also providing an anti-ram impediment for both accidental incursions and hostile vehicle attacks. In the rare event you cannot find the security barrier product that addresses your project’s unique requirements, remember that many of Protogetic’s Drop Arm Barrier manufacturers offer security products that are fully customizable. Use our “Request Custom Quote” tool to instantly message Vendor Representatives who can answer your specific questions. Contact us today to learn more about how you can protect your personnel and buildings with a drop arm barrier.

"}, {"category": "gates", "text": "

Vehicle Barrier Gates

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A vehicle barrier gate is virtually a requirement in today's security-conscious world. In general, any property or premises where you must control vehicle access (or even foot traffic) can greatly benefit from implementing vehicle gates.

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Where are Vehicle Barrier Gates used?

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Whether it's a military installation, embassy, airport, toll road, parking lot, bridge, or the exit and entrance control of a private or industrial site, Protogetic has the largest selection of high security products. Using our advanced filter, security design professionals can instantly find the right gates, fences, drop arm barriers and road blockers that address their project’s specific requirements.

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What types of Vehicle Barrier Gates are there?

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Sliding Gates - Cantilever

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Cantilever barrier gate systems are noted for their ease of use as well as safety and strength. These gates are a viable choice if there is enough room on one side of the entrance to match the gate opening and retract the gate horizontally. Cantilever gates slide open, meaning the counterbalanced weight of the end section supports the weight of the entire gate. This allows it to travel above ground freely and requires no rollers, tracks or ground preparation.

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Sliding Gates - Rolling

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A rolling sliding gate, typically just called a rolling gate, looks and opens similarly to a cantilever gate with one major difference. Rolling gates lack sufficient counterbalancing of the end section and therefore must be supported by wheels and a track, requiring additional ground preparation and materials. Either gate type can be deployed where a large entrance/exit opening, often up to 100 feet, is needed like airports, military bases and commercial sites. Sliding cantilever gates, as well as rolling cantilever gates, can be easily automated and are frequently used at self-storage facilities and employee parking lots.

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Barrier Arm Gate Systems

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Toll booths, bridges, parking structures, checkpoints, and restricted areas are familiar places to encounter barrier arm gates, sometimes called boom arm gates. They are very familiar as the most common method for controlling passage through railway crossings. A barrier arm or boom vehicle barrier gate is designed to control, slow and stop the flow of traffic as necessary by the pivot arm preventing passage through the entrance opening. This provides time for gate personnel to allow entry to only properly authorized vehicles. Automated barrier arm gates require codes or card keys to open the entrance rather than employing security guards to check identification and permit access.

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Other Types of Barrier Gate Systems

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Vertical lift gate

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A vertical lift gate employs a similar operating mechanism to a barrier or boom gate in that it is lifted upwards to allow passage through the entryway. Instead of a barrier boom arm, the blocking portion of the gate often looks like a sliding cantilever gate section that is lifted vertically rather than recessed horizontally to allow access or departure. It is another option when there isn't enough room for a sliding gate to open. Because of their heavier weight, virtually all vertical lift gates are mechanized using electric or hydraulic motors.

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Overhead slide gate

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An overhead slide gate looks and operates much like a rolling or cantilever slide gate. It also opens by sliding to one side of the entrance. However, instead of being counterbalanced, the weight of the gate is supported by an overhead I-beam and track system. Because the supporting posts have to be incredibly strong to support the beam and track system as well as the weight of the infill gate material, an overhead slide gate is a more permanent structure. Therefore, utilizing this type of gate barrier requires knowing the maximum height of all vehicles using this entryway in order for them to drive under the overhead beam and track system.

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Swing gate

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A swing gate is similar to a barrier arm gate, but instead of the arm lifting vertically to allow traffic passage, the boom arm swings open like a door. Swing arms can open in both directions depending on location and security requirements. Many higher rated anti-ram swing gates typically open outward from the entrance they secure. They also are more often single leaf in design to provide stronger structural support. Swing gates can be manual or automated. Unrated swing gates are available in single or double leaf configurations.

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Recommended Barrier Gate Products

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Protogetic offers a large catalog of functional and aesthetically beautiful anti-ram barriers from the world’s leading manufacturers that integrate both with the project design as well as the urban landscape. Many of these products provide vehicle security for office buildings, hotels, storefronts and pedestrian walkways without converting these properties and public plazas into militarized environments, instead allowing people to go about their normal daily lives.

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How are Barrier Gates rated?

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There are many rated and unrated vehicle access gates and road barrier gates that can satisfy a project's security needs within the multi-varied vehicle barrier spectrum. Stopping a 15,000-pound truck carrying explosives (called a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device or VBIED) that is speeding 50 miles per hour from hitting people or breaching a building envelope requires an extremely strong vehicle access control gate. Military-grade barriers and gates must have Department of State K-rated or ASTM F2656 anti-ram barrier ratings in order to provide such robust protective security measures.

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Commonly referred to as \"Hostile Vehicle Mitigation\" (HVM), Protogetic offers a variety of ASTM, Dos/DoD, and PAS68 rated security barrier gate products to search instantly in one simple, 24/7 marketplace. No one in the protective design business can search more anti-ram rated vehicle barrier products faster and more efficiently than Protogetic’s proprietary filter. Don’t waste your time. Sign up and find the security gate or Vehicle Barrier you need instantly.

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If your project does not require anti-ram rated products, there are many options to economically safeguard your property and prevent vehicle incursion. ASTM has a new standard called F3016 that applies to low speed (10-20-30 MPH) threats with two penetration distance measurements: P1 = less than 1 foot and P2 = less than 4 feet. Its European equivalent is the PAS 170 test standard that applies to low speed impacts of 10-20MPH.

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Protogetic Offers Premier Barrier Gates

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When you want to protect your personnel and facility, the quality of your barrier gate system matters. After all, finding the best terrorist car barricade might be the difference between life and death.

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There are several vehicle barrier gate systems, permanent vehicle barriers (bollards), as well as movable, portable, and active vehicle barriers such as wedges, crash beam gates, cable, and retractable security barriers. To ensure your property is equipped with the best defense, Protogetic primarily focuses on rated anti-ram barriers, giving you and the people in your building well-deserved peace of mind.

"}, {"category": "retractable-bollards", "text": "

Retractable Bollards

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What are retractable bollards?

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Retractable bollards are distinctly different from typical bollards in that they are considered active barriers whereas parking bollards, safety bollards and most anti-ram bollards are fixed barriers, meaning they are permanently in place unless they are a unique type that can be removed.

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How do retractable bollards work?

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Retractable bollards, sometimes referred to as pop up bollards or automatic bollards, can rise up and descend inconspicuously to ground level when not in use and for this reason they are optimal for high level traffic control areas, including parking lots, commercial buildings and military bases. Because they descend to surface level, pedestrians will not encounter any trip hazards and vehicles can gain entry when required.

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What are the different types of bollards?

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Manual retractable bollards are different from removable bollards because they are always in place and can be activated with either a simple key lock or hydraulic/electric switch on site.

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Removable bollards must be manually placed or pulled out and then stored when not in use. This requires a considerable amount of manpower (and cost) compared to a fixed or retractable bollard.

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Are retractable bollards anti-ram rated?

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Like standard bollards, retractable bollards are available in numerous anti-ram ratings, including ASTM F2656, DoD K-ratings and PAS 68. Finding anti-ram rated retractable bollards has never been easier when you shop at Protogetic.com.

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What are the advantages of retractable bollards?

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Because automatic rising bollards are often “invisible” and minimally invasive to the landscape, many protective design professionals consider them more aesthetically pleasing than their fixed/permanent brethren. Unlike fixed storefront safety bollards, retractable bollards are active and functional. As such, they are not as ideal for locations where they interact constantly with motor vehicles (like delivery and loading docks and parking lots) as their telescoping mechanism could be damaged by impact.

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Where should retractable bollards be used?

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Instead, retractable bollards are best deployed to cordon off frequently used pedestrian areas such as park entrances, roadway or plazas or outside mall access where vehicle traffic is only sometimes necessary. For this reason, removing and replacing a bollard system weekly would be enormously inefficient compared to simply activating an automatic rising bollard.

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How are automatic rising bollards activated?

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These bollards can be manually engaged by an operator or activated using an access control system. Most systems utilize some type of key card, but some are controlled via transmitters or phones. The most advanced systems employ automatic license plate number recognition.

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How do rising bollards work?

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Retractable bollards can be manually operated, pneumatic, hydraulic or electric, sometimes called an electric bollard. Each utilizes a piston drive mechanism and their cycle performance - how long it takes to ascend or descend – varies.

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Are there different types of Retractable Bollards?

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Electric or Electronic Bollards: These employ an electric motor to drive the piston within the cylinder housing and tend to be the quietest and most precise in operation.

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Hydraulic Bollards: These mechanisms use a pressurized liquid to create a very powerful lifting application. For this reason, many heavy bollards employ hydraulics.

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Pneumatic Bollards: These bollards utilize a compressed gas to drive the cylinder that raises the bollard. While not nearly as powerful as hydraulic motors, pneumatic drives are very cost effective owing to their low maintenance costs.

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Which motorized bollard is best?

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Like every project, it depends on your needs. How long it takes the system to cycle (rise and descend) is important and depends somewhat on how the automatic bollard is powered. You can easily find operating and cycle speeds information on all of Protogetic’s retractable bollard product pages.

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Do retractable bollards work in extreme temperatures?

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Additionally, since the telescopic bollard must retract into the ground completely, these products often have operating temperature ranges from -40 below and as high as 140 degrees. Every retractable bollard on the Protogetic site is accompanied by detailed information regarding the manufacturer’s recommended minimum/maximum operating temperatures.

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How are rising bollards installed?

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Retractable bollards require excavation, as they must be embedded into the substrate. Before placing these devices, you must make sure your soil configuration is compatible. Installation can often require manufacturer assistance so it is valuable to know the product’s lead time as well as installation costs and options. Protogetic provides all this information and facilitates getting price details directly from the manufacturer. Remember, the cost of retractable bollards is typically more expensive compared to the fixed or removable versions.

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What considerations should I know about?

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Retractable bollards require more maintenance and additional preparations to deal with water drainage to ensure the proper functioning of the assembly. This makes the upkeep and investment in automatic retractable bollards more expensive than installing fixed bollards.

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How much do automatic bollards cost?

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When researching or shopping for retractable bollards, prices will vary between how they are operated (manual, hydraulic, pneumatic, electric), their finishes and options (lighting, access control) and of course each individual manufacturer. For obvious reasons, one should expect to pay a higher price than a standard steel parking bollard. With one click of a button, Protogetic’s Request a Custom Quote tool connects you directly with a manufacturer representative.

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Protogetic’s digital market solution

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Protogetic offers a wide selection of retractable bollards from leading manufacturers all over the world. Each has a detailed product page with brochures, technical drawings, specs, and rating certifications, leaving virtually nothing for you to do other than to create an account for free today. Save time. Stop endlessly searching. Protogetic delivers on our promise of cutting your search times from days and hours to mere minutes or even seconds.

"}, {"category": "tire-shred", "text": "

Tire Spike Barriers

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Find Tire Spike Barriers to Suit Your Needs

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Whether protecting entry or exit from a high-security facility or building, or simply securing a parking lot, tire spike barriers are an efficient, affordable solution. This device dependably halts unauthorized entry or exit by puncturing a vehicle’s tires and immobilizing it.

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While tire spike barriers are an aggressive form of defense, they’re highly effective when pedestrian safety is jeopardized by a hostile, accidental or fugitive driver. Protogetic’s 24/7 digital Protective Design Marketplace allows Users to effortlessly locate road tire spikes with our proprietary Vehicle Barrier Filter.

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What Is a Tire Spike Barrier?

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Tire spike barriers (often referred to as tire puncture spikes or car tire spikes) are strip-like devices placed on or embedded in the ground. Each strip has a series of metal spikes or teeth that puncture a vehicle’s tires when it passes over the device, forcing the vehicle to stop.

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Some tire spike barriers are secured to the ground while others are deployed manually, typically by law enforcement during vehicle pursuit circumstances. There are also motorized tire shredders where spikes aren’t visible and allow unimpeded traffic flow until they have been activated.

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Types of Tire Spike Barriers

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Surface Mounted Tire Spike Barrier: A surface-mounted tire spikes strip is secured to the road using bolts or epoxy adhesive and therefore does not require excavating a foundation or pouring cement to install. Many of these models have spring-loaded spikes that can be traveled over in a single direction, allowing vehicles to pass one way but not the other — a great design for parking lots, apartment complexes, airports, and other areas where the flow of traffic must be well-regulated but directed in a single direction.

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In-Ground Tire Spike Barrier: Unlike their surface-mounted counterparts, in-ground tire road spikes provide a flush finish with the ground’s surface. This extra clearance can be important when encountering low-profile vehicles, like many expensive sports cars. The installation of below ground tire spikes requires trenching and cement or asphalt resurfacing. While installation is more time-consuming than surface-mounted tire spikes, in-ground devices are often preferred as they are more robust and can accommodate vehicle speeds up to 10 mph, compared to only 5 mph for surface-mounted barriers.

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Motorized Tire Spike Barrier: Motorized tire spike barriers, sometimes called retractable tire spike strips, can be surface mounted or anchored below ground, depending on the product you choose. The key difference here is that the spike devices can be automatically deployed using an electric motor control system.

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Motorized tire puncture spikes are often better-suited to high-traffic areas (such as parking lots and car dealership lots) as they can be set to routinely deploy based on an hourly or daily schedule. Some motorized versions can also be triggered by remote control or signal device.

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Extendable Tire Spike Barrier

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These severe tire damage spikes are portable and typically used for tactical purposes by military personnel, police forces, and security teams. The primary benefit of extendable tire road spikes is their rapid deployment, as they can be placed on roadways in a matter of seconds. This is ideal for high-speed chase scenarios or potentially dangerous pursuits where the fleeing vehicle needs to be abruptly and quickly disabled.

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Extendable tire spike barriers are also an excellent option to minimize street traffic hold-ups before and after events because they can be easily deployed and removed. There is no need for bolts, epoxy adhesive, or construction.

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Common Tire Spike Barrier Uses

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\r\n PARKING AREAS \r\n	\r\n LAW ENFORCEMENT \r\n	\r\n MILITARY OPERATIONS \r\n
\r\n It is imperative to ensure smooth traffic flow in parking lots, garages, and other spaces where multiple cars are stored. Emergency vehicle lanes must be kept clear, and accidents must be prevented with clear signage and, of course, barriers (where necessary). Car tire spikes can prevent confused drivers from traveling too far in the wrong direction (a hazard to other vehicles), as well as put a stop to unauthorized vehicles from leaving the premises. \r\n	\r\n High-speed police pursuits endanger many lives, including the driver, police officers, and the general public. The longer a fleeing driver is behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, the higher the chances become that someone could be severely or fatally injured. In these situations, using a tire spikes strip or extendable barrier is highly advantageous, as they lead to safer outcomes for all parties involved. Installing tire spikes for trespassers is also an effective method for deterring, as well as catching, perpetrators. \r\n	\r\n Both civilians and soldiers are often put at risk during conflicts or combats related to military operations. In situations where opponents attempt to flee by vehicle or use their vehicle as a weapon, severe tire damage spikes can quite literally be life-saving devices. Many military-grade tire shred devices are specifically designed to prevent blowouts and instead slow down and disable the vehicle in a controlled manner to ensure the safety of bystanders. \r\n

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Features to Consider

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Tire spike barriers offer several different options and features (depending on the model and manufacturer you choose). These features include:

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Boom Arms: Often called Drop Arm barriers or boom gates, these devices are an excellent addition to control entry and exit. They are frequently deployed for use in parking areas. Boom arms make car tire spikes more visible to drivers while also enhancing the ability to control traffic. Most models come in various sizes and lengths, making it easy to find a solution for entrances and exits of all dimensions.

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Manual Release: Many motorized tire spike barriers have a manual release that can be utilized in the event of a power outage or emergency, a desirable feature that provides added peace of mind.

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Induction Loop Systems: Induction loop systems use sensors (which are placed in pavement) to detect the presence of a vehicle. If a vehicle is detected, the system can then send a signal to your motorized tire spike barrier, telling it to deploy or retract. This feature is popular in high-traffic areas like parking garages, industrial complexes, and storage yards where it is either too costly or simply impractical to have a person controlling the device at all times.

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Number Plate Recognition: If unauthorized entry/exit violations are a concern, you may want to consider purchasing a motorized tire spike barrier system with built-in number plate recognition. These units automatically capture an image of the vehicle’s license plate, making it easier to identify unlawful or unauthorized drivers. These systems, when paired with an access control unit, can also recognize authorized vehicles and permit entry and exit without needing any personnel on site.

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Operation Speeds: Is rapid deployment a priority for you? If so, you’ll want to consider investing in a tire spike barrier that has been proven to have quick operating speeds. Many metal tire spikes can deploy and retract in just a few seconds, while others require 10-15 seconds or more.

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The Protogetic Difference

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We are the world's most comprehensive digital marketplace for the protective design industry. We have simplified and streamlined the product search experience, making it possible for buyers to locate security and safety products in just a matter of seconds. All of our vehicle barrier products are sourced from credible and trusted vendors and include all of the design specifications you need to make an informed buying decision.

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If you have questions or need pricing information, our site enables you to directly contact vendor representatives with just one click of a button! Are you ready to find the best tire spike barrier for your needs? Start your search today!

"}, {"category": "vehicle-barriers", "text": "

Vehicle Barriers

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What are the types of vehicle barriers?

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When it comes to protective design, there are numerous types of vehicle barriers: there are fixed vehicle barriers (bollards) and active vehicle barriers like crash beam gates, wedge barriers or retractable bollard systems. All these car and truck barriers can range from simple storefront/parking barricades to visually pleasing landscape devices such as planters, benches, outdoor furnishings and artwork to extremely defensive, high-speed crash-rated devices designed to repel deliberate terrorist attacks. These latter vehicle barricades are sometimes referred to as security barricades, anti-vehicle or anti-terrorist vehicle barriers.

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Are anti-ram ratings important?

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Whatever you call these protective design products, when considering vehicle barriers, security ratings are essential. Finding the optimal terrorist vehicle barricade can literally be a matter of life and death. Additionally, while there are hundreds of security products in the vehicle barrier category, Protogetic focuses primarily, but not exclusively, on rated anti-ram barriers. We urge you to research and understand the different types of anti-ram ratings.

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How do I know which products are rated?

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Security design products can only be posted on our site if the manufacturer provides actual rating documentation from a verified testing facility or government agency. Finding and obtaining this kind of specific, detailed information normally would take hours of research. At Protogetic, we’ve created an advanced solution to help you sort out all your vehicle barrier needs – instantly. Our proprietary filter was custom designed to search nearly every detail that an architect or engineer needs to fulfill the requirements of his/her project.

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Are vehicle barriers expensive?

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Let’s start with the most practical reality: Money. A major consideration of any building security project is cost. Vehicle barrier systems can top many thousands of dollars. Because these protective barriers are so customizable, prices vary dramatically and consumers are urged to get direct access quotes from participating manufacturers using Protogetic’s convenient “Request Custom Quote” feature. While budget is often king, when it comes to vehicle barriers, security and safety should not be sacrificed as nothing is more important than saving lives.

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What is an anti-ram vehicle barrier?

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Within the multi-varied vehicle barrier spectrum, there are rated and unrated anti-ram barriers that address a project’s security requirements. Stopping a 15,000 pound truck speeding at 50 mph from reaching pedestrians and/or breaching a building envelope with a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device, requires an extremely robust car and truck barrier. Such protective security measures, frequently called “Hostile Vehicle Mitigation” (HVM), require military-grade, Department of Defense and ASTM anti-ram barrier ratings. Protogetic provides numerous types of ratings including ASTM F2656, DoD K ratings, PAS68. We have the most up to date, rated products, including doors, windows, wall systems, gates, fences and security entrances in the protective design industry in one convenient, 24/7 marketplace.

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Are all vehicle barriers anti-ram rated?

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If your needs are more simple, and you do not require anti-ram crash rated barriers, there are many affordable options to protect your property and prevent access to your building. Like protecting your store from a delivery truck backing into your front window or a vehicle jumping the curb on the busy street where your business is located.

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Are all vehicle barriers ugly and intimidating?

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No. Protogetic has aesthetically pleasing anti-ram barriers that seamlessly blend in with the urban environment. These provide storefront and pedestrian protection from vehicles without turning commercial property and plazas into a fortified, “military” environment so people can enjoy their normal lives and not feel under seige.

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How do I protect my business?

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These lower speed, “retail” situations can often be addressed by deploying vehicle crash barriers that are low-speed products with an ASTM F3016 or PAS 170 rating. These low speed ratings test vehicle impact at speeds more commonplace to parking lots and storefront areas. These crash tests are typically rated from 10 mph to 30 mph. As such, these products are more affordable than high-speed anti-ram rated products.

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What is a PAS rating?

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Understanding PAS ratings can be confusing as they are presented as a combination of letters, numbers and symbols like: V/7,500(N2)/48/90:0/0

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1. V stands for Vehicle Test
2. 7,500(N2) refers to the weight and type of vehicle, in this case a 7,500 kg truck
3. 48 equals speed (48 kph)
4. 90 is the impact angle
5. 0 is the measured penetration distance or in this instance zero and the final criteria 0 is the debris dispersion or how far major debris traveled after the crash impact.
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How do I find the right vehicle barrier?

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Form cannot always follow function so it is important to determine the proper threat assessment for your project and address these parameters with the requisite anti-ram security barriers. Protogetic’s Vehicle Barrier Filter enables you to search specific criteria like anti-ram crash ratings, DoD listing, Safety Act certification, lead time, barrier dimensions and installation specifications (foundation depth, environmental conditions, etc) to find the optimal vehicle barrier system for your project.

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Increasing Hostile Vehicle threats

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After the January 6th Capitol attack, building perimeter security is more important than ever. As domestic terror attacks are projected to increase, now is the time to implement security measures designed to mitigate and prevent the continuing trend of terrorist attacks using motor vehicles called hostile vehicle attacks (HVA) or vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), most of which involve large trucks capable of destroying most unrated urban traffic barriers. Since 2010, close to 100 attacks involving vehicle ramming have occurred killing more than 200 people. Projections indicate these vehicle terrorist events will increase in the near future.

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Protogetic solves problems to save lives

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The future need for protecting pedestrians and buildings from imminent danger is clear. The solution is a one-stop, global digital marketplace open 24/7 to find the exact protective design products your project requires. Find all the answers to your building challenges at Protogetic.com.

"}, {"category": "wedge-barriers", "text": "

Wedge Barriers

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What is a Wedge Barrier?

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Wedge or pop-up barriers are a type of barricade used as part of an active vehicle barrier (AVB) system for high-security facilities. These dynamic security barriers are used for access control, allowing or preventing vehicles from passing through critical points such as entry gates or tunnels. Wedge barriers get their name from the shape they form when activated and raised, which looks like a wedge of pie jutting from the ground. When inactive, they lay flat on the road to let vehicles pass through freely.

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How are wedge barriers different from other vehicle barriers?

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A pop-up barrier offers a significant upgrade to regular barrier gates because they can withstand far greater impact. These effective anti-ram security barricades can routinely stop large trucks or heavily armored vehicles driving at 50 mph. The majority of wedge barriers are independently crash tested to conform to ASTM F2656 standards (ASTM stands for American Society for Testing and Materials). The ASTM F2656 protocol was implemented in 2007 upon publication of the F2656 Vehicle Impact Test Method for Perimeter Barriers report. Meeting ASTM F2656 standards is one of the requirements set by the U.S. Department of State before a wedge barrier can be used in sensitive government facilities.

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Benefits of a Wedge Barrier

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Wedge barriers provide some of the most robust anti-ram measures for stopping a wide variety of vehicles. They have a rigid and reinforced construction that provides additional protection for strategic, high-security facilities like government buildings, military bases and nuclear sites as well as vulnerable public infrastructure like stadiums, car parks and corporate headquarters.

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Hydraulic wedge barriers are also easy and quick to operate. They can deploy in less than five seconds, offering a fast response during an emergency. This is crucial as, with any emergency, time is of the utmost importance. When inactive, a hydraulic wedge barrier blends in with the road seamlessly. As a result, it is not at all obtrusive. The sturdy construction and high axle load can support a massive amount of weight, so there are typically no restrictions on the vehicles that can pass over it.

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What additional advantages do wedge barriers have?

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Some wedge barriers are delivered pre-assembled, making installation quick and easy. Some are portable and ready to be placed on site. Other hydraulic vehicle barriers require certified installation by a manufacturer. They come in various widths from 8 ft. – 14 ft., so you can easily combine two or more to cover a wider area - no need for customization.

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Many wedge barriers only require shallow foundations (around 16-20 inches on average) and can be deployed in all climate zones. The materials used are also typically corrosion-resistant, so wedge barriers have incredible longevity with minimal maintenance.

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Most barriers also have LED lights installed that flash while activated to warn motorists to stop. This eliminates the need to install stoplights.

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Wedge Barrier Operation

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Wedge barriers rise or sink via a mounted actuator powered either hydraulically or electronically. In some cases, you can also find barriers with manual actuators. The operator controls these via an accumulator or hand pump.

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When activated, the actuators push on a pivot arm that causes the top impact plate to rotate and rise in place. The deployment process takes less than five seconds. Some models even have an emergency fast operation (EFO) mode that activates deployment in just under 1.5 seconds.

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Wedge Barrier Uses

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A hydraulic vehicle barrier is an essential protective measure when a high level of security is desired. Some of the examples include:

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Wedge barriers are used together with other security barriers like bollards and gates to provide maximum protection.
It’s an effective anti-theft barrier that prevents car thieves from escaping car parks or impoundment lots.
Military facilities housing sensitive and dangerous assets, such as nuclear silos, can use a wedge barrier hydraulic stop barrier as the first line of defense against terrorist intrusions.
The small footprint requirements of wedge barriers make them suitable for urban locations like embassies, corporate officers, stadiums or possibly shopping malls.
They can be placed in the gates of government buildings, facilities, and national monuments to help control vehicular access.
Wedge barriers can also be used to protect pedestrians from speeding vehicles.

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The Protogetic Difference

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We are a comprehensive digital marketplace serving the protective design industry. By using our platform, you can discover the top products for building safety and security. Our goal is to streamline search times, ultimately reducing the time design professionals spend to find the information they need most.

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Best of all, Protogetic is designed for both vendors and users. Vendors can use our platform to present their products to qualified professionals looking for physical security products. Our user base is primarily comprised of architects and engineers, blast consultants, US Government procurement officers, and security professionals. They come to Protogetic to discover products needed for projects based on specific search parameters. For example, these can include ASTM ratings or FE ratings. In addition, users can search for parameters connected to specific projects, such as foundation depths or operating temperatures.

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Users will find Protogetic to be an easy-to-use solution for their protective design project needs. Instead of searching for specifications and information for hours, find what you need in minutes or seconds. That’s the Protogetic difference.

"}]

Bollards

What is a bollard?

What materials are bollards made of?

Where are bollards used?

What is a bollard sleeve?

Are bollards portable?

What are safety bollards?

Do bollards protect lives?

How much do bollards cost?

Are Hostile Vehicle Attacks (HVA) increasing?

Why are Hostile Vehicle Attacks increasing?

Bollards protect 24/7

What types of vehicle attacks are there?

When did vehicle terror attacks begin?

Vehicle as a Weapon Attacks increase

What are anti-ram ratings?

How do I find anti-ram crash products?

The best anti-ram search engine in the world

The Protogetic Solution

Cable Barriers

What is a cable barrier?

Are there different types of cable barriers?

How is a anti-ram cable barrier different?

What are the advantages of cable barriers?

How do I find the right anti-ram cable barrier?

Drop Arm Barriers

What is a Drop Arm Barrier?

Is a drop arm barrier and a crash arm barrier the same?

Recommended Security Gate Arm Products

Protogetic Offers Premier Drop Arm Barriers

A Comprehensive Variety of Barrier Options

Vehicle Barrier Gates

Where are Vehicle Barrier Gates used?

What types of Vehicle Barrier Gates are there?

Sliding Gates - Cantilever

Sliding Gates - Rolling

Barrier Arm Gate Systems

Other Types of Barrier Gate Systems

Vertical lift gate

Overhead slide gate

Swing gate

Recommended Barrier Gate Products

How are Barrier Gates rated?

Protogetic Offers Premier Barrier Gates

Retractable Bollards

What are retractable bollards?

How do retractable bollards work?

What are the different types of bollards?

Are retractable bollards anti-ram rated?

What are the advantages of retractable bollards?

Where should retractable bollards be used?

How are automatic rising bollards activated?

How do rising bollards work?

Are there different types of Retractable Bollards?

Which motorized bollard is best?

Do retractable bollards work in extreme temperatures?

How are rising bollards installed?

What considerations should I know about?

How much do automatic bollards cost?

Protogetic’s digital market solution

Tire Spike Barriers

Find Tire Spike Barriers to Suit Your Needs

What Is a Tire Spike Barrier?

Types of Tire Spike Barriers

Extendable Tire Spike Barrier

Common Tire Spike Barrier Uses

PARKING AREAS

LAW ENFORCEMENT

MILITARY OPERATIONS

Features to Consider

The Protogetic Difference

Vehicle Barriers

What are the types of vehicle barriers?

Are anti-ram ratings important?

How do I know which products are rated?

Are vehicle barriers expensive?

What is an anti-ram vehicle barrier?

Are all vehicle barriers anti-ram rated?

Are all vehicle barriers ugly and intimidating?

How do I protect my business?

Shop Vehicle Barriers