An anti-ram vehicle barrier fence, also known as an anti-ram fence, is commonly installed on sites requiring more protection than a typical chain link barrier can provide. These high-security fences are specifically designed and tested to prevent Hostile Vehicle Attacks (HVA) and Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED).
Anti-ram fencing can provide perimeter security against vehicle-borne assaults around an entire building, commercial facility, airport, correctional facility or military base. These anti-ram fence barrier systems provide a high level of protection for personnel, buildings, equipment, and hazardous materials that could be vulnerable to high-speed collisions, whether deliberate or accidental.
Many commercial sites, industrial and chemical plants, oil refineries and government locations are surrounded by high-security road barrier fences. Chain link fencing using standard 2 3/8ths inch diameter posts is simply not strong enough to stop penetration from a 50 mph truck loaded with explosives. Much stronger construction materials, utilizing high-level engineering, are required for anti-ram vehicle barrier fence border protection. Once designed and manufactured, expensive, live crash tests at certified testing labs must be conducted.
There are several ratings test standards which can sometimes be confusing. In 1985, the Department of State (DOS) created K-ratings. They were later revised in 2003. A K-rating measures how far the front bumper of a standard 15,000-pound truck penetrates a vehicle barrier or barrier fence. In order to receive a K-rating, this distance must be less than 50-feet.
For instance, a K-rated fence system’s stopping power is tested by crashing a 15,000-pound vehicle into the fence at a specific speed. How fast it is traveling will designate its K rating:
The measured penetration distance is then designated by L1, L2 or L3. Each represents a specific incursion range:
So a “K8L3” means the truck was traveling 40mph and was stopped with less than 3 feet of penetration.
ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), developed a newer rating called ASTM F2656 that currently is more widely used than K-ratings. Like K-ratings, ASTM F2656 also incorporates size of vehicle (15,000 lb.truck) and its traveling speed. M ratings share similarity to K ratings in that each tests standardized speeds of 30, 40 or 50 mph. For example, a vehicle barrier fence could have the following designations:
As always with ratings, penetration distance is key. Instead of an “L”, ASTM F2656 ratings use a “P” designation that indicates how far the motor vehicle penetrates the barrier. P ratings range from P1 to P4. Using the vehicle barrier fence example, these are the possible designations for penetration distance:
In summary, a M50 P1 rating translates to a 15,000 lb. truck traveling 50 mph being stopped by a vehicle barrier or anti-ram fence with less than 3.3 feet of penetration. It is imporant to note that unlike K-ratings, ASTM has no penetration distance limitation. P4 means that the penetration measurement exceeded 98.41 feet. Because of P4's "unlimited" distance, virtually any tested product can earn a P4 rating. For this reason, DoD only accepts ratings P1-P3.
ASTM ratings are valuable because they can also test a wider range of vehicle sizes. This is vitally important as hostile vehicle attacks increase using different types of transports to deliver destruction.
C-ratings designate a small Car (2430 lbs.)
PU-ratings designate a Pickup truck (5070 lbs.)
H-ratings designate a heavy vehicle (65,000 lbs.)
Created by the British Standards Institution (BSI), many international organizations use PAS standards. A PAS68 rating can be intimidating due to its lengthy, Algebraic-looking formula that represents multiple factors, including weight and type of the vehicle, speed, angle of impact, penetration distance and debris dispersion. PAS68 ratings are similar to ASTM and K-ratings in that they are a measurement of protection against higher speed vehicles (30, 40 or 50 mph). A PAS68 rating looks like a math formula from high school: V/7500 [N1]/48/90:0/0 – it might look a bit daunting so let’s break it down.
V stands for Vehicle test
3,500(N2) = weight and vehicle type
48 = speed (48 kph or 29.83 mph)
90 = angle of impact in degrees
0 = penetration distance
0 = how far major debris traveled after impact
Check this link for more information about ratings and a deeper dive into PAS68.
Whether because of a heightened danger from a Hostile Vehicle Attack or the premises stores expensive goods, volatile materials or data-sensitive information, a crash-rated, high security fence is a critical asset for any business or company that requires robust perimeter protection. Protogetic offers top of the line fence systems from the most reputable manufacturers. Many of these products can be customized to meet your project’s specific design requirements. To instantly find the best vehicle barrier fence for your project, use our proprietary fence filter that allows you to research by manufacturer, anti-ram rating and infill material to name a few.
Protogetic’s exclusive high security, anti-ram fence catalog can supply you with a vehicle barrier fence, beam fence or other vehicle barricades tailored to your project’s security requirements. We also offer the highest quality vehicle barrier gates to pair with your high-security fence perimeter specifications.
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