Guardrails UK

What is a guardrail?

A guardrail is used as a boundary to prevent or deter users from areas where there is a safety risk. The main benefit in using a guardrail is that it provides greater visibility than a fence. This is as it allows better line-of-sight through it.

When do you need a guardrail?

Guardrails are used is a variety of situations to provide safety and separation from hazardous areas, for example a:

• Roadside pavement, particularly at pedestrian crossings and dangerous sections.
• Building site.
• Flat roof top and roof edge.
• Roof terrace.
• At a stair way, balcony, balustrade and landing.
• At a ramp edge.
• Ship perimeter and gangway.
• Bordering dangerous machinery.

A supplier with a track record in designing and erecting guardrails will ensure that you apply the correct standard of guardrails for the situation that they are being used for.

What are the regulations and standards for guardrails in Scotland and the UK?

There are various regulations and standards that require to be applied to any guardrail design and installation in the UK. A reputable supplier will be well versed in these. In general there are a few general points of reference that you should be aware of:

• UK Building Regulations Part K state that a guardrail must consist of two horizontal rails with a minimum height of 1,100mm. It must be able to cope with an equally distributed load of 0.74kN per metre, and a 0.5kN point load.
• UK Building Regulations Part K2 allows for a temporary guardrail installation “If access will be required less frequently than once a month.”
• The BSI standard for pedestrian restraint systems in metal is BS 7818:1995. This specifies the requirements for pedestrian and non-vehicle user restraint systems for use on roads and highways. It covers:
  • The metal to be used.
  • Distance between bars.
  • Foundations.
  • The endurance stress.
  • Durability.

Guardrail standards in the UK and Europe are routinely referred to as Collective Edge Protection, Collective Fall Protection or Permanent Edge Protection. There are a number of BS EN and other standards that cover their installation and use:

• BS 6180 Protective Barriers In and About Buildings 1999.
• British Standard 6399 Part 1 Loading for Building 1996.
• BS 6399 Part 2 Code of Practice for Wind Loading 1997.
• Construction Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1996.
• EN 13374 Temporary Edge Protection Systems – Product Specification, Test Methods 2013.
• EN 14122-3 Safety of machinery.
• HSE Health & Safety in Roofwork 2012.
• HSE Specialist Inspectors Report No 15 1987.
• Permanent means of access to machinery, stairways, stepladders and guardrails 2010.
• The Building Regulations Part K 2013.
• The Work at Height Regulations 2005.
• Workplace Health Safety & Welfare Regulations 1992.

How are guardrails designed?

The shape and form of a guardrail will be determined by the available space, and the risk the handrail is protecting against. In addition to this the expected load against the guard rail influences the width of the rails and the spacing of the support posts or fixings.

The design of the system and its construction has to withstand the potential energy of the perceived impact from either side of the guardrail. Therefore, the maximum speed, weight and direction of travel of any colliding object has to be factored into the design.

The height and angle of impact must be considered too. This is so that the design correctly manages the energy transferred to the guardrail during an impact and remains in an upright position.

What types of guardrails exist?

As you can see from the above list of guardrail applications there are a number of railing types. However for the purpose of this article, we will concentrate on those used in road and pedestrian management.

Pedestrian guardrail

Pedestrians and other road users need to be separated from each other. This is where pedestrian guardrails are an ideal solution for this as they provide high visibility for all parties, while maintaining an effective safety barrier.

Guardrails in the UK are assessed by planning and building control within each local authority. They each have their own standard detail drawings that cover the specifications that have to be met. Guardrails are normally made from galvanised steel, stainless steel or aluminium. However within this there are three common types of guardrail that satisfy the criteria of BS7818 Class 2. These are frequently applied across all planning authorities:

• Full-height pedestrian guardrail (Type 1) – It bolts onto its neighbouring panel. Each frame is in-filled vertically with 12mm diameter bars.
• Sight gap or vision gap guardrail (Type 2) – It has a 200mm horizontal gap at the top without vertical bars to allow for improved visibility. It bolts onto its neighbouring panel. Each lower portion of the frame is in-filled vertically with 12mm diameter bars.
• Staggered guardrail (Type 3) – It can be a Type 1 or Type 2 panel. The in-fill bars are staggered to improve line-of-sight.

Fixed guardrails are set by placing the vertical posts of the structure into concrete foundations. Alternatively they can be bolted onto the concrete foundations. The sections are then generally bolted together, or in some cases welded. A freestanding guardrail is self supporting on its own base plate.

Where are pedestrian guardrails required?

Guardrails are generally positioned in areas where there is a risk in the interface between pedestrians and traffic to provide a safety railing. This can be where:

• The footpath is small.
• There are tight corners.
• Pedestrians are being managed to a crossing point.
• There is a height difference between the walkway and the road.
• Outside schools as children are not sufficiently risk aware.
• Rail crossings.
• Areas of high footfall.
• Exits and entrances to buildings.
• Crowd control outside stadia and venues.

Do guardrails require to be a certain height?

Guardrails in the UK require to be manufactured to a minimum height of 1100mm. Always ensure you adhere to the standards required for your particular type of guardrail.

And finally…

When you are selecting a guardrail system in the UK, you need to ensure that you select a quality product that is certified to the highest safety standards. Always make sure they are installed by a reliable experienced contractor. Contact us for further details.