Berry Systems Barrier Protection Systems for Multi-Storey Car Parks and Industrial Environments

Berry Systems is an acknowledged UK market leader in the manufacture, design and installation of barrier protection systems for use in multi-storey car parks and industrial environments.

Car park and industrial barriers

All of our car park and industrial barriers are stringently tested to provide protection for vehicles ranging from 1.5t to 40t, and comply with BS 6399 Part 1: 1996 and BS 6180. They also comply with the stringent guidelines laid down in the recent ICE reports into protection in and around structures.

To complement our barrier range we also manufacture and supply a diverse range of bollards, speed restraints, rubber protection systems, access barriers and gates to provide the complete package of external works.

Car park safety barriers

There are two types of car park safety barriers: column mounted and floor mounted. Each will stop vehicles from breaching the car park perimeter (if correctly specified) and each has its own particular features and benefits. These two main types of barriers then sub-divide into flexible or rigid options.

Flexible barriers are designed to ‘give’ (deflect), on impact, therefore absorbing minor knocks without damage to either the barrier or the impacting vehicle. Harder impacts will sustain damage but, in the case of the barrier, this will be limited to easily replaceable or repairable components and structural integrity is maintained.

Damage to vehicles is minimised and the driver and any passengers are less likely to suffer injury. The level of deflection by the barrier varies from system to system and space must be allowed for this if any external cladding or other facade is also fitted.

Rigid systems stop vehicles without deflecting but this is largely at the expense of damage to the impacting vehicle and its occupants, the barrier, and the anchorage.

Column-mounted car park safety barriers

The main advantage of column-mounted systems is that they have little or no footprint in the parking bay thereby releasing more space for parking use. The barrier is mounted directly onto the structural columns with interim posts fitted if necessary, subject to the system chosen.

This makes them best suited for new-build car parks so that designs can take into account the weight of the system and the forces and stresses transferred from the barrier to the columns in the event of impacts. Most of Berry’s column mounted systems incorporate integral pedestrian handrails and are anti-climb.

Floor-mounted car park safety barriers

For areas away from the perimeter, floor-mounted car park safety barriers are often the only option. Columns are not usually available to affix barriers for ramps, split levels, car park approaches or to protect doorways, walkways, plant or ductwork. Floor-mounted systems are also the most common choice for perimeter refurbishments to minimise structural upgrading.

Berry Systems offer two types of flexible floor-mounted car park safety barrier and one rigid system, each with a choice of three rail profiles – Berry Beam, Barrier Rail or Open Box Beam.

Spring-steel buffer car park safety barriers

The Berry spring-steel buffer car park safety barrier has been the benchmark flexible, floor-mounted system in UK car parks for nearly 40 years. Over that time it has been improved and developed to incorporate a range of buffer types to suit almost all circumstances and more recent changes to standards and relevant recommendations has led to the development of integral pedestrian handrails and anti-climb mesh.

Flexible floor-mounted car park safety barriers

The Berry flexi-post provides a semi-flexible system. The upper part of the post is mounted into a rubber shock absorber which allows a limited deflection of the post.

Rigid floor-mounted car park safety barriers

Berry rigid barriers are assumed by BS 6399 to have a zero deflection and deformation of the barrier rail and damage to the vehicle is likely with any significant impact. Because of their solidity, high anchor bolt forces are generated and so they require substantial footings.

Speed control products for car parks

Speed control products can be used to reduce the potentially higher speeds in surface car parks to safer levels. They can also be used in multi-storey car parks to reduce the need for two force barriers under BS 6399.

Industrial car park safety barriers

Most of Berry Systems’ car park barriers can be used in industrial applications, with the specification upgraded where necessary to accommodate fork lift trucks, pallet trucks, light commercial vehicles and HGVs.