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Used highway guard rails are accessible in heterogeneous types and are tailored for distinct purposes. They can be categorized based on their construction, design, and application. Below are the principal guard rail types commonly employed on highways:
The W-beam guard rail features a characteristic ‘W’ shape when viewed cross-sectionally. This guard rail is manufactured from heavy-gauge steel and provides high levels of containment and deflection. It is ideal for conditions of medium severity. In this case, a used guard rail can be refurbished and put to good use at a lower cost.
This guard rail comprises three exposed steel beams. The central ‘thrie’ beam is slightly raised to enhance the barrier’s strength and rigidity. It is a better choice in high-risk zones or where vehicles may tend to overturn. The Thrie-beam is exceptionally resilient and efficient to withstand heavy impacts.
These guard rails are manufactured with a hollow box section profile. This offers superior strength and durability compared to conventional designs. They are lighter, despite their rigidity, and are therefore easy to install. They are often suitable for areas prone to high impacts or adverse weather conditions.
This comprises one or more strands of wire rope tensioned between posts. It is designed to contain errant vehicles. The flexibility of the cable allows it to absorb and dissipate high energy impacts. It is substantially effective on rugged terrains and is preferred for forestry applications due to its ease of installation on uneven ground.
Concrete guard rails, cast into long walls or sections, provide substantial strength. They offer higher durability and are designed for heavy traffic highways or construction zones. Due to their weight and construction, concrete guard rails are not typically ‘used’ in the resale market. This is because they are permanent structures. However, concrete barriers are sometimes removed for retrofit or replacement purposes. They may be recycled into new barriers or secondary construction materials.
Material
Used highway guard rails are typically manufactured out of ruggedized steel, aluminum, and concrete composites. The materials used provide the resilience needed to withstand atmospheric elements and vehicular impact. Guard rails are sometimes galvanized or coated to retard corrosion and extend the lifespan of the rails.
Height and Length
In most cases, average guard rails are approximately 27 inches in height. They measure out to be around 25 to 30 feet in length. The height and length vary in line with road conditions and legislative requirements. Longitudinal extension is adjustable with end treatments and connectors, thus facilitating flexibility during installation.
Containment Levels
Highway guard rails are designed and classified under heterogeneous containment levels. These include standard, high, and very high strength. Such specifications are normally based on the requirements for the application of the guard rail. Such levels are determined by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). NCHRP standards define how much impact a rail can endorse without permitting a vehicle to cross over and jeopardize safety.
End Treatment Designs
End treatments are designed guards to absorb energy upon impact and to minimize rebound. Common designs include flare, taper, and deflector. Proper refurbishment or reinstallation of end treatments enhances the outcomes of used guard rails by submissions to impacts.
Regular Visual Checks
Frequent and thorough inspections of the used highway guard rails are essential in maintaining safety. Maintenance procedures to be followed include checking for signs of rust, dents, or bending. One also has to look for signs of degradation, such as corrosion or physical deformation. Anomalies discovered during inspections must be reported and rectified as fast as possible.
Corrosion Prevention
Corrosion greatly weakens guard rails. In order to counter this, guard rails must be re-coated with galvanized steel or corrosion retardant materials. They should also be abraded or painted with weather-resistant paint. This guards the guard rails against moisture, salt, and other environmental elements.
Structural Repairs
Frequent repair and replacement of broken posts or damaged guard rails are essential to ensure public safety. Welded joints or bolted connections are typically used to repair structural damage. Proper welding or bolted repairs are effective in regaining the strength of the guard rails.
Realignment of Rail Systems
Vehicle impacts and other forces may tend to displace or misalign guard rails over time. Frequent checks and adjustments are needed for the guard rails to return to their original positions. This ensures proper containment and corrected deflection. This is especially necessary for used guard rails, as they may be prone to a skewed alignment after multiple uses.
Used highway guard rails need to meet certain safety standards before they can be used. This is especially when they are to be resold or reused by a user.
FHWA Guidelines
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides policy documents for the approval of guard rails used to be impact-resistant. The guidelines specify the criteria for testing and performance evaluation of guard rails. This includes the containment capacity, paralleling levels, and passenger safety. Only guard rails that meet the set criteria are allowed on Federal Highway construction and maintenance contracts.
AASHTO Standards
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) establishes standard specifications for guard rails. These specifications cover the design, material, and installation criteria of the guard rails. They also put emphasis on the use and maintenance of the importance of safety and performance. State agencies adopt these standards for the construction and retrofitting of the existing infrastructures.
NCHRP Guidelines
The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) develops guidelines and recommendations for testing highway barriers. They test vehicle-guard rail interaction and determine the level of containment. This program aims to ensure that guard rails meet the minimum safety performance requirements before installation or reuse.
ISO Standards
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed standards pertaining to the design and testing of roadway barriers. These standards comprise safety performance tests, such as collision tests, for all types of railings. These standards, ISO 389 and ISO 14846, aim to harmonize the practices worldwide. They ensure that installed guard rails meet a minimum threshold of required safety performance capabilities.
European Norms
In Europe, guard rails are regulated by European Norms (EN) standards. They are developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The standards focus on the containment levels, deformation, and retrieval of guard rails. In the United Kingdom, the specifications of the EN standards have been adopted to ensure that guard rails meet safety requirements across various countries.
Due to its sturdy design, used highway guard rails can have various applications beyond travelers’ safety on the road. Here are some examples:
Traffic Safety
The main intended use of highway guard rails is to improve road safety. They prevent vehicles from veering off the road and reduce severe accidents' impact on critical injury or death. Used guard rails are helpful for rural roads and low-traffic areas, where off-road risks tend to be higher due to the lower average speed of the vehicle.
Containment of Errant Vehicles
Highway guard rails are designed to retent errant vehicles. They keep vehicles that have strayed within a reasonable distance from the roadside. This minimizes the risk of such vehicles posing dangers to pedestrians in nearby areas, seeking to arrest and reduce further casualties.
Preventing Off-road Exit
Guard rails seek to reduce the risks of vehicles leaving an embankment, entering a body of water, or coming into contact with any other hazardous object, including trees. Their basic purpose is on safety on the road.
Livestock and Crop Protection
In farming areas, guard rails can protect delicate crops or keep livestock away from dangerous or heavily trafficked roads. Their solid structure means they can produce long-lasting barriers in farming areas to keep animals safe from the hazards of the road.
Vehicular and Pedestrian Safety
On rural roads and in farming areas, used guard rails improve the safety of travelers by demarcating driving areas and discouraging pedestrian traffic through farmland. When still in good condition, they can reduce the likelihood of vehicle-pedestrian accidents in rural contexts.
Hazard Prevention
Within industry, used guard rails can be implemented to reduce the risk of vehicle or personnel entering hazardous zones, such as areas with heavy machinery, chemical storage, or other dangers. They can delineate safe and unsafe areas and thus improve overall site safety.
Impact Mitigation
In areas where heavy machinery is used, guard rails can protect workers and prevent vehicles from veering off dangerous slopes or into hazardous zones. Their robust design strengthens the barriers forming an integral part of the safety protocols in industrial settings.
Worker Safety
In construction areas, guard rails serve to avert workers from falling into trenches, hazardous pits, or other dangers beyond the highway. Used concrete barrier rails are critical for work site safety, as accidents due to falls or vehicles entering hazardous areas are significantly reduced.
Vehicle Control
Used guard rails on construction sites control vehicles’ movements. They help steer workers' vehicles and machinery away from risky areas and regulate the flow of transport around the site to minimize accidents.
Boundary Fencing
In case newly built highways have guard rails constructed along those highways, such guard rails can still be used to give residents boundary fencing. When painted or refurbished, they can give an area a rustic and tough boundary that keeps unwanted animals out and gives a feeling of enhanced security.
Pet and Child Safety
When installed in residential areas, guard rails can be vital in preventing pets and young children from wandering onto busy roads. They act as a defensive barrier, reinforcing road dangers' awareness and preventing accidental road crossings.
Highway guard rails have to be selected based on various factors. These factors include the level of performance required and the type of road. Here are some of them:
The state directly impacts the safety and performance of any used guard rail. One should check whether it has been bent, corroded, or shows signs of rusting. In post-impact rails, one should check whether the rail has been subjected to impact force in the past and, if so, what kind.
The choice depends on the needs and preferences of the buyer. W-beam guard rails are commonly used on the highway for average applications. A Thrie-beam guard rail is used in high-traffic areas because it has a strong design. If the buyer needs a rail for rougher terrain, go for cable guard rails.
Both types of the steel guard rails' durability and strength generally make them two of the best choices. All-aluminum guard rails are a good option for areas prone to corrosion. Steel is tougher and harder and has better long-term value.
Cost is a determining factor, as a new guard rail will not be financially viable for every project. Buyers should also reflect to get the most out of their money. Guard rails used in posts may be cost-effective, but short-lived ones should not be considered for savings' sake.
As in new guard rails, used guard rails must also be tested to comply with all safety-related requirements. Buyers should check whether the guard rails have been certified to comply with national standards. In this regard, they get performance test reports.
The potential steel guard rails take for repair and maintenance influence long-term usage. The welded joints on guard rail repairs and painted rails for corrosion protection make them usable for years. Buyers must also consider the cost and ease of maintenance for the guard rails to continue performing their duties for longer.
Some types of guard rails require special types of tools and skills to install. For example, concrete guard rails require special equipment for the handling and installation of concrete slabs. Aluminum railings and W-beam, in contrast, require lesser efforts for their installation. The buyer must also be ready for the costs for the installation of the guard rails.
Proper flared end treatments give extra protection to guard rails from errant vehicles. Buyers should check whether the used guard rails have had end treatment installed. If not, they should be ready to buy them separately.
A1: Guard rails are vital for highway safety because they minimize the chance of vehicles rolling offroad. They thus lessen impact with risky roadside features such as trees, ditches, and water bodies.
A2: Errant vehicles have higher containment levels with their unique shape. They are thus effective at reducing the risk of such vehicles crossing over to the opposing traffic lanes or into oncoming hazards.
A3: Manufacturers construct guard rails in such a way that they can absorb most of the impact energy. This minimizes the chance of injury to travelers and damage to the vehicle.
A4: When put in place properly and with minimal maintenance, guard rails can last up to 25 years. However, exposure to sharp weather elements and frequent vehicular impact can reduce their lifespan.
A5: In the highway's exposed areas, the W-beam performs better than the cable rail, which delineates the highway's area. It offers more strength and rigidity than flexible cable rails, effective on rough terrains.
