APT Security Systems claims to have become the first UK manufacturer to have a retractable bollard tested and proven on both sides of the Atlantic.
The company has repeated the Model 400 bollard’s K12 certification test by the US Department of State (DoS) by undertaking a test conforming to the British Standards Institution PAS 68:2007 specification for vehicle security barriers at the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). The K12 rated Model 400 bollard was developed in the US by APT’s partner, IPS (Intelligent Perimeter Systems) through a US Department of Defense small business research grant. The product has a self-contained, 24VDC powered independent hydraulic actuating system, eliminating, it is claimed, the need for a bulky central pump station or the need for high voltage power. No extra civil works are required. This rapid response bollard can be fully deployed in five seconds in normal operation mode, and in less than one second when in emergency operation mode, the makers add.
Two PAS 68 tests were carried out on the Model 400 bollard at TRL on the same day. The first was undertaken with a 7.5 tonne 2 axle rigid vehicle – ballasted to 6.8 tonnes with an additional 0.7 tonnes of cargo (sand bags) bringing the vehicle to 7.5 tonnes. The vehicle impacted the bollard at 40 miles per hour stopping the vehicle dead with zero penetration of the load carrying part of the vehicle.
The bollard was then lowered, allowing the vehicle debris to be cleared, and raised again for a second test that same day. The vehicle used on the second test was an 18 tonne 2 axle rigid European vehicle meeting the requirements of PAS 68. The unladen weight of the vehicle is 6.8 tonnes with sand bags added to make the test weight of 7.5 tonnes. Impact speed was 50 miles per hour, and again the bollard was successful in stopping the vehicle, with a penetration distance of just 4.5 metres for the load carrying part of the lorry. After stopping the larger vehicle, the bollard continued to work satisfactorily.
The TRL test follows the results of the U.S. Department of State’s own K12 crash test, whereby the Model 400 resisted the impact of a typical U.S. vehicle weighing 6,800kg (15,000lbs Gross Vehicle Weight – GVW) – hitting it at 50 miles per hour (80kph) with zero penetration.
This rapid response bollard can be fully deployed in five seconds in normal operation mode, and in less than one second when in emergency operation mode. Its high-strength pylon construction is designed as a first line of defence for valuable assets, and a solution for use at military facilities, embassies, airports, utility plants, court buildings, ports, bridges and tunnels, water treatment facilities, office buildings and telecoms centres.
APT offers the Model 400 bollards as part of a complete access control system from IPS called Intelli-Gate, which utilises innovative technology to validate and verify the identity of people and vehicles authorised to enter or visit a secured facility. The system is comprised of a secure, encrypted command and control annunciation system, advanced monitoring and communications technologies, Model 400 retractable bollards and other related access control components.
Tony Girard, Managing Director of APT Security Systems says: "We are delighted with the test results and to be helping the UK Government with their latest research and development looking into the resilience of bollards against vehicular-borne attack. After achieving the highest K12 rating in the U.S. against DoS specifications, APT is working with UK government authorities to refine the performance with European vehicles, to which end APT ran this series of tests at TRL.
IPS’s President Mike Korodi added, “Its performance far exceeded anyone’s expectations. This is an exciting benchmark for our two companies work with the UK Government in defining compatible tests for both sides of the Atlantic.”
APT Security Systems entered a partnership with IPS in December 2006 – a reciprocal agreement that will see APT adding to its range of high security barrier solutions with the support of IPS globally, whilst IPS will be manufacturing APT products, including the Titan Road Blocker, in North America.
