How Much Do Steel Barriers Cost and Why Should I Invest?

ForkSafe 600A

Do you need steel barriers in your workplace?

Perhaps you’ve considered it, but uncertainty about the cost has held you back from making a decision.

By installing steel barriers in your workplace, you can significantly reduce the risk of harm to people and vehicles by keeping them separate and protected.

Whether you’re considering investing or are ready to upgrade your existing steel barriers, having a comprehensive understanding of where they fit into your budget is crucial.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about steel barrier cost, alternative options, and what factors influence cost, so you can make an informed decision that’s right for your workplace, situation, and budget.

Steel Barriers Cost: Why Are Some So Cheap and Some So Expensive?

Let’s start with the basics — when it comes to steel barriers, here’s what you can expect from the price range:

  • Walkway and asset protection steel barriers can range from $150/m to $600/m.
  • Higher steel barriers, such as cages, tunnels, and topple barriers, can range from $800/m to $1050/m.

You might be wondering, “Why such a big range in price?”.  Several factors influence steel barrier pricing, including the supplier used, the location of the manufacturer, the level of protection required, and the chosen configuration. The cost for steel barriers across these suppliers is relatively similar. However, the quality can vary.

After over 30 years of helping clients create safer workplaces, we understand the importance of taking the time to understand what you’re trying to achieve so we can recommend the right barrier solution for your situation. At Vanguard, we believe in providing a quality product that meets market needs at an affordable price.

Having a barrier that does the job it needs to and is available at a fair price is much better than having no barrier at all because you can’t afford the ‘Rolls-Royce’ option. In fact, sometimes the more expensive solution can actually be over-engineered for your situation.

Factors That Influence Steel Barrier Price

Purchasing steel barriers is one cost, but there is a range of other factors that can cause the total figure to climb.

Supply Only vs Install

If it is a supply-only situation, you only pay for the cost of the steel barrier based on its length and layout. If you want installation included in the total cost, you can expect to pay an additional 20-25% of the supply-only price.

Groundwork Preparation for Installation

The bottom line is this: The more groundwork or preparation required, the more expensive it will be to install your steel barriers. The price of steel barriers can increase rapidly due to the fact that they must be installed directly into a concrete surface.

Personally, we won’t install them into anything else. Why? Because installing barriers into a below-par surface like asphalt means the impact ratings do not apply, and the barrier’s ability to withstand impact is severely compromised.

If your area does not have a concrete surface, you will need to install a concrete footer for the barrier to be bolted into.  Depending on the area your steel barriers will cover, concrete can be poured to create either individual footings (one per post) or a continuous footing, depending on the layout of the barrier system.

Barrier Configuration

Steel barriers come in a wide range of configurations and can be customised to suit your situation. When it comes to configuration and cost, every workplace is unique and requires a different approach to providing the appropriate level of protection.

Steel barrier configurations range from low 400mm-high single-rail barriers to 900mm-high triple-rail barriers. When it comes to pricing, walkway and asset protection can range from $120/m to $600/m, while higher steel barriers, such as cages, tunnels, and topple barriers, can range from $800/m to $2500/m.

The level of protection required from your steel barrier is determined by the weight, speed and volume of the traffic moving through your workplace. The more impact protection required, the higher the cost of the barrier.

At the same time, you should only ever pay for what you need. Our team can help you get the right solution for your situation, without over- or under-engineering your steel barrier configuration.

Vanguard’s ForkSafe™ Barrier Range

Our ForkSafe™ Steel Barriers are a certified, modular steel barrier system designed to protect buildings, assets, and personnel from damage or injury.  Multiple configurations are available depending on your application. Our range of most installed ForkSafe solutions is detailed below, which ranges in price from $180/m to $380/m.

ForkSafe Configuration Table
Our most commonly installed ForkSafe Barrier Systems and where they are used

 

ForkSafe barriers are also impact-tested in accordance with the PAS 13 code of practice, which takes into account the environment the barriers are installed in. PAS 13 is superior in the sense that it creates a rating based on physical impact from forklifts and other MHE, while other codes of practice, including Finite Element Analysis (FEA) or AS/NZS 1170.1, are only designed to test against vehicle impact.

Read More: PAS 13 Steel Barrier Testing: What It Is and Why It Matters

If you want to learn more about our ForkSafe range, check out the article link below, or get in touch, and we’ll work with you to find the right solution for what you are trying to achieve.

Read: A Comprehensive Overview of the ForkSafe Barrier Range

Steel Barriers vs Flexible Barriers: Product and Price

Steel barriers are an entirely suitable protective solution for people and assets in an environment where pedestrians, forklifts and other MHE are active. Plus, they are typically 25-50% cheaper than flexible barriers

Flexible barriers are a more expensive option because they’re made of energy-absorbing materials and have an advanced structure. If you know your barrier will be taking regular hits in high-traffic areas, a flexible barrier may be a better solution in terms of long-term value for money and maintenance.

Read More: Steel vs Flexible Barriers (Differences, Benefits & More)

How Do I Know Which Barrier Is Right for Me?

Deciding which barrier solution is right for your workplace will depend on:

  • The size of the space
  • The types of vehicles moving through it
  • The volume of traffic
  • Where and when vehicles intersect with pedestrians

Investing in barriers as a safety solution involves budgeting, planning, and expense. However, the benefits they offer in terms of protecting people and assets are truly invaluable. Now that you have a better understanding of the cost of steel barriers and the factors that influence that final price, you’ll be more equipped to make an informed decision about which solution is right for you and your workplace.

Read More: How Lineage Upgraded Their Traffic Management Controls to Create a Safer Workplace

At Vanguard, we’ve helped make thousands of workplace situations safer, and steel barriers are a solution that has enabled us to help our clients do just that.

If you need help with the selection process or have a specific project at your Workplace that requires guidance, watch our 5-Step Safety Design Process video to see how we can assist, or contact us to discuss your situation.

The ForkSafe Barrier Range: A Comprehensive Overview

ForkSafe Barrier

Keeping people safe in a workplace environment where pedestrians, forklifts, and other materials-handling equipment share the same space is a challenging and high-risk task.

Whether you’re operating a warehouse, food manufacturing facility or any other logistics centre, workplaces of this nature require fit-for-purpose safety solutions that protect buildings, assets and people.

One of these solutions is the ForkSafe™ Barrier Range, a PAS 13 impact-tested steel barrier system specifically designed to enhance safety and efficiency in busy areas where pedestrians, forklifts, and materials handling equipment (MHE) coexist.

In this article, we’ll explore:

  • The benefits of ForkSafe Barriers
  • The PAS 13 Impact Rating
  • Types of barrier configurations
  • ForkSafe Barrier cost
  • Is ForkSafe suitable for your workplace?

What Are ForkSafe Barriers?

Our ForkSafe™ Steel Barriers are a certified, modular steel barrier system designed to protect buildings, assets, and personnel from damage or injury caused by forklifts and other MHE. Due to its modular design, this barrier system is highly customisable, easy to install, and ideal for ongoing maintenance.

Available in a range of configurations to suit your situation, all our ForkSafe barriers are manufactured from steel and galvanised with a powder-coated yellow finish. Manufactured in Vietnam for quality at a fair price, they’re also UV-resistant and come with a 10-year warranty for added peace of mind.

Watch Video: ForkSafe Barriers | Range Overview

Steel Barrier Impact Ratings: How Does ForkSafe Measure Up?

When investing in a steel barrier system, you want assurance that it will be able to withstand impacts in the environment where it is installed. The ForkSafe Barrier System is impact-tested in accordance with the PAS 13 code of practice.

Unlike other standard testing standards, such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA) or AS/NZ 1170, PAS13 is a testing method specifically designed to measure barrier strength and durability against forklift and other MHE impact in industrial environments—not just vehicles.

ForkSafe’s Crumple Zone Technology (CZT) is designed to absorb impact in such a way that reduces the chance of shock to the forklift or MHE and also protects your concrete floor from blowing out.

For example, our most commonly used ForkSafe system, 950-A configuration, is designed to protect walkways and withstand a 90-degree impact from a 5-ton machine travelling at 10 km/h.

Are There Different ForkSafe Barrier Configurations?

In the ForkSafe system, there are three main configurations — the 400 series, 600 series, and 950 series. These numbers refer to the height of the system, and each type is designed for a different use.

ForkSafe Barrier’s modular components make it simple to tailor their configuration to suit your specific situation. Additionally, if damage should occur to your barrier system, all components are fully replaceable.

Take a look at the table below to understand where each configuration is typically used and what it is best suited for in various applications.

ForkSafe Configurations
ForkSafe Barrier Range Configurations and Use Cases

What Factors Influence Cost?

Multiple factors influence the total cost of ForkSafe Barriers—it’s often not just the barrier you pay for. From installation to groundworks preparation, the cost is highly dependent on your specific situation.

Different levels of protection come at different costs. For example, a 900mm high configuration could have one, two, or three barrier rails depending on what purpose it needs to serve. The more rails you have, the higher the impact rating, and the higher the cost.

Read more: Investing in Steel Barriers: Why Should I and What Does It Cost?

Where Would ForkSafe Barriers Not Be Suitable?

While steel barriers (including the ForkSafe barrier range) are versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications, there are still some areas where steel barriers aren’t always the best solution. These include:

  • Pedestrian walkways that change regularly: In these situations, a temporary barrier is likely the best option due to its adaptability. As pedestrian walkways and layouts shift, temporary barriers can be repositioned to suit traffic flow.
  • Areas where forklifts regularly need access: For these areas, consider using folding or retractable barriers that delineate the walkway but can be easily opened when access is required.
  • Walkways where you only need delineation and guidance, not protection: In situations where forklifts or vehicles aren’t operating near a walkway, a steel impact barrier is over-the-top and unnecessary. Using a system, such as a pedestrian handrail, will provide an effective solution at a more affordable cost.
  • High traffic zones where regular impact is likely: Where it’s likely that forklifts will repetitively strike a barrier, steel may not be the best option. Regular hits to a steel barrier can cause sustained damage and potentially wreck your concrete surface beneath. In these situations, you may want to consider flexible barriers that absorb impact, resulting in a longer product lifetime and reduced maintenance.

Is ForkSafe the Right Barrier Choice for Me?

When deciding whether a steel barrier is suitable for your workplace, it ultimately comes down to the application. With over 30 years of experience in the workplace safety industry, we understand that finding the right solution isn’t just about selecting a product and installing it.

We take the time to understand exactly what you’re looking to achieve so we can recommend the right solution for your site. Sometimes that might not even be a ForkSafe Steel Barrier! It might be another supplier entirely—we will only recommend our own solutions if they are right for your situation.

Where clients have the most success implementing safety solutions like ForkSafe is when all key stakeholders are involved in the process from the start, including Health & Safety teams, operations, finance, and management.

If you need help with the selection process or have a specific project at your Workplace that requires guidance, watch our 5-Step Safety Design Process Video to see how we can assist, or contact us to discuss your situation.