Impact Calculator.
Need help choosing the right impact protection for your site?
The Vanguard Impact Calculator helps you to make informed decisions in just a few clicks! Simply input your site details to calculate the joules of impact resistance required to keep your site moving safely and efficiently.
Calculator
Real Metrics for Real Protection.
Understanding impact ratings is essential for making informed decisions about the level of protection required in your environment.
What are impact ratings?
An impact rating tells you how much energy a safety control (such as a barrier or bollard) can absorb before it fails.
Impact ratings are measured in kinetic energy – joules (J). A kilojoule (kJ) is 1000 joules.
Choosing the right solution depends on the level of protection you require for site-specific risks.
What are joules?
In safety applications, joules represent how much impact energy a product can absorb, transfer, or withstand.
The kilojoule rating on a product shows the amount of impact energy the product can absorb before failing.
The higher the kJ rating, the greater the impact the safety control can handle.
Real-World Example 1
The TB 400 Plus Barrier has an impact rating of 20.1 kJ. That is equivalent to a 7,000kg forklift colliding with the barrier at 8.6km/h at a 90° angle.
Real-World Example 2
The BO250T Bollard has an impact rating of 24.1 kJ. That is equivalent to a 10,000kg forklift colliding with the barrier at 8km/h at a 90° angle.
How do I choose the right impact rating for my site?
When deciding which safety control will offer the right protection for people and assets on your site, consider:
- Types of vehicles operating in the area
- Typical travel speeds
- Traffic volume and frequency.
Note: when comparing impact ratings for different products, focus on impact values at 90º impact angles for the most fair comparison.
Still unsure? Get in touch.
Reach out to our team for a chat about what impact protection is right for your site.
What is the Impact Rating Table – and how do I use it?
As an alternative to the Impact Calculator, impact rating tables convert vehicle weight and speed combinations into impact ratings.
Use the table to:
- Appropriately match safety control ratings to the risks on your site
- Reduce the risk of under- or over-specifying safety controls for what you are trying to achieve.
Note: All ratings in this table are calculated based on an impact angle of 90°.
