Introduction

Hundreds of thousands of crowd control barricades are in use or in storage throughout the nation.  With barriers being continually rotated in and out of use, any entity which owns barricades has a vested interest in keeping control of its stock.  Because so many barricades look alike, loss – and even theft – of barricades is a recurring problem.

 To address these issues, many barricade suppliers have also begun to offer a number of different types of signs which can be attached to the barricades.  These signs have three principle purposes:

• To identify ownership of the barrier and maintain control of inventory
• To communicate a message
• To increase the visibility of the barricade, particularly at night

Aluminum Signs

Aluminum signs are attached to crowd control barricades by nuts and bolts.  Often featuring the name or logo of the barrier owner, these signs are perhaps the most commonly used method of identifying ownership of barriers, and preventing accidental loss.  Aluminum signs are the same quality as standard road signs.

Aluminum sizes can be of varying sizes, but the dimension which has become something of a de facto industry standard is 8″ x 20″.  The size was arrived at through real-world experimentation; it has proven to be large enough to be seen from a distance, but not so large as to contribute significantly to the barrier’s wind resistance

Quality aluminum signs should have smooth edges and no sharp parts.  Signs with sharp edges are difficult to handle safely.  Aluminum has also proven to be far superior to cheaper, thin material which bends at the corners, rendering the sign unattractive and unsafe

The majority of these signs are printed on engineer grade reflective sheeting, which reflects at night when light hits it, emphasizing the existence of the barriers.  (Signs which are merely painted will not be visible in low light conditions.)  Replacement adhesive is available, making it easy to change your message without buying a new sign.  With adhesive, new logos or text can be easily “pasted over” an existing sign, much in the manner of applying a new automobile registration sticker.

To make the most of the aluminum sign option, look for steel barricades that have been pre-drilled especially to accommodate signs.  The largest barricade suppliers pre-drill sign holes into the barricade, which makes it easy for a barricade owner to buy or add signs at any time after purchase of the barrier.  Such barriers are galvanized after the sign holes have been drilled, leaving no steel exposed.

Laser Cut Identification Signs

Laser cut signs are permanent steel signs that are welded to the uprights of a barricade.  These permanent identification signs distinguish barriers in a more unobtrusive way than the larger aluminum signs.  Because laser cut signs cannot be removed (without cutting out two uprights of the barrier), they are the most effective inventory control and identification tool.  Permanent identification significantly reduces the odds that barriers will be lost or “walk away,” making this option ideal for cities in which multiple departments have barrier inventories.

The laser cut sign is literally an integral part of the barricade.  Back to back plates of steel are welded onto the barrier’s uprights prior to galvanizing.  After galvanizing, the sign appears as a steel plate with recessed lettering.  This tough, heavy steel cannot be bent or pried off of the barrier.  Any type of lettering – from simple to sophisticated – is available, and signs can be placed anywhere on the barrier.

Reflective Sheeting

Reflective sheeting, commonly used on other directional devices such as traffic cones and other traffic control signage, is an increasingly popular identification tool for steel barricades.  The primary benefit of reflective sheeting on barriers is that it makes barriers visible at night.  All reflective sheeting will reflect light at night.

The recommended (and most common) placement of reflective sheeting is on both ends of a barrier (so that anyone approaching a barrier or a line of barriers at night can easily assess the barriers’ width).  Sheeting can also be placed at the top and bottom of a barricade to convey its height.  Easy-to-apply self-adhesive tape alternates white and orange stripes diagonally on a 45 degree angle

Three different grades of sheeting are generally available – engineer grade, high intensity, and diamond grade.  Reflective sheeting can also feature printed logos or text. 

Conclusion

Placing some type of sign on a crowd control barricade is the most effective way of identifying ownership and preventing accidental loss.  Aluminum signs, laser cut signs and reflective sheeting are three popular options which identify ownership, help maintain inventory control, and often increase a barrier’s visibility.  Most leading suppliers of crowd control barricades can also supply these three types of signs.

As crowd control barricades are frequently used in outdoor settings, concern about their ability to withstand rain and cold and remain rust-free is a significant factor when events or venues are evaluating a purchase of this crowd management tool.

These concerns become a non-issue when the barriers in question have been hot-dip galvanized.  While most reputable and established suppliers of steel barriers only offer hot-dip galvanized product, there are some imitation or “look alike” barriers on the market that are only painted, not hot-dip galvanized.

Steel’s Best Friend

Hot-dip galvanizing is a proven, cost-effective, and durable corrosion protection.  In the hot-dip galvanizing process, a zinc coating is applied to the steel by immersing it in a bath of molten zinc (at 850 degrees).  The molten zinc naturally reacts with the surface of the steel to form a series of zinc-iron alloy layers that protect the underlying steel from corrosive attack.  Even if the coating is subsequently scratched or otherwise damaged, the galvanizing will continue to provide protection to the exposed steel.

No rust or corrosion

Hot-dip galvanizing protects the steel from the inside out, and allows you to permanently leave or store barriers outside without danger of rusting.  Because of the way steel barriers are used and handled, scratches and “dings” are unavoidable.  If a barrier is not galvanized, steel that becomes exposed will inevitably begin to corrode.  But, because galvanizing forms a metal bond between the coating and the underlying steel, the alloys formed during the process continue to provide protection to the exposed steel. 

Long-Term Value

While there are short-term costs associated with including hot-dip galvanizing in the product development process, the hot-dip galvanizing process significantly pays off in the long run by increasing the product’s life span.  Steel that is hot-dip galvanized can last up to five times longer than steel that is merely painted.  Galvanized steel can remain corrosion- and rust-free for 70 years.

Advantages over Painting

Steel that is painted, but not galvanized, will corrode from the inside when exposed to moisture or other elements.  The paint is only a cover.  It will chip and peel.

While painting is not a viable alternative to galvanizing, painting over galvanized steel does provide extended corrosion resistance.  This can add even more years to the lifetime of the product, according to the American Galvanizers Association.

The Process/ Details

The process for the hot dip galvanization of industry-standard steel barricades (such as Blockader steel barriers) displays the supplier’s commitment to quality.  It actually begins before galvanizing, with the selection of high-quality steel.  Barriers should be carefully cleaned prior to galvanizing to ensure 100% coating.  Barriers should be dipped into the galvanizing bath, and then withdrawn, in a careful, professional manner.

Technical Details

The American Galvanizers Association (www.galvanizeit.org) provides a wealth of information about the galvanizing process, its benefits, and its history, including a fact sheet and an FAQ page on its website.  Anyone wishing to learn more about the life-cycle costs of galvanized vs. non-galvanized products will find numerous statistical studies cited.

Conclusion

Given the initial cost of steel crowd control barricades, and the nature of their use, hot-dip galvanizing is an essential step in the process of manufacturing a quality product.  Barriers that are only painted will have a pleasing look for a very short period of time, but will soon lose not only their attractiveness, but their effectiveness, as rust and corrosion will quickly render them unusable.  Barricades that are hot-dip galvanized can remain in use under any weather conditions and will remain a cost-effective long-term investment.

Gates

A gate (also sometimes referred to as a “swing gate”) looks like (and is constructed like) a barrier.  But instead of bases, it has two wheels for its feet.  One side of the gate will interlock with another barrier via standard barrier hooks.  The other side will feature a heavy duty steel latch which locks the gate with another parallel barrier to maintain a continuing line.

Gates are most valuable when placed intermittently among long lines of interlocked barriers with the purpose of allowing controlled access through the line.  This enables officials, police, and EMS personnel to open a gate when necessary for official or emergency purposes.

A gate can also act as a floodgate to relive heavy traffic congestion. Gates provide a necessary “emergency back door” in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Gates should swing both in and out, and should be manufactured so that all the weight is on the wheels (not on the hinged side).

Arches

Arches are commonly used with swing gates, but can also be used with standard steel barricades.  Arches can be completely open, or they can envelop (hovering over and around) one gate or one barrier.  They attach to a line of barriers via standard barrier hooks.

A standard arch is 10 feet high.  Many sites utilize arches to place a sign high above the crowd, so that designated areas are clearly visible.  Signs on arches are frequently used to designate a main entrance or a specific location such a handicapped entrance, employee entrance, or “Lost Children” area.

To ensure stability, arches should feature large (usually 3-feet) flat bases.

Conclusion

Experienced suppliers of crowd control barricades also offer gates and arches – companion products which make lines of steel barriers more customer-friendly in the real world.  When a long line of barriers needs to be accompanied by a clearly-visible sign for communication, arches do the job.  When a line of barricades needs to have periodic openings for safety or convenience, gates are the answer.

With carts, steel barricades can be moved quickly from inventory to their place of use (and back). Carts enable one-time handling of barriers – multiple barriers can be loaded or unloaded, as opposed to moving each barricade individually. The benefit is significant time savings and reduced labor costs.

The most popular cart currently in use was designed by The Tamis Corporation, manufacturer and supplier of Blockader interlocking steel barriers. The company’s extensive experience with customers who inquired about more efficient ways to move crowd control barriers (which can weigh 40-50 pounds each) led to the development of the portable cart in 1995. Since then, new designs have improved the strength and efficiency of the cart. But the carts aren’t meant for only one brand of barrier. They have specifically been designed to accommodate all standard barrier frames.

These carts are also used to store barricades. When barriers are not needed, they can remain on the cart in a storage area. When they need to be moved within the storage area, the cart makes that task easy.

Current Capacity and Comparisons

The large portable cart will hold 28 barricades. Therefore, if a forklift pulls one cart from behind while simultaneously lifting a cart in front, that forklift can move up to 56 barriers at a time. In contrast, without carts, a forklift can move only 15 (un-carted) barriers. Thus, the latest model of cart provides nearly four times the efficiency of moving stock via forklift alone.

In addition to this efficiency, carts also provide a safer, more product-friendly way to move barriers. Barriers that are not on a cart can easily slip from a forklift, resulting in damaged product and wasted time and effort. Carts hold barriers upright and in a stable position, enabling them to be pulled and lifted safely by the forklift, even in sharp turns.

Portable steel barrier carts can also be pulled by Cushman electric carts.

Carts are made of heavy duty steel, and, at a weight of 360 pounds, are sturdy. Their wheels match the strength of their bodies. Wheels are made of cast steel with heavy-duty roller bearings, zert fittings for grease, and neoprene covers.

Loading barriers onto carts is also easy. The cart was designed at a height meant to facilitate quick loading. Barriers can be loaded onto carts in either a full or partial arrangement.

When carts aren’t in use moving or storing barricades, they knock down for easy, flat storage.

Carts knock down for easy, flat storage.

Basic Push Cart Thus far, the information in this article has focused on the large portable cart. A second, smaller style of barrier cart, known as the Basic Push Cart, holds eight barricades, and is designed to be pushed by hand. For sites or events that don’t need to move high volumes of barricades, but still want to avoid the inefficiency of having someone carry them by hand one at a time, the basic cart is ideal for handling small quantities. The basic cart’s small width (less than 48 inches wide) allows easy doorway clearance.

Summary

Portable carts provide an efficient, time-saving way of moving crowd control barriers within a facility or area. As opposed to moving individual barricades one-at-a-time by hand, or moving(at most) 15 at a time by forklift, today’s portable cart will hold 28 barriers, enabling a forklift to move two carts (up to 56 barriers) by pulling and lifting simultaneously. Barriers are also safer and less susceptible to damage when they are moved by cart, and when barriers are not in use, carts can become a de facto – and efficient – storage mechanism.