"The key to critical infrastructure protection from a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) is a combination of access restriction and approach speed management and whilst careful planning and layout design can assist with the restriction of approach speed, the final line of defence is the blocking system."

As the blocking systems are installed to protect both infrastructure and lives and it is essential that they are suitable to combat today's ever increasing threat types.

The equipment developed and manufactured by Avon Barrier has been rigorously crash tested to PAS 68 and ASTM F 2656-07 to ensure that when it needs to perform, it will play its part.

Additional testing work undertaken to date includes dynamic impact testing with a variety of different impact forces, penetration testing (mainly aimed at the pedestrian control equipment) and explosive shrapnel dispersal testing, duty cycling testing and variable ambient temperature testing.

In today's environment higher levels of perimeter protection are increasingly necessary and design consultants are tasked with ensuring that installations are not only safe and secure in the current climate but are also future proofed against the escalating threat levels.

Avon Barrier's commitment to protection extends to the provision of a frontline service to design consultants to assist in the correct specification and design of security control points.

PAS 68 specifies a classification system for the performance of vehicle security barriers and their supporting foundations when subjected to a single horizontal impact.

In the course of the document three alternative assessment methods of determining the performance classification of vehicle security barriers are given.

The vehicle impact method

The pendulum method (only suitable for testing bollards  at  lower energy  levels)

The design method

PAS 68 identifies impact test tolerances and vehicle performance criteria that need to be met in order to conform. Design guidance is provided in PAS 69.