Top 5 Advantages of Flexible Barriers Over Traditional Steel Barriers
Modern UAE industries and warehouses are busier than ever- constant changes in layouts, forklift traffic, and the overall faster pace of operations demand a safety system that is strong and adaptable. Flexible barriers have started to gain momentum, actively replacing the traditional steel rigid barriers.
In this blog, we will discuss the top five advantages of flexible barriers and explore how they become a better and smart alternative to the traditional safety systems.
Top Five Advantages Of Flexible Steel Barriers
Impact Absorption
Warehouses are industries characterized by constant motion- of equipment, forklifts, operators and so on. No matter how structured the workspace is, certain collisions are unavoidable.
As per the industrial safety standards, safety barriers are mandatory to protect the personnel and the machinery alike. Flexible barriers serve this purpose quite well.
Unlike the rigid steel bars, the flexible barrier absorbs the collision energy. This allows the barriers to flex and then recover to their original shape.
Flexible safety barriers work on the principle of energy absorption vs energy transfer, making them the safest and ideal choice in dynamic settings like industrial sites, warehouses, pedestrian walkways and the like.
Long-term Cost Efficiency Advantage
Although steel barriers have a lower upfront cost, they are likely to add up the long term expenses quickly. The chances of the steel bars to being permanently deformed after a collision are quite high, followed by the frequent repairs afterwards, repaintings and gradual rusting can be expensive.
In such circumstances, flexible barriers tend to be advantageous as they are designed to be impact-resistance. Although it requires a high initial investment, it will be cost-effective in the long run.
Safety barriers can effectively withstand repeated collisions without being deformed. Over time, it significantly reduces the repairing cost, extending its service life even more.
Suited for the UAE Environment
Given the extreme climate of the UAE, characterized by intense sunshine and high temperature, the traditional steel barriers will come off as insufficient as they are prone to UV degradation, corrosion and subsequent expansion and contraction that adversely affect the material integrity.
This is where flexible barriers become the game changers. As they are built from high-density polymers resistant to ultraviolet radiation, flexible barriers show resilience to extreme temperatures, coastal humidity, and chemical vapours and abrasion from sand and frequent cleaning.
These durable characteristics ensure consistent performance of the barriers throughout the year, despite the changing climatic conditions, giving them an edge in the outdoor environments such as warehouses, yards, logistics zones and manufacturing plants across the Gulf.
Visible Barriers Enhancing Protection
Flexible barriers often come in bright colours, like yellow, for instance. These colors are inherent to the polymer material, which means that they don’t peel or chip or require repainting.
They can even stay bright under UV exposure. This is unlike the rigid steel barriers that often require frequent repainting and are susceptible to corrosion.
Flexible barriers effectively eliminate operational blindness. Since they are visible even from afar, it is almost impossible that the operators and pedestrians would go unnoticed.
When combined with LED floor marking, a complete visual safety system is created that reinforces the safety protocols.
Modular Design
Industrial layouts are constantly evolving, with the growing number of installations, traffic route shifts due to changes in layout and workflow expansions. Flexible barriers adapt to these changes, offering enhanced protection in the dynamic environment.
These systems can integrate gates, corners or extendable rails without any welding. Flexible barriers can be easily installed and reinstalled, making them an ideal choice for workspaces where layouts are frequently changed.
That being said, this doesn’t mean that steel barriers are no longer needed. For fixed perimeters or areas that require rigid structural protection, steel barriers remain the practical solution. The practical approach is often the balance of flexible and rigid approaches, together creating innovative safety solutions.
Benefits At A Glance
- Absorbs 80% of the impacts and can easily retract to its original shape.
- It is resistant to corrosion and requires low maintenance
- Eliminates operational blindness, preventing accidents
- Less damage to the floor and vehicles
- Modular, hence easily adaptable according to the changing layouts.
- Reliable performance in heat and humid conditions.
- Lower lifetime cost and sustainable ROI.
Standards and Testing To Consider
Safety barriers are independently tested and certified for their compliance with the industrial safety regulations. Therefore, before purchasing consider the following factors:
- PAS 13: 2017: Verifies how safely the barrier can absorb the impact and bend or deflect within the safe limits.
- ISO 9001 / 14001: quality and environmental management.
- Temperature & UV Resistance Reports: Confirming the stability of the material under the climatic conditions of the UAE.
- Warranty & Impact Ratings: It provides the impact performance rating and a reliable warranty.
Conclusion
The highly efficient industrial world demands technologies and systems that are smart and adaptable. That is precisely why flexible safety barriers have become a popular choice. At Safety at Works, we supply high-grade modular safety barriers designed for the UAE industries, offering enhanced protection, complying with the global safety standards.
Are you planning to update your safety system? Then explore our exclusive range of safety barriers and discover our customizable and impact-resistant solutions to safeguard your infrastructure.