End Client: NewCold

Architect: Ashton Smith Associates Ltd

Main Contractor: TSL Ltd

This project showcases how impact protection can be effectively implemented throughout cold storage facilities, playing a vital role in maintaining safety, efficiency, and long-term performance. NewCold, Dinteloord is a fully automated high-bay cold storage facility in the Netherlands with an overall building footprint of 142 x 122 metres. Situated on a 60,000 square metre plot of land in the Municipality of Steenbergen, this site is ideally located to access the major Rotterdam-Antwerp-Brussels transport corridor.

This grid-independent cold storage warehouse has a capacity of 134,000 pallet locations, which can be positioned at heights of up to 40 metres. As a busy food storage warehouse, temperatures can reach as low as -23^oC, and the building has 25 Loading Bays to keep these products moving swiftly.

Given the size and specialist nature of this storage facility, a range of bespoke impact protection solutions have been installed by Brandsafe to help this site operate in a safe and efficient manner. Brandsafe were appointed by Main Contractor, TSL Ltd, to provide various impact safety systems in and around this new purpose-built facility.

Food-Safe Polymer Barriers: Effective Impact Protection in Cold Storage Facilities

The project architect, Ashton Smith Associates Ltd, specified a requirement for over 90 linear metres of Polymer Safety Barriers throughout this building. Brandsafe’s Double Bumper Barriers were selected for this task, as they are suitable for use in ambient, chilled, and freezer environments.

These safety barrier systems have also been independently tested by TÜV Nord to PAS 13 standards, and are able to withstand impacts of 14,200J. In real-world terms, that’s a head-on impact from a 3,500kg forklift truck travelling at 6.4mph.

Another major benefit to these Polymer Safety Barriers is that they are non-toxic and therefore suitable for use in food storage environments. This along with their impact resistance was an important factor in their selection for this NewCold site.

Door Protection Duty

With 25 active Loading Bays at this site, there’s numerous busy doorways in and out of the building that are particularly at risk of damage from accidental impacts. Fortunately, this potential risk has been recognised here, and Brandsafe’s ImpactSAFE Bollards have been deployed to provide the required protection.

Brandsafe’s on-site teams diligently installed 110 of these bollards in pairs to protect the busiest internal and external doorways in use throughout the building. Each of these PAS 13 certified bollards is 1300mm high, and they were specified with bright yellow cover kits to maximise their visibility to pedestrians and vehicle operators.

Continuing on the theme of Building Protection, a number of Brandsafe’s PolyWRAPs were installed to protect key structural columns around this site. Secured in place with sturdy ratchet straps, these Column Protectors were also equipped with Forklift Impact Skirts for an extra layer of low-level protection.

Access All Areas

Brandsafe works on numerous buildings of this type, and External Access Ramps are often areas that require high levels of impact protection. This project was no different, with Armco 760 Safety Barriers installed along the full length of this 20+ metre ramp.

Both the standard Armco 760 and the Armco 760HR safety barrier variants were utilised for this project. Standard Armco 760 was installed alongside the external wall of the building, with the Armco 760HR variant used to create a safe pedestrian walkway.

Brandsafe’s handrail systems offer a smooth, snag-free finish, with the ergonomic design of the polymer sleeving providing a warm-to-touch surface for pedestrians.

We fitted these Armco Barriers with Armco Safety Ends and Armco Post Caps to ensure that personnel using the site are protected from sharp edge injuries, as well as offering additional visibility for vehicle operators.

Car Park Safety

Armco 760 Safety Barriers were also put to good use in the Car Park, with both bolt down and potted variations installed here. Over 70 linear metres of these safety barriers were deployed in the areas with the highest risk of vehicle impacts.

There was also a requirement at this site for 50 of our HGV Wheel Stops. Made from recycled rubber, these 150mm high wheel stops have built-in hi-vis strips for an additional level of pedestrian and driver visibility.

The combination of these impact protection systems provide effective protection for pedestrians moving around a potentially busy car park, as well as keeping vehicles and other valuable assets damage free.

Complementary Safety Products Featured in This Project

• Our very own Brandsafe-manufactured Yellow Polymer Bollards
• Powder-Coated Yellow Pit Steel Guardrail
• Low-Level Double-Stacked Yellow Powder-Coated Steel Guardrail
• Armco Accessories, including Armco safety ends with diamond-style reflectors
• Secure Caging preventing entry and tampering with the mains power supply
• Metal Hoop Guards providing protection for light posts

Each of these unique systems has played a vital role in strengthening the overall safety and functionality of the warehouse. The Brandsafe-manufactured Yellow Polymer Bollards provide superior impact absorption and high visibility around vulnerable structures. Brandsafe’s experience with impact protection in cold storage facilities ensures that every installation meets the demanding conditions of low-temperature environments. While the Powder-Coated Steel Guardrails offer robust, long-term protection in high-traffic areas. Armco Accessories with diamond-style reflectors enhance visibility and awareness, particularly in low-light zones. The Secure Caging prevents unauthorised access to critical equipment, and the Metal Hoop Guards shield light posts from accidental impact. Together, these enhancements have proven critical in safeguarding key points across the site, ensuring a safer, more efficient operational environment.

The Final Details

With NewCold’s people, property, and processes now protected, we were now in the position to add the finishing touches prior to handover. A number of Potted Lamp Post and Corner Protectors were installed, providing robust and cost-effective protection in these busy areas on-site.

To complete this project, Brandsafe also fitted two Cycle Shelters and a Smoking Shelter to offer useful amenities for the end client and their staff. This 9200mm long run of shelters included a number of hoop cycle racks and a seating bench to maximise comfort and convenience for employees.

George Howe, Head of Commercial Sales at Brandsafe, commented:

“We’re proud to have delivered another successful project in partnership with TSL Ltd at NewCold, Dinteloord. This cold storage facility presented a unique challenge, requiring bespoke impact protection systems capable of performing in extreme low-temperature environments.

Our installation included a wide range of polymer and steel safety solutions, each tailored to the specific operational needs of the site. From PAS 13-tested polymer barriers to Armco systems and custom guardrails, every element was designed to protect people, property, and processes.

A huge thank you goes to our on-site Project Delivery Teams, whose expertise and attention to detail ensured this complex installation was completed safely, efficiently, and to the highest standard. Their hard work continues to set the benchmark for excellence in industrial safety.”

With urban logistics space at a premium, this Amazon distribution centre in Bracknell is a crucial hub for last-mile deliveries in the region.

Brandsafe were tasked with preparing this unit to function as safely as possible at its optimum operating capacity.

Project Overview

End Client: Amazon UK

Developer: SEGRO plc

Main Contractor: TSL Ltd

Architect: SMR Architects Ltd

Last-mile Delivery Centres are fast becoming a common fixture for businesses such as Amazon, especially when they are looking to service densely populated areas from one central logistics location.

These types of buildings are always busy, with a number of commercial vehicles operating in and around the warehouse at any given time.

As such, accidental impacts are always a potential risk, but this is a risk that can be mitigated by the correct application of impact protection systems.

The Brandsafe Service

Brandsafe were appointed by Main Contractors TSL to supply and install a wide range of traffic and pedestrian safety products at this site.

Managing the flow of vehicles around such a busy operational location takes careful and considered planning.

Brandsafe is adept at designing and advising on product layouts, utilising our experience to provide a solution tailored to the requirements of the end client, while remaining within the required project budgets and timescales.

Industrial Safety Barriers

Key to the installation that Brandsafe provided at this site are the bespoke runs of Armco Safety Barriers, situated both internally and externally.

Internally, the busy traffic lanes and ramps of the site's multi-storey car park are flanked by these safety barriers, with highly visible Armco Barrier Accessories installed to prevent any accidental impacts.

Fishtail Safety Ends have been used to great effect here, as their shape naturally deflects vehicles away to safety without causing any damage.

Car Park Safety

Outside, in the external car park, custom yellow powder-coated Armco Barriers were installed to protect the perimeter and any entry / exit gates.

These yellow safety barriers were also installed at key intervals inside the building as well, in areas where extra visibility levels were deemed to be necessary for ensuring safe operation.

With the car park naturally being a hive of activity, numerous commercial Speed Bumps and Wheel Stops were added to restrict vehicle speeds and roll aways in the area.

Column Protection

A number of internal and external structural columns across this site were deemed to be at risk of vehicular impacts, which is why we took steps to protect them.

The Brandsafe PolyWRAP Column Protector range was specified to provide robust, flexible and highly visible protection for these columns. With its ability to fit a number of different column widths as standard, it was easy for our site teams to roll this impact protection solution out for Amazon.

Pedestrian Safety

As always, the safe movement of people around the building is our top priority. In this instance, the pedestrian routes are clearly marked by handrail, either installed as a standalone Pedestrian Handrail (HR50) system, or attached to an Armco Barrier.

Modular Security Caging was installed inside the building to allow safe and secure access to key operational assets for the approved personnel. Whereas outside the building, Cycle and Smoking Shelters were installed to protect staff and their possessions from the elements.

The Finishing Touches

With the building now operational, Brandsafe were tasked with protecting busy and potentially vulnerable doorways and loading bays. This was done through a strategic combination of ImpactSAFE Heavy Duty Bollards and ImpactSAFE Protection Posts.

With their strong steel cores and attention-grabbing polymer covers, these systems are the ideal fit for this purpose. Product selection was then made based on the types of vehicle(s) operating in the area (HGVs and/or forklifts), and the overall space available.

Contact us today to see how we can help with your impact protection requirements.

Brandsafe - Safety, Simplified.

Clipper Group provides warehousing, distribution and logistics for multiple retail and high value brands. Providing services for many brands – large and small – across the UK, it is essential their operations perform with speed and accuracy, whilst providing protection and security to the people and the goods that pass through their doors.

Challenge:

To create a system that enables the workforce to navigate through the building safely, securely and efficiently. We had to provide a solution that fulfilled the security requirement, to protect the high value goods that are on site. We had to ensure pedestrian safety, without disturbing the vehicle traffic and operations.

Solution:

The first thing we looked at was identifying where there could be ‘natural’ break points in the pedestrian routes for traffic to pass through safely, to keep all traffic moving – pedestrians and vehicles.

From doing this, we implemented a bespoke system for Clipper, which included:

• A secure cage walkway – a mesh, walkway system that filtered staff from point A to point B (security check).
• Barriers to keep the pedestrian routes safe from the trucking routes.
• Integrated natural break points, with pedestrian gates, for traffic to pass safely through without interrupting pedestrian traffic flow.

The result:

In place at Clipper, we now have a high quality, sustainable and highly visible safety traffic solution, which ultimately keeps pedestrians safe. With the added security measures, it also ensures that the relevant security system and processes are in place to protect their valuable goods.