What is an Armco Barrier?

From motorways to factories, farms and race tracks, Armco barriers are synonymous with traffic safety management. In this article, we explain what Armco barriers are.

Rather than “What is an Armco barrier?” the question should probably be what makes these particular safety structures so prevalent around the world? Or, how are Armco barriers made?

The fact that they are so commonly specified in diverse locations – wherever traffic management is a high priority – shows very clearly that they work.

Their reliable and respected design also explains why this versatile range is becoming increasingly commonplace inside factories and warehouses throughout the UK and beyond – as well as along public and private roads and within busy car parks.

Key Facts About Armco Barriers

You will often hear these crucial safety structures referred to as ‘crash barriers’ as that’s their purpose in a nutshell. They are designed to reduce the incidence of collisions, but also to reduce the damage done when moving vehicles veer off in the wrong direction.

Armco barriers literally save lives and have been doing so for many decades now.

Though the engineering behind them is clever – and unlikely to be superseded – the different sized Armco barriers all have the same fundamental components. They are corrugated steel sections, fixed firmly in place, to enable them to absorb a considerable amount of force.

The safety barrier systems come in various dimensions. Following a risk assessment, specifiers match the likely level of impact with the best Armco barrier design for that location.

Beyond their important safety role, Armco Barriers are also popular as they require very little maintenance once they are installed correctly.

How Were Armco Barriers Invented?

The company that invented Armco barriers changed names and priorities over the years. The concept can trace its origins right back to the American Rolling Mill Company, founded in Ohio way back in 1899. The founder wanted to make his own steel to supply his roofing business.

As the years ‘rolled on’ and new technologies and processing systems influenced how steel could be shaped, a range of impact-resistant barriers was produced. Leading to the company eventually adapting Armco as its name, to reflect this globally successful product range.

That company got bought out by AK Steel, which recently changed its name to Cleveland-Cliffs.

However, while all these changes were occurring, the product concept gained a massive worldwide following and a life of its own.

This means Armco crash barriers are firmly entrenched in traffic management practices. Including those distinctive corrugated steel beams, pinned by strong posts, and finished off with matching corners, ends and reliably robust bolts.

Where Should I Buy Armco Barriers?

Now you know the answer to what is an Armco barrier – and a little of the history of the company that invented the concept – the important thing to know is where to buy Armco safety products in the UK.

Particularly the safety structures that can be used for traffic management both inside and outside busy warehouses and factory delivery bays.

Brandsafe provides different sizes of Armco Barriers to fit around specific site dimensions, but also to serve specific purposes. For example, our low-level Armco 360 system is designed to shield pedestrians and structures from forklift trip incursion, but also to minimise damage to expensive and vital off-road vehicles.

There are other Armco barrier specifications that go much higher, to protect commercial traffic routes effectively, for instance.

Thanks to the appliance of modern engineering and manufacturing techniques, the Armco accessories we stock fulfil a diverse range of safety roles too. Such as, Armco Ends that quickly and easily snap into place around the potentially sharp edges of safety rails.

It’s worth emphasising too that our products for workplaces feature distinctive yellow accessories and features. This adds a high-vis element to these usually grey corrugated steel safety barriers.

Also, all steel used in Armco systems is from leading suppliers and is fabricated, galvanised and powder coated to British Safety Standards.