Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
“We are always looking for solutions that are not only technical improvements, but also aesthetic.” Speaking is Harry Klos, project manager at Saferoad Holland. Saferoad has recently further expanded its package of vehicle retaining railings with the Eco-railing. “This new railing is intended for application on structures, but can also be used in earth tracks.”
On structures, a railing system is usually secured with posts on a base plate, which sits with anchors in the concrete. An earth track has posts driven into the ground. “Normally that's the difference in application between the structure and the earth track,” Harry said. “A guide rail is usually done with planks, a railing with round or square beams. With the Eco-railing, we want to offer more choice to suit the situation and applicable requirements. It is an N1 system for distributor roads. For example, for small engineering structures, with a maximum permitted speed of 80 km per hour on the structure. Depending on the road, the requirements and the maximum permitted speed, various vehicle retaining classes can be chosen. Also for the higher retaining capacities H1 or H2. “Eco-railing can be safely extended from the structure to the earth lane in the process. “This produces a calm and aesthetically pleasing image,” Harry explains. “Eco-railing can also be coated in a ral color of your choice to harmonize with the surroundings.”
“A great advantage of Eco-railing is that the distances between the posts are chosen in such a way (every 2 meters), that it can be used on the existing anchors on the artwork. So there is no need to drill new anchor holes. This is not only highly desirable from an assembly technical point of view, it also works faster and more durable,” explains Harry. “Noise reduction is of course also available for this handrail, in which case brackets are added in which noise protection elements can be hung. That makes this railing ideal for fitting into the landscape, in populated areas this noise reduction is very welcome, in densely populated areas viaducts usually produce more noise pollution than people think. In natural areas, the noise reduction ensures that fauna is less disturbed. Behind the noise-reducing elements, you quickly measure a reduction of 6 to 10 dB. Eco-railing can also be equipped with a safe anti-overclimb device.”
Eco-railing's design appeals anyway, and Saferoad can think along with the architect on all fronts. Harry explains, “We like to come to the table during the design phase to think along with the architect and convert his wishes into a customized railing, provided with CE marking in accordance with EN1317-5. In this, too, we are ambitious; we want to be innovative and complete.
Of course, Eco-railing is manufactured from recycled materials whenever possible. On all fronts, this railing is a great upgrade over the old railing that needs to be replaced on works of art and a very nice choice for new works of art. The fact that the tested handrail can also be continued in earth course makes it not only very safe, but also visually beautiful. You see no difference in design style and the transition is smooth. After all, the eye wants something too!”
Herman Odijk, director at Saferoad Holland, joins the conversation, “Eco-railing is a very affordable railing ideally suited for access areas at new residential developments and private access roads. We see residential areas expanding rapidly under the current housing shortage. This brings with it a lot of new infrastructure, including connecting bridges where there is a speed limit of 80 km per hour. With Eco-railing, as a municipality or county, you have an aesthetically pleasing solution that doesn't weigh too heavily on the budget and is also safer because the railing on the structure seamlessly merges into earth track.”
However, Saferoad doesn't stop there: there are also solutions for heavier work that continue from the artwork into the earth track. Herman: “Clients are increasingly looking for aesthetic solutions of this kind, in which a high retaining capacity is a requirement. We offer those solutions with our Nordic BIRSTA line and SafeLine handrails. BIRSTA handrails can even be supplied in truck retaining class H4b. Because of the wide range, ‘fiddling’ transitions between artwork and earth track systems is a thing of the past. Besides the fact that tinkering solutions are ugly, they are also the weak link in the overall retaining capacity. After all, we assume that the railings on the structure and in the earth track are tested and standardized, but the self-designed transition between two completely different structures rarely is. With Eco-railing and the BIRSTA and SafeLine lines, there is no longer any excuse for ‘junk work’ as a transition.”
Saferoad places great emphasis on being able to provide coated solutions. “Our experience is that as the bridge becomes more beautiful, a railing with a higher retaining capacity and a beautiful coating to match the surroundings is chosen more often. After all, the bridge is the architect's calling card. Then the railing may look robust, in a nice color. A duplex coating (zinc and powder coating) also lasts 50 years,” Herman said.
For each railing system, Saferoad can supply the appropriate accessories with it. “We supply the anti-climb protection in different versions,” Herman explains. “The grid matches the type of railing in question and can always be mounted neatly. Optically top, in terms of safety optimal.” Many bridges and overpasses date from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and are in need of replacement. So there is still quite a task there. Herman nods and says, ’If you're going to replace anyway, do it right away and safely. With the corresponding transitions that we supply between artwork and earth track you can cope under all circumstances. In terms of design, we offer every choice. Take our Scandinavian SafeLine M for example: The upper beam is an oval tube, which sinks over the posts. Very nice to see and also applicable on 100 km roads with a green strip in the middle, where physical lane separation is desired. In short: make it safer, make it more beautiful!’
