(Originally posted on Vanguard Group)
Heard of PAS 13 but don’t have the first clue what it’s all about?
If you’re operating in a workplace where you require separation between pedestrians, heavy machinery, forklifts, or other materials handling equipment (MHE), you’ve come to the right place to find out.
Workplaces rely on safety solutions, such as steel or flexible barriers, that have been tested for their strength and durability. However, common codes of practice, such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA) or AS/NZS 1170.1, aren’t designed to test products in environments where forklifts and other MHE pose the most risk.
That’s where PAS 13 comes in, designed specifically for industrial safety barriers and the risks associated with them.
In this article, we’ll explore what PAS 13 is all about, why you should trust and invest in PAS13-compliant products, and where other codes of practice have missed the mark.
What is PAS 13?
PAS 13 refers to the code of practice for industrial safety barriers. It is broken down into two sections: the first section provides Health and Safety and Operations Managers with information on how to correctly apply industrial safety barriers. The second section is for safety barrier manufacturers and on how to conduct standardised testing of safety barriers for strength and durability, specifically in industrial environments.
Understanding PAS 13 Compliance
Before PAS13, there was no code of practice for industrial safety barriers that took forklifts and MHE into account in testing methods. Other common codes of practice, such as FEA and AS/NZS 1170.1, only offer compliance based on cars and other road vehicles.
For example, the 1170.1 code of practice considers that cars and other vehicles have built-in crumple zones; a forklift is solid steel and does not. Therefore, it produces a lot higher impact energy. Ultimately, PAS 13 offers the most accurate and reliable guidance for optimising safety and improving traffic management systems for maximum protection in industrial environments.
How Are PAS 13 Impact Ratings Calculated?
The maximum force a barrier will need to withstand is based on the vehicles used within your industrial facility and its layout. Impact ratings are measured in Joules (kinetic energy) and are calculated based on the vehicle’s mass, velocity (in kilometres per hour), and impact angle.
Why Should I Invest in PAS 13 Compliant Safety Solutions?
If you’re working in an environment where forklifts and MHE are common practice, you want to know that your industrial safety barriers are built to provide heavy-duty impact protection, all while keeping pedestrians and traffic separate. While other codes of practice only test products for compliance with car and other vehicle impact, PAS13 is specifically designed to test for real-life, forklift and MHE impact. If you’re looking at investing in walkway barriers, the first thing you should consider is the testing methods used. By choosing PAS 13-compliant safety solutions, you can have peace of mind knowing you’ll have protection where you need it most.
The ForkSafe and Boplan Ranges: PAS 13 Compliant
At Vanguard, we stock the best range of PAS 13 compliant products, including our ForkSafe Safety Barrier Range. Both product ranges are designed, engineered, and physically tested in compliance with PAS 13, offering a variety of options to suit your site requirements. To find out which PAS 13 system is the right choice for your workplace, contact the team at Vanguard today.
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