In the past, vehicle crash barriers were designed primarily to protect embassies and military facilities in hostile environments. Today, with changing threat levels, there is a clear need to protect critical infrastructure facilities in the US and Canada with vehicle crash systems.
Markus Erbeldinger, Ph.D., senior product and marketing manager, with AMICO Security, explains that vehicle crash barriers are typically designed around the ASTM F2656-20 Standard. The ASTM F2656-20 Standard Test Method for Crash Testing of Vehicle Security Barriers is dedicated to vehicle barriers. This standard includes six classes of vehicles, all traveling at speeds of 30, 40, or 50 mph. The six classes are grouped by weight reflecting commonly used vehicle classes:
| Small Passenger Car (SC) | 2,420 ± 55 lb |
| Full-Size Passenger Sedan (FC) | 4,630 ± 110 lb |
| Pickup Truck (PU) | 5,000 ± 110 lb |
| Standard Test Truck (M) | 15,000 ± 309 lb |
| Cabover/Cab Forward Class 7 Truck (C7) | 15,873 ± 331 lb |
| Heavy Goods Vehicle (H) | 65,000 ± 1300 lb |
