ASTM Committee introduces perimeter barrier testing standard.

Press Release Summary:



ASTM International Committee F12 on Security Systems and Equipment has approved standard F 2656, Test Method for Vehicle Crash Testing of Perimeter Barriers. It provides a range of vehicle impact conditions, designations, and penetration performance levels for the testing of perimeter barriers that are used to prevent attacks on facilities by moving vehicles. Occupant risk indices and variety of different sized test vehicles are also featured.



Original Press Release:



ASTM International Security Systems Committee Introduces Perimeter Barriers Testing Standard



ASTM International Committee F12 on Security Systems and Equipment has approved a new standard, F 2656, Test Method for Vehicle Crash Testing of Perimeter Barriers. The new test method, developed by Subcommittee F12.10 on Systems, Products and Services, provides a range of vehicle impact conditions, designations and penetration performance levels for the testing of perimeter barriers that are used to prevent attacks on facilities by moving vehicles.

According to Dean Alberson, assistant agency director, Texas Transportation Institute, and a member of Subcommittee F12.10, prior to the publication of F 2656, the U.S. State Department had the only standard for testing of perimeter security devices. However, in 2003, that document was modified and penetration ratings were dropped from it. Because these ratings were still extensively used, particularly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Committee F12 agreed to develop F 2656.

In addition to penetration ratings, F 2656 also features occupant risk indices and a variety of different sized test vehicles including a small car, a pickup and a heavy single unit vehicle.

"Anybody who desires to have their perimeter barriers tested now has a standard method that can be used by any number of test labs," says Alberson. "F 2656 also serves to standardize the testing methodology across a number of different agencies." Alberson says that laboratories will use F 2656 when testing devices, and agencies such as the U.S. Department of State and the Army Corps of Engineers will issue lists of devices that have met the various levels within the standard.

All interested parties are invited to participate in the standards activities of Subcommittee F12.10. In addition to future revisions to F 2656, the subcommittee will be working on a proposed new standard for the testing of barriers for pedestrian protection.

For further technical information, contact Dean Alberson, Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (phone: 979/458-3874; d-alberson@tamu.edu). Committee F12 meets April 8-9, 2008, at the April Committee Week in Anaheim, Calif. For membership or meeting information, contact Joe Hugo, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9740; jhugo@astm.org).

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