Q: What are the benefits of a Guard Rail?

Strong and Secure: Manufactured from secure galvanised steel, which has an added layer of protection against the elements. Low Maintenance: Requires very minimal maintenance. Customisable: Available in a range of different powder-coated colours to suit your requirements. Easy To Install: Guard rails are equipped with dig-in posts and are very straightforward to install.

Q: What sizes are the Guard Rails?

Standard Guard Rail with Sight Top : Height -1350mm, Width- 2000mm and Weight -27.7kg. Pedestrian Guard Rail Kit with Visibility Gap - PG2 BS 7818 : Height -1000mm and Widths- 500mm, 1000mm or 2000mm. Guard Rail without Sight Top : Height -1370mm, Width -2000mm and Weight- 26.9kg. Pedestrian Guard Rail Kit with Visibility Gap - PG2 BS 7818 : Height- 1000mm and Widths -500mm, 1000mm or 2000mm.

Question 1

What is a Guard Rail?

Accepted Answer

A guard rail is a safety barrier designed to protect pedestrians from vehicle traffic. Installed along walkways and roadways, it acts as a physical divide between pedestrians and vehicles, helping to prevent accidents and reduce impact in high-risk areas. Guard rails are commonly used in a wide range of environments, including pedestrian pathways, construction sites, industrial facilities, and roadside settings.

At First Fence, we offer two main types of guard rails to suit different visibility and safety needs:

Guard Rail Without Sight Top is the basic, no-frills option. It consists solely of vertical infill bars and is ideal for standard pedestrian protection where visibility through the rail is not a priority.
Guard Rail With Sight Top is one of our most popular options. In addition to infill bars, it includes an open gap in the upper portion of the frame to improve visibility, particularly useful near junctions or crossings. These rails are available with either in-line or staggered bar arrangements, providing varying levels of sight through the structure.

We also supply Pedestrian Guardrail Kits manufactured to BS 7818:1995 standards. The PG1 kit mirrors the Guard Rail Without Sight Top, offering full-height vertical bars for maximum containment, and is available in 500mm, 1000mm, and 2000mm widths. The PG2 kit, similar to the Guard Rail With Sight Top, features a visibility gap to improve sightlines and is also available in the same three widths. These pedestrian kits provide flexible, compliant solutions for both safety and visibility in public spaces.

Question 2

What are the benefits of a Guard Rail?

Accepted Answer

Strong and Secure: Manufactured from secure galvanised steel, which has an added layer of protection against the elements.

Low Maintenance: Requires very minimal maintenance.

Customisable: Available in a range of different powder-coated colours to suit your requirements.

Easy To Install: Guard rails are equipped with dig-in posts and are very straightforward to install.

Question 3

Where can Guard Rails be used?

Accepted Answer

Guard Rails can be used in several different locations, including:

Situated between roads and pavements.
Around play areas or parks
Around schools
Walkways
Balconies
Stairways

Question 4

What sizes are the Guard Rails?

Accepted Answer

Standard Guard Rail with Sight Top: Height -1350mm, Width- 2000mm and Weight -27.7kg.

Pedestrian Guard Rail Kit with Visibility Gap - PG2 BS 7818: Height -1000mm and Widths- 500mm, 1000mm or 2000mm.

Guard Rail without Sight Top: Height -1370mm, Width -2000mm and Weight- 26.9kg.

Pedestrian Guard Rail Kit with Visibility Gap - PG2 BS 7818: Height- 1000mm and Widths -500mm, 1000mm or 2000mm.

Question 5

What is the difference between the different types of guard rails?

Accepted Answer

There are two primary types of guard rails: "Guard Rail With Sight Top" and "Guard Rail Without Sight Top," along with two specific pedestrian guardrail kits, PG1 and PG2, which also vary based on visibility features.

Guard Rail With Sight Top: These rails stand 1350mm high and 2000mm wide. They feature standard infill bars and an additional "sight top" section at the upper part of the frame. This sight top increases visibility for both vehicles and pedestrians, making them ideal for areas with children, such as around schools, and for busy roads and pavements where they can indicate safe crossing points and offer handrail support. They also protect against passing vehicles, especially on bends.

Guard Rail Without Sight Top: These are the standard guard rail structures, measuring 1370mm high and 2000mm wide, consisting only of infill bars without an extra viewing gap. They are primarily used as a divide between roads and pavements to protect pedestrians from traffic and reduce accident risks on busier roads.

Pedestrian Guardrail Kit - PG1 BS 7818: These guardrails feature vertical infill bars that extend the full height of the panel. They offer excellent general visibility and are used for standard pedestrian protection and guiding foot traffic. They are available in 0.5m, 1.0m, and 2.0m widths, with standard, single, double, or triple stagger options for infill bars.

Pedestrian Guard Rail Kit with Visibility Gap - PG2 BS 7818: Similar to PG1, but these guardrails include a 200mm deep open sight strip across the top of the panel. This design specifically reduces visual obstruction for drivers, enhancing the visibility of smaller pedestrians and children, making them particularly beneficial for locations like school entrances to prevent children from running into the roadway. They also come in 0.5m, 1.0m, and 2.0m widths with various stagger options.

Question 6

What materials are these guardrails made from?

Accepted Answer

All guard rail structures are primarily made from galvanised steel. This galvanisation process provides significant protection against rust, corrosion, and general wear and tear, ensuring longevity and requiring little to no maintenance after installation.

In addition to the standard galvanised finish, a Polyester Powder Coating (PPC) finish is available. This finish allows for a range of colour options (including green and black as standard, with blue, red, grey, and yellow also available on request for some models). Powder coating offers a bolder appearance, increases visibility, and provides an extra layer of hard-wearing protection against weathering, extending the product's lifespan.

Question 7

How are guard rails installed?

Accepted Answer

For full details on installation, please refer to our Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Guide.

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