Hill & Smith Company Profile
Hill & Smith is a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of specialist safety barrier systems throughout the world. The company is a member of Hill & Smith Holdings PLC and has extensive experience in the design and manufacture of vehicle restraint systems. The wide range of products includes Flexbeam VRS, Wire Rope Highway Barriers, Off-Road Asset Protection Barriers, End Terminals and Security Fencing and Bollards.
Hill & Smith is based in Bilston, Wolverhampton and is leading the way in safety barrier systems for use on highways, motorways, dual carriageways, steep inclines, off road applications and within industrial environments. The company supplies products to more than 30 countries worldwide and has attained CE Mark approval for the length of need systems within Brifen and Flexbeam.
The product range includes:
Brifen VRS Wire Rope Safety Fence
Brifen VRS wire rope safety fencing is a globally recognised product which is being increasingly specified by highways authorities in the UK, Australasia, the Middle East, Scandinavia, the USA and South America. Brifen is a proven product which has contributed to improving road safety with installations in 30 countries around the world and has gained CE Marked approval. Brifen has been fully tested to the two main approval standards EN1317 and NCHRP350 and is fast and easy to install and is the preferred choice of many engineers. Wire rope systems are generally specified for highways and steep inclines.
Flexbeam Steel Barriers
Flexbeam is a family of systems which have been designed to work together to ensure safe and compliant installations on highways, motorways and dual carriageways. Flexbeam is an un-tensioned corrugated barrier system which provides a cost-effective solution to the installation process. Options include:
- Flexbeam VRS: A crash barrier system which uses a W beam profile mounted on Z/S profile posts and has products to suit single and double-sided applications. This system can be installed on driven posts, surface mounted posts, in socketed posts or posts cast directly into concrete.
- Flexbeam PLUS: This system utilises a W beam profile mounted on Z/S profile posts. The system can be installed on driven posts, surface mounted posts, in socketed posts or posts cast directly into concrete. Flexbeam PLUS allows post spacing to be wider, keeping costs down and can connect directly into Flexbeam without the requirement of a transition and can connect to parapets such as Varley and Gulliver on the Hi-Flex range of systems.
- Hi-Flex: The Hi-Flex system is a W beam profile for mounting onto Z/S profile posts. The single-sided systems are predominantly specified for applications where increased protection is required, such as around bridge piers and gantries. The double-sided system is used for central reservations where a higher containment is required over the usual N2 classification.
- Tranzflex: Tranzflex is a range of transitions which enables various products to be connected together whilst ensuring they contain and safely redirect impacting vehicles. Tranzflex is the ideal transition from safety barrier to bridge parapet and provides an end-to-end solution when used with Flexbeam/Flexbeam PLUS.
- Flexguard: Flexguard is a barrier which hangs underneath all the Flexbeam products to prevent motorcyclists from impacting the posts. When the barrier is impacted, it has been designed to fall to the ground. This does not affect performance and enables it to perform as required.
End Terminals
Hill & Smith has developed a range of end terminals to suit all requirements. P1 terminals are used for roads with speed limits of under 50mph or departure ends on roads above 50mph. There are two terminals in the Flexbeam range one single-sided and one double-sided, both with a class code of D1.1. Also available in the P1 range is TCB and OBB end terminals. P4 Terminals are specified for roads with a speed limit over 50mph. There are four P4 terminal options available including Trend with class code D1.1, ABC with class code D1.1, Euro ET with a class code D1.3 and Euro BXT with a class code D1.2.
Off Road Asset Protection
Un-tensioned corrugated beam (UCB) is an older generation safety barrier which is generally specified for low impact, low speed applications such as residential areas, car parks and industrial areas to protect pedestrians, machinery and buildings. This system is extremely simple and is untested and generally referred to as ARMCO and comprises of a W shaped corrugated beam, 3.2m effective, fixed to a concreted in or bolted down post and is holed for single and double height beams. Also available is the Open Box beam which is a heavy-duty system using beams of 2.4m or 4.8m long connected using fishplates which match the profile of the beam. The Brifen Wire Rope system is also an ideal alternative for off road applications.
Non-Proprietary Safety Barrier Systems
With over 30 years of industry experience, Hill & Smith’s products are widely used on UK roads. The Tensioned Corrugated Barrier system (TCB) is one of the most frequently seen roads barriers on highways and is approved to EN1317 as N2W6 single and double-sided options with post spacing of 3.2m. TCB absorbs impact by deflecting as a whole and assists the vehicle to decelerate whilst guiding it back towards the carriage-way in a gradual and controlled manner. This type of barrier is ideal for long straight runs on motorways. Open Box Beam barriers are suitable for use at the edge of the road or in the central reservation of motorways and high speed roads. The strength of the barrier lies in the section of the rails which are supplied in 4.8m and 2.4m lengths.
Hill & Smith is committed to providing cost-effective technically advanced vehicle restraint systems for a range of high and low speed applications. The company has built up a highly respected reputation with clients throughout the UK and internationally and many of the products exceed the requirements set by international highways agencies. The company welcomes enquiries and can provide in-depth information, advice and support across the whole product range. Full technical specifications can be found on the company website.
Bristorm Security Products
Hill & Smith’s range of Bristorm Hostile Vehicle Mitigation products are tested and rated to BSI PAS 68, BSI PAS 170, IWA 14-1 and ASTM F2656. They will protect Critical National Infrastructure, perimeters and crowded places from vehicle-borne attacks. They will mitigate hostile vehicles, weighing between 2.5 tonne and 7.5 tonne, whilst travelling at speeds between 10 and 50mph.
Bristorm have a specialist range of high security wire rope perimeter fencing designed to protect perimeters. The Bristorm ZERO achieves a rating of ASTM M50 P1 and in certain configurations achieves ZERO penetration. Bristorm also has a range of PAS 68 Impeder Bollards and the first PAS 170 Stopper Bollards. All Bristorm Bollards come with a variety of cost-effective aesthetic covers that will disguise the bollard line, whilst providing increasing functionality across any particularly commercial or crowded location. More information about these products at http://www.bristorm.com
Traffic Barriers
You might also be interested in local companies in Wolverhampton.