Box Beams: A Comprehensive Guide

Box beams AKA Open Box Beams are a crucial safety measure for in and around buildings, industrial yards, warehouses, and car parks, offering great strength and versatility.

This comprehensive guide from Armco Direct digs into the various applications and benefits of box beams – while comparing them with our other crash barriers.

We offer a wide range of crash barrier solutions so you can find the perfect fit.

What are Box Beams?

Unlike Corrugated beams, box beams are hollow, rectangular structures designed to provide high strength compared to weight. Their shape and size distributes loads evenly, making them ideal for use as a crash protection barrier. The hollow design reduces material use and weight, enhancing efficiency without compromising structural integrity.

Our Open Box Beam Barriers

Our open box beam barriers are heavy-duty systems designed to provide protection to equipment and pedestrians. These barriers are perfect for environments where aesthetics and performance are essential. With their sleek, modern design, they offer a less industrial appearance while providing exceptional strength and durability.

Expertly constructed, box beams prevent large vehicles from causing damage to equipment, machinery, other vehicles, and property after a collision or impact. This makes them ideal for reducing damage and enhancing safety in work environments and built-up areas.

Specifications

What can you expect from our box beams?

• Durable Construction: With a 2.4m width, they’re made with 5mm thick material, ensuring long-term durability and strength, even in harsh conditions.
• Mounting Options: Box beams can be supported on dig in posts or bolt down posts spaced at 2.4m, 1.6m, or 1.2m intervals.
• Galvanised Steel: Steel is galvanised to BS EN 1461 standards.
• Compliance: Fully compliant with BS 6180 standards.

Advantages of Using Box Beams

Now that we know exactly what box beams are. Let’s consider why you might use them during your next project.

Structural Benefits and Strength

The open box beam shape provides superior strength and rigidity due to its hollow, rectangular design, which evenly distributes impacts and resists bending. The shape’s efficiency allows it to handle significant stress while maintaining structural integrity, making it highly effective for demanding crash protection barrier applications. This advantage ensures durability and safety.

Heavy Duty Protection

Box beams offer unparalleled protection for workers, pedestrians, and equipment, effectively preventing vehicle access when needed. They can withstand heavy applied loads, concentrated point loads, ultimate loads, and lateral loads. While experiencing some deflection at peak loads, the box beam’s strength ensures this level remains minimal. Their robust design prevents damage from equipment of all sizes.

Unsure about your project requirements? We can calculate the number of box beams you need.

Recyclable Galvanised Steel

Box beams made from galvanised steel are vital for withstanding the UK’s harsh weather conditions. This durable material has an impressive 85-year life expectancy, ensuring long-term reliability. Additionally, our galvanised steel is fully recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly choice. Each barrier comes with a detailed specification sheet, providing essential information for installation and maintenance.

This combination of durability, sustainability, and detailed documentation makes box beams an excellent choice for various applications.

Applications of Box Beams

Let’s break down some key environments where box beams could be the best solution for your safety needs.

In and Around Buildings

Box beams are ideal for use in and around buildings due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, durability, and versatility. They provide excellent crash protection, resist bending under heavy loads, and enhance safety by preventing damage to property and equipment in high-traffic areas.

Industrial Yards

In industrial yards, box beams allow for safe and efficient operations by establishing clear routes for vehicles and pedestrians. Their design prevents accidents and injuries, safeguarding both workers and equipment. This makes them indispensable for site managers committed to maintaining a safe, effective working environment. Additionally, their durability and low maintenance requirements make them a cost-effective solution for long-term safety and operational efficiency.

Warehouses

Steel box beams provide an effective solution to warehouse safety hazards, ensuring the safety of workers, pedestrians, stock, machinery, and walls, from floor to ceiling. Their comprehensive protection prevents accidents involving falling stock or heavy loads, reducing the risk of injuries and severe damage. Box beams help avoid costly claims and replacements.

Car Parks

Steel box beams are ideal for car parks due to their rigidity and more attractive appearance than typical corrugated Armco barriers. They ensure safety by visibly and physically separating pedestrians and vehicles, reducing the risk of collisions and injuries. Additionally, they protect property, buildings, machinery, and equipment from rogue vehicles.

Box Beams vs. Other Beam Types

Other crash barrier beams might be more suitable for your project. We’ll now compare box beams with a couple of the other types that we stock.

Comparison with Corrugated Beams

Corrugated beams, made from 3.0mm thick galvanised steel, offer several advantages, especially in flexible applications where bending and shaping around corners is necessary. Available in 3.2m or 1.6m lengths, these beams excel in environments where adaptability and ease of installation are crucial. Their design allows for better shock absorption and flexibility, making them a suitable choice for areas with variable load requirements or where ease of handling is a priority.

Yellow RAL 1007 Beams

For applications where visibility is vital, Yellow RAL 1007 beams are ideal. These beams, galvanised and built to the same specifications as our 3.2m Effective Beams, are powder-coated with polyester for enhanced visibility and durability. This coating ensures they remain highly-visible and weather-resistant, and perfect to install on 24-hour operation sites.

About Armco Direct

Armco Direct has been a leading supplier of high-quality Armco barriers for over a decade. Our products are trusted by the likes of Amazon, Jaguar, and Toyota, who have all added our solutions to their basket.

We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service, offering fast quotes and nationwide delivery within 48 hours, ensuring your project stays on track.

Find out more about us.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about box beam crash barriers.

What is the purpose of a box beam?

A box beam is designed to provide crash protection with high strength and low weight. Its hollow, rectangular shape distributes loads evenly. Box beams enhance safety and durability in various environments, ensuring reliable performance.

What are the benefits of using box beams over corrugated beams?

Box beams offer superior strength, rigidity, and load distribution compared to corrugated beams. Their hollow, rectangular shape resists bending and twisting, making them ideal for high-stress applications. Additionally, some argue that box beams are more visually pleasing.

How far can a box beam span?

The open box beam from Armco Direct, made from 5mm thick galvanised steel, spans 2.4 metres in length. This robust design ensures excellent structural integrity, suitable for various applications requiring reliable performance and protection.