Table of Contents
Crowd Control Barriers
Definition of Crowd Control Barriers
Crowd control barrier is a name commonly used for the various types of barrier used for forming waiting lines or for restricting access. In fact, of the many types of barrier that are included in this category only one, the 8ft ‘bike rack’ barricade is really designed for controlling crowds, the rest are actually guidance products, designed to show customers where to stand or to indicate ‘off limits” areas. Let’s look at the various types of barrier and what their uses are.
Queue Barriers
The first category in the ‘crowd control’ sector is queuing or waiting line management. For this application the retracting belt barrier has become ubiquitous and is seen wherever people are standing in line. Originally developed in the 1970’s from car seat belt technology, this barrier type was first used in Heathrow Airport in London and has since spread around the world and to every type of venue from retail stores to stadiums. The retracting belt barrier has the advantage of not having to store and handle a detachable 6ft long rope making this barrier preferred over the traditional rope stanchion for most queuing applications.
Belt stanchions have developed over the past 40 years and now there is a wide array of options. One, two or three belts, a variety of belt lengths, multiple colors and finish options and portable, fixed or removable bases are just some of the choices available to suit specific applications.
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Safety Barriers
The second major use for retracting belt barriers is in safety applications. Here the barrier is used to restrict access to construction, maintenance, cleaning or other work areas. Of course any product used to restrict access can be called a safety barrier but we normally limit this category to products that are custom made for safety use and that is indicated by OHSHA safety colors of yellow, orange or red.
Safety barriers need to be robust and weather proof as many of the key safety uses are outside. Another key difference with queuing barriers is that safety barriers are often set up in long, straight runs rather than in the ‘zig zag’ or ‘snake’ used for queueing for this application the longer the belt the better as a long belt means fewer barriers to purchase and handle. So, the ideal safety barrier has heavy duty construction, is weatherproof, comes in high visibility colors and has an extra length belt.
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Rope Barriers
The traditional post and velvet rope stanchion is the original crowd control barrier whose ancestry goes back to the turn of the century. Now surpassed by the retracting belt barrier for most high volume queueing applications the rope barrier is still preferred in certain high end environments like hotels, casino, theaters and, of course, red carpet events. Within these environments the discrete nature of the rope barrier makes them ideal for both queuing and restricting access.
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Wall Mount Barriers
Wall mounts are a type of retracting belt barrier but instead of being mounted on a post the unit’s housing attaches to the wall. Wall mounts are universally used for restricting access primarily in corridors, loading bays and warehouse isles. Because the unit is fixed to the wall the full length of the span to be closed must be covered by the belt of a single unit, wall mounts cannot be linked together like belt stanchions. For this reason, the wall mount range has the widest selection of belt lengths from 7.5’ up to 40’.
In factory and warehouse environments the wall mount is a safety barrier and is usually supplied in safety colors. For interior use the preferred colors are black or chrome.
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Traffic Cone Barriers
Traffic cones are widely used as pedestrian barriers are really a poor choice for this application as pedestrians can just walk between the cones. Queue Solutions has developed a retracting belt unit that fits on top of the cones to create a solid barrier which is far more effective at restricting access than cones alone.
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Barricades
Barricades are the real crowd control barrier. At 8’ long and weighing over 40lbs these galvanized steel barriers are designed for use with large crowds. Normally deployed as a barrier to keep crowds back either as a barrier in front of a restricted area such as a stage or lining a route to keep it clear of pedestrians. Barricades interlock so they can form runs of any size. This barrier is used outdoors only and although the majority are supplied in their standard galvanized steel finish there is a growing demand for colored barricades in high visibility safety colors such as yellow, red and orange or in more subdued colors such green, blue or white to make the barrier blend in and be less obtrusive.
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Expanding Barricades
Also known as scissor or accordion gates expanding barricades are often seen closing off warehouse isles in big box retail stores when a forklift is being used. These barriers are typically used within a single facility, but they have a wheeled base that gives them the mobility to be used in different locations. When extended this type of barrier creates a physical barrier that is difficult to get past and that makes them a good choice for the temporarily restricting access where the danger is significant.