If you’re in the market for a high security fence, you simply have to know about K-ratings. After all, business security isn’t something you should take lightly. It’s up to you to do all the necessary research to make sure you have the product that you need. The K-rating system may seem rather technical. Today, we’ll do our best to break it down into simple terms. Here’s what you need to know about K-rated fences.
K-ratings let you know how well your fence can withstand a vehicular collision. Here’s what you need to know about K-rated fences.
What Are K-Rated Fences?
The Department of State first devised the K-rating system in 1985. The last time the system was revised was in 2003. They devised the system as a way of categorizing fences and their resistance to vehicle collisions.
Depending on the nature of your business, vehicles crashing into your fence could pose a major security threat. The K-rating system makes it easy for you to tell how well your fence would withstand a perpendicular crash from your average vehicle traveling at a particular speed.
What Do the Individual Ratings Mean?
Any K-rated fence has some resistance to vehicular collisions. But some can withstand crashes from faster-moving vehicles than others.
Before we dive into what the specific ratings mean, let’s take some time to examine the criteria by which fences are rated. When testing a fence for its K-rating, they will use the example of an average truck with a weight of 15,000 pounds. For testing purposes, the vehicle will collide with the fence perpendicularly. To achieve the K-rating, the vehicle should not penetrate 3 feet past the bed.
There are 3 different categories of K-rated fences. We can break them down by the speed of the vehicle:
- K4: 30 mph
- K8: 40 mph
- K12: 50 mph
A K4-rated fence will be able to withstand a crash from a 15,000-pound vehicle traveling at 30 mph, and so forth.
Who Needs K-Rated Fences?
Any business that is seriously looking to amplify its security should consider K-rated fences. As you might have guessed, they are ubiquitous around government buildings or other high-security settings such as prisons. But business owners should consider them too.
When evaluating your business’ security, far too many people overlook the threat of vehicle crashes. No matter how high your fence is, or how well it has been fortified with barbed wire, there is no stopping a vehicle without a K-rating.
Individuals seeking the highest standard in security should look no further than K-rated fences. Whatever rating you desire, we’re here to help.
Contact Hercules GSA Today!
Whether you need a commercial or a high-security fence, Hercules Fence GSA can do the job for you. We have been providing professional, quality service since 1955 and work to uphold our reputation every day. We have locations across the Maryland and Washington Metropolitan area and are ready to cater to your fencing needs. Give us a call at (410)-799-1555 or contact us online. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest for more updates.
