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ASTM International Committee F12 on Security Systems and Equipment has approved a new standard, F 2656, Test Method for Vehicle Crash Testing of Perimeter Barriers. The new test method, developed by Subcommittee F12.10 on Systems, Products and Services, provides a range of vehicle impact conditions, designations and penetration performance levels for the testing of perimeter barriers that are used to prevent terrorist attacks on facilities by moving vehicles.
According to Dean Alberson, assistant agency director, Texas Transportation Institute, and a member of Subcommittee F12.10, prior to the publication of F 2656, the U.S. State Department had the only standard for testing of perimeter security devices. However, in 2003, that document was modified and penetration ratings were dropped from it. Because these ratings were still extensively used, particularly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Committee F12 agreed to develop F 2656.
In addition to penetration ratings, F 2656 also features occupant risk indices and a variety of different sized test vehicles including a small car, a pickup and a heavy single unit vehicle.
“Anybody who desires to have their perimeter barriers tested now has a standard method that can be used by any number of test labs,” says Alberson. “F 2656 also serves to standardize the testing methodology across a number of different agencies.” Alberson says that laboratories will use F 2656 when testing devices, and agencies such as the US Department of State and the Army Corps of Engineers will issue lists of devices that have met the various levels within the standard.
Committee F12 is one of 138 ASTM technical standards-writing committees.
Established in 1898, ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe.
www.astm.org
•Date: 8th Nov 2007• Region:US/World •Type: Article •Topic: BC facilities
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