http://www.brake.org.

uk/info-resources/info-research/road-safety-factsheets/15-facts-a-
resources/facts/513-motorway-crash-barriers

Regulations in the UK
In the UK, the minimum length of barrier that can be installed in advance of a hazard, including at the
approach to a bridge over railways, is 30m. However, on motorway and trunk road bridges over
railways in the UK, the majority of approaches have safety barriers in excess of 30m in length. [7] In
the UK, most types of metal safety barrier are required to be 0.61m high, measured from the ground
to the centre of the barrier beams. [8]

International regulations
In Switzerland, the minimum barrier length is 50m, while in California the minimum length is 15m.
The minimum length of barrier to be installed at the approach to a bridge in other countries ranges
from 16m in Austria to 98m in New York. [9] Many other countries specify barrier heights measured
from the ground to the top of the barrier beams. The specifications range from 0.61m (USA) to 1.0m
(Belgium). However, the distance between the top and centre of a barrier beam will depend on the
design of the barrier system.

Slijedi:
http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/rdw/determining_length_of_need_of_barriers.htm#i
1005640

http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/rdw/example_problems.htm
Section 6: Determining Length of Need of Barrier
Overview
The shape of the obstacle, its location with respect to travel lanes, the volume of traffic and
its corresponding horizontal clearance width are the primary variables influencing length of
barrier need.
Variables
After all practical means to free the roadside of obstacles have been exhausted, certain
areas may remain which constitute an obstacle to errant vehicles. These areas, as
illustrated in Figure A-6, will be referred to an area of concern.

Figure A-7. Areas of Concern

Figure A-7 illustrates the variables of interest in the layout of approach barrier to shield an
area of concern. Length of need is equal to the sum of the following variables:
length of upstream barrier, Lu,
length of barrier parallel to the area of concern, Lp,
the length of downstream barrier, Ld
For roadways serving one-way traffic operations, Ld=0. Ld is greater than zero for two-way
operations when the area of concern lies within the horizontal clearance of opposing
(northbound in Figure A-7) traffic as measured from the centerline pavement markings.
Figure A-8. Variables Involved in Barrier Layout. Click here to see a PDF of the image.
In certain instances judgment should be exercised to supplement design chart solutions
and provide for public safety. For example, high severity fixed objects (e.g., bridge
columns) may warrant minimum guardrail treatment where located slightly outside the
horizontal clearance if geometric conditions (i.e., steep fill slope, outside of horizontal
curvature, etc.) increase the likelihood of roadside encroachments.
Design Equations
To determine needed length of guard fence for a given obstacle, design equations have
been formulated for low volume (ADT 750 or less) and higher volume (ADT more than
750) conditions. A horizontal clearance width of 16 ft [4.9 m] and length of roadside travel
of 200 ft [61 m] are incorporated in the low volume design equation (for use on roadways
when the present ADT volume is 750 or less). Also, if the horizontal clearance required is
less than 16 ft [4.9 m] and the present ADT is 750 or less, use Equation A-1 for calculating
the guardrail length of need.
US Customary:

Where:
L = Length of guardrail needed, ft
D = Distance from edge of travel lane to far side of area of concern or to outside edge of
horizontal clearance, whichever is least, ft
G = Guardrail offset from edge of travel lane, ft
Metric:

Where:
L = Length of guardrail needed, m
D = Distance from edge of travel lane to far side of area of concern or to outside edge of
horizontal clearance, whichever is least, m
G = Guardrail offset from edge of travel lane, m
Equation A-1
For low volume conditions, if the horizontal clearance width (16 ft [4.9 m]) is met or
exceeded, L=0.
For higher volumes, a horizontal clearance width of 30 ft [9 m] and length of roadside
travel of 250 ft [76 m] are incorporated into the design equation (for use on roadways when
the present ADT volume is more than 750 or the recommended horizontal clearance is
greater than 16 ft [4.9 m]):
(US Customary):

(Metric):

Equation A-2
For high volume conditions, if the horizontal clearance width (30 ft [9 m]) is met or
exceeded, L=0.
Using Design Equations to Determine Length of Guardrail
Before determining length of guard fence, the designer should assemble the following
pertinent data:
present ADT volume
clear zone (horizontal clearance)
traffic operations (one-way or two-way)
lateral and longitudinal dimension of the area of concern
shoulder width
offset distance of the area of concern from the edge of travel lane (including from the
centerline markings for two-way traffic operations)
design slope conditions, (i.e. will slopes be 1V:10H or flatter?)
placement location (alongside shoulder vs. near object, flared, etc.)
presence of other nearby areas of concern which should be considered simultaneously.
Once this design data has been assembled, the appropriate equation can be used.
The Example Problems section provides example problems and solutions using the design
equations. The guardrail lengths produced by the equations should be rounded up to an
even length of guardrail.
Section 7: Example Problems
Example Problem 1
Given: A rural two-lane collector highway containing 6 ft [1.8 m] wide shoulders and a
current ADT of 500 is illustrated in Figure A-8. The area of concern is a 16 ft [4.9 m] design
horizontal clearance that includes 1V:2H side slopes on a 10 ft [3 m] high embankment
section that is 125 ft [38 m] in length alongside the highway.

Figure A-9. Example 1 Problem Layout Rural Low Volume. Click here to see a PDF of the
image.
Solution: From the information above and referring to Figure A-1 it is determined that a
rail is needed. As shown in Figure A-7, the length of need is L = Lu+Lp+Ld. From the
given information, Lp = 125 ft [38 m]. Because the ADT is less than 750, Equation A-1 is
used to solve for Lu and Ld (if necessary).
For the upstream (westbound traffic) direction, the area of concern is the full (16 ft [4.9 m])
horizontal clearance width and the guardrail offset is 6 ft [1.8 m]. Substituting in Equation
A-1.
(US Customary):

(Metric):

Equation A-3
As shown in Equation A-3, a placement of guardrail alongside the 6 ft [1.8 m]-wide
shoulder results in Lu = 125 ft [38 m].
Referring to figure A-8, the length of guaradrail needed in the downstream (eastbound
traffic) is zero because the offset distance from the edge of the travel lane (centerline
marking) to the area of concern is greater than the design horizontal clearance (17 ft [5.1
m] greater than 16 ft [4.9 m]). Therefore, Ld is zero.
The design placement is shown in Figure A-9 including 125 ft [38 m] of guardrail adjacent
to the obstacle plus 125 ft [38 m] shielding westbound traffic upstream of the obstacle.
These lengths of need do not include end treatments.

Figure A-10. Example 1 Problem Solution Guardrail Layout

Example Problem 2
Given: A rural two-lane arterial highway containing a shoulder width of 8 ft [2.4 m] and a
current ADT of 3500 is illustrated in Figure A-10. The areas of concern are bridge bents
located 5 ft [1.5 m] from the edge of shoulder. The side slopes are 1V:6H.

Figure A-11. Example 2 Problem Layout Rural High Volume.

Solution: Referring to Table A-1: General Applications of Conditions for Roadside Barriers
bridge piers within the horizontal clearance (30 ft [9 m] in this case) warrant Guardrail
placement for the northside of the roadway displayed in Figure A-10. As shown in Figure
A-7 the length of need is L = Lu+Lp+Ld. Therefore, Lp is 34 ft [10.4 m] from the given
(see Figure A-10) information. Because the ADT is greater than 750, Equation A-2 is used
to find Lu and Ld (if necessary):
(US Customary):

(Metric):

Equation A-4.
Substituting in the equation, the upstream length (Lu) is 116.5 ft [35.5 m] as shown in
Equation A-4 if placement is at the shoulder edge.
The downstream (westbound traffic) length of guardrail is also determined by substituting
into Equation A-2:
(US Customary):
Metric):

Equation A-5
Substituting in the equation as shown in equation A-5, Ld is 65 ft [19.7 m] as shown in
Equation A-5, based on the shoulder edge placement. For westbound traffic, the centerline
is the edge of the travel lane and thus guardrail is placed 20 ft [6 m] (12 ft [3.6 m] lane plus
8 ft [2.4 m] shoulder) from the edge of the travel lane.
Total length of guardrail, Lu+Lp+Ld, thus is 116.5 ft [35.5 m] + 34 ft [10.4 m] + 65 ft [19.7 m]
or 215.5 ft [62.3 m]; or, rounded to an even length of guardrail, 225 ft [68.6m].
The solution for the south side of the roadway yields the same results, hence placement
should be as shown in Figure A-11.

Figure A-12. Example 2 Problem Solution Guardrail Layout. Click here to see a PDF of the
image.
Example Problem 3
Given: A divided (76 ft [22.8 m] median) highway with 4 ft [1.2 m] left and 10 ft [3.0 m] right
shoulder widths is illustrated in Figure A-12. The median slopes are 1V:10H, and the
outside side slopes are 1V:6H. The cross sectional design allows for the addition of a
future lane on the median side of the present lanes. The areas of concern are overhead
sign bridge supports offset 25 ft [7.6 m] left and 18 ft [5.5 m] right from edge of the travel
lanes as shown below. The ADT is 10,000.

Figure A-13. Example 3 Problem Layout Divided Highway.

Solution: Crash cushions in lieu of guardrail should be considered, particularly for facilities
with higher than 10,000 ADT. For this example problem assume crash cushions are not
cost effective.
Because the median is sloped at 1V:10H, as shown in Figure A-12, guardrail may be
placed thereon (see Figure A-5,). Therefore place the guardrail such that the back of the
posts are 5 ft [1.5 m] in front of the median overhead sign bridge support to allow for
deflection, i.e., 20 ft [6.0 m] from the edge of the travel lanes (including the 1.5 ft [0.5 m]
from the back of the post to the face of the rail).
Referring to Figure A-7, L = Lu+Lp+Ld. For one-way traffic operations, Ld=0; furthermore,
for the overhead sign bridge support Lp=0. Equation A-2 is used to find Lu because ADT is
greater than 750:
(US Customary):

(Metric):
Equation A-6
For the median side, Lu = 65 ft [20 m] (rounded to 75 ft [22.9 m] to conform to even lengths
of guardrail) based on parallel placement for the full length of need, and placement on the
1V:10H slope 5 ft [1.5 m] in front of the fixed object. In contrast, parallel placement at the
shoulder edge would have required over 200 ft [60 m] of guardrail.
For the right side of traffic, guardrail must be placed at the shoulder edge
(ReferenceFigure A-5). Substituting in Equation A-2 to determine Lu:
(US Customary):

(Metric):

Equation A-7
Using parallel placement for the entire length, Lu = 111 ft [34.5 m] (which should be
rounded to 125 ft [38] to conform to even lengths of guardrail).
Using parallel placement for the entire length of guardrail for both the median and left side,
placement is as shown in Figure A-13.

Figure A-14. Example 3 Problem Solution Guardrail Layout.