Crash-ratings for barriers explained: understanding the differences
- IronSite Education
- Jun 17
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 25
A comprehensive guide to different rating systems and their subcategories
Introduction
It’s no secret that the number of vehicular attacks has grown in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Terrorist groups and “lone wolves” have been using vehicles more frequently due to their ease of access, low cost, and potential for catastrophic damage. The need to protection from vehicular attacks is at an all-time high, and implementing crash barriers around a facility or site perimeter is one of the best deterrents of vehicular attacks. However, not all crash barriers are created equal, so understanding the varying levels of protection they offer is critical to safeguarding what matters most to you.
What exactly is a barrier crash rating?
Crash ratings are a standardized measure of an anti-ram barrier’s ability to withstand a vehicular impact; based on vehicle size, speed, and penetration depth upon impact. Crash ratings are generally represented by K-ratings or M-ratings and are designated after evaluating a barrier’s performance under varying collision scenarios.
Understanding these different crash ratings and what exactly they mean is crucial for identifying the most
effective barrier solutions for protecting vulnerable locations, such as critical infrastructure, utilities, or public spaces, from intentional vehicular attacks and unauthorized vehicle access.
K-Ratings and M-Ratings explained
Most recently revised in 2003 and in response to growing terrorist attacks across the United States, the K-rating system originated back in 1985. It was created by the Department of Defense specifically for assessing military-grade security solutions. The different K-ratings that are given to security barriers are:
K12: rated to stop a 15,000-pound truck traveling at 50mph/80kph
K8: rated to stop a 15,000-pound truck traveling at 40mph/65kph
K4: rated to stop a 15,000-pound truck traveling at 30mph/48kph
In addition, K-ratings includes a measurement for penetration depth, which is determined by how far the front bumper travels past the barrier after coming to a complete stop. Penetration depth is represented by the letter L, where a higher number represents less penetration:
L1 certification: stops vehicles with between 20 to 50 feet of penetration
L2 certification: stops vehicles between 3 to 30 feet of penetration
L3 certification: stops vehicles with less than 3 feet of penetration
With that explained, the most robust barrier (indicated by K-ratings) is classified as K12: L3. Which means in that specific scenario a 15,000-pound truck traveling 50 miles per hour penetrated the crash barrier by less than 3 feet. To help decipher K-ratings, it’s common practice to view the “K” number as the test vehicle’s speed and the “L” number to the distance it was able to travel past the barrier.
Unlike the K-rating, the M-rating was formulated by a civilian organization known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The M-rating system has essentially replaced the K-rating system due to it offering more comprehensive data and considering a wider range of vehicle weights, speeds, and penetration distances. The most significant difference between the M-rating and K-rating system is the M-rating system evaluates how far the vehicle’s payload travels past the barrier, rather than the front bumper like in the K-rating system. Despite this distinction, both rating systems are determined based on similar factors like vehicle size, speed, and travel distance. Various M-ratings are:
M50: rated to stop a 15,000-pound truck traveling at 50mph/80kph
M40: rated to stop a 15,000-pound truck traveling at 40mph/65kph
M30: rated to stop a 15,000-pound truck traveling at 30mph/48kph
Like the “L” penetration certification on K-ratings, M-ratings are divided into additional classifications determined by the distance the vehicle’s payload travels beyond a crash barrier:
P1: vehicle travels 3.3 feet or less
P2: vehicle traveled between 3.31 feet and 23 feet
P3: vehicle traveled between 23.1 and 98.4 feet
P4: vehicle traveled further than 98.4 feet
One thing you’ll notice is M-ratings closely mirror K-ratings in terms of numerical designation; for example, a K4 rating aligns with an M30 rating, a K8 rating aligns with an M40 rating, and a K12 rating aligns with an M50 rating. These correlations indicate that vehicles that undergo K-rated and M-rated tests traveled at 30, 40, and 50 miler per hour. Given these parallels, both types of ratings can be used interchangeably in most cases.
Crash-tested, crash-certified, and crash-engineered
To add an additional layer of complexity to crash-ratings, there are three different categories when describing various ratings. It’s important to pay attention to terms like “tested”, “certified or rated”, and “engineered” as each of them have their own implications and levels of importance for deciphering crash ratings.
Barriers that are labeled “crash-tested” should be approached with extreme caution, as this label only means the barrier has been tested. It doesn’t guarantee that the barrier has passed the test or meets the specific
requirements of a designated rating, it simply means it’s been tested under specific conditions – which can be misleading because even though it’s labeled as “crash-tested” it might not genuinely meet the K or M-rating standard it’s been tested at.
Crash-engineered barriers are barriers that have been “engineered” to meet a particular standard, not necessarily that’s it’s passed a specific test. A crash-engineered barrier implies that it was designed to pass the test based on calculations or computer models. Keeping this in mind when evaluating different barriers is important in determining effectiveness in practical scenarios.
Barriers that have been labeled as “crash-rated” or “crash-certified” are more reliable and accurate. Barrier systems that have been rated with these labels have successfully passed the relevant test to achieve the specific rating, which means there’s no room for interpretation or guesswork on whether it’ll perform as expected.
At the end of the day, looking for barriers that have the “certified” or “rated” label in K-ratings and M-ratings provide the highest level of assurance. If you see “engineered” or “tested” labels, inquiring further to discover whether tested products met the designated standards and if the engineered products underwent actual physical testing, is best practice; there’s little guarantee that the barrier will withstand real-life crashes effectively if you neglect to do so.
If you’re unsure if your barrier is “tested”, “certified/rated”, or “engineered”, the Department of Defense publishes a list of certified barriers to help you verify. Expert physical security providers like IronSite can also be contacted for any question you might have.
Conclusion
Both K-ratings and M-ratings provide valuable information regarding a barrier’s performance in various scenarios, but understanding the differences between the two is essential. Each system offers subtle differences, and with the added implications of the “tested”, “certified/rated”, and “engineered” categories, understanding the ins and outs of rating systems will only benefit you. At the end of the day, prioritizing certified/rated M and K ratings will offer the highlight level of confidence in selecting a barrier system that most effectively mitigates risks and keeps you protected.
IronSite offers an extensive array of crash-rated barriers with various types of configurations and ratings, all designed to meet diverse security needs. Whether you’re protecting critical infrastructure, commercial properties, or government facilities, IronSite’s range of crash-rated barriers provide the perfect solution to a multitude of threats.
IronSite is a national physical security provider with specialized expertise to deliver premium solutions at scale. Our extensive family of brands nationwide enables responsive and consistent service and support for all our clients wherever they may be.
Media Contact
Terin Pickett
IronSite
1595 E. 6th St; Suite 101
Corona, CA 92879
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