Joule makes impact resistance tangible
The joule is a basic unit of physics and provides a perfect way to quantify energy in everyday life. That is why we use this unit to convey the impact resistance of our FLEX IMPACT® safety products.
JOULES FOR BEGINNERS: WHAT IS A JOULE?
Simply put, the joule is the unit of energy used to measure the amount of work or energy required to do something. It tells you how much energy is used, transferred, or converted in a given situation.
We can illustrate this with a few examples:
- Lifting an object: Imagine yourself lifting a book off the floor and placing it on a shelf. We measure the energy used to lift the book in joules.
- Heating water: If you heat water on a stove or in an electric kettle, we measure the energy used to raise the temperature in joules.
- Running: When you run or walk, you convert the energy stored in your body into kinetic energy. We measure this energy in joules.
How it works
How do our safety products absorb energy?
When a forklift hits an obstacle, a certain amount of energy is transferred to that obstacle. To stop the forklift, the obstacle must exert a force over a certain distance.
When an obstacle is extremely rigid, like a steel or concrete post, the stopping distance is very short. As a result, the impact force is very high. A forklift stops abruptly, causing significant damage to the obstacle and vehicle while giving the operator a strong jolt.
Boplan’s polymer safety barriers respond differently. Thanks to their unique flexibility and high impact resistance, our safety barriers absorb much more of the energy generated during a collision. This makes the impact less violent for the operator while still maintaining the rigidity necessary to stop the vehicle within an acceptable distance.
Moreover, our polymer barriers have a lower ASI (Acceleration Severity Index) than most conventional barriers. This is an indicator of the reduced impact severity experienced by vehicle operators as well as greater safety of people, vehicles, and infrastructure.
HOW DO WE CALCULATE THE IMPACT ABSORPTION VALUES OF OUR SAFETY PRODUCTS?
We measure the impact absorption of our safety products in joules. This makes it easy to compare products and choose the impact absorption value you need.
The impact absorption value varies depending on the angle of impact. We measure impact values for our products at various angles. Furthermore, our measurements reflect realistic collision scenarios from light side impacts to full frontal collisions. With this information, we are able to accurately simulate how our barriers will perform in real-life situations.
Use the Boplan Impact Calculator to determine which product you need based on the loaded vehicle’s weight, speed, and angle of impact.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
AN IMPACT ABSORPTION VALUE OF 24.1 KJ
Have you ever had to push a car? If you have, you know how much effort it takes to get it moving.
Our FLEX IMPACT® BO250T bollard has an impact absorption value of 24,100 J or 24.1 kJ at a height of 0.61 m. To stop our 4,000 kg test vehicle at an impact value of 24.1 kJ over a distance of 0.5 m, our BO250T generates a counterforce force of 48,200 N or 4,820 kg, which is equivalent to the force of 120 people.