SRL says the solar/hybrid instant protection barriers are a safer and more cost-efficient alternative to the traditional plastic barriers staffed by dedicated gate-people.
INSTABOOM can be seen in many work zones throughout the UK, including SMART motorways and the high-speed rail HS2 project. The gate can be remotely operated and monitored by personnel with multiple responsibilities from elsewhere onsite, away from oncoming traffic.
SRL says the INSTABOOM barriers are the only mobile solar barriers in the market to meet the stringent BS/EN 13241-1 safety standards for gates, barriers and doors – as well as being UKCA marked. With Solar Gates’ extensive experience around DHF and Gate Safe standards, they ensure all their barriers are fully safe and compliant.
SRL also offers the recently-launched lighter weight INSTABOOM Lite for use on short duration operations, including those on rugged terrain. Both products are compatible with wireless GS6 height detection kits to protect against over-height incursions.
“Work zone safety is of paramount importance to SRL,” said Malcolm Johnstone, managing director of SRL’s hire division. “Earlier this year we won a RoSPA [the UK’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents] silver award for ensuring the health and safety of our roadworks staff. The introduction of INSTABOOM to our portfolio will enable us to help traffic managers to give a further level of protection to their staff.”
Switching service
Meanwhile, a partnership between SRL Traffic Systems and Innovative Road Safety Solutions has seen the launch of a temporary traffic light installation service. Under SRL’s new Switching Service, specially trained employees of SRL, a supplier of portable and temporary ITS equipment, install temporary traffic lights and switch off permanent signs. They then install high-visibility PVC CoverMe Signal Bags – made by Innovative Road Safety Solutions – which they do safely from the ground using an extension pole and bungee cord. On project completion, they access and inspect the permanent signal boxes before removal of the Signal Bags and reactivation.
The new service means customers need not hire dedicated traffic signal engineers to make separate site visits to switch permanent signs off and on and to bag them before roadworks start. The new service is significantly cheaper, according to SRL.
The ground-based Switching Service is safer than the alternative, which involves personnel working at a height of between 4-6m. It also removes the project delays incurred as teams wait for independent engineers to arrive. The new service has already been used by maintenance contractor Colas Group on a junction in the city of Leeds, part of the City Connect project.
