Designing a safe, efficient car park requires careful consideration of barriers, bollards, signage, and safety systems. Whether you're designing a new multi-storey, refurbishing a surface car park, or managing an existing facility, this guide covers every safety product category with UK specifications, cost guidance, and a complete checklist.
1. Height Restriction Barriers
Height restrictors prevent oversized vehicles from entering where the structure limits clearance — typically 1.8m to 2.4m for passenger car parks.
- Fixed beam (painted steel/aluminium): Simple, no power required (£200–£600)
- Hanging chain/rubber protector: Soft warning before the hard beam (£50–£200)
- LED height warning system: Sensor detects oversized vehicles, activates warning lights (£500–£2,500)
Note: Minimum accessible vehicle clearance under BS 8300 is 2.1m for blue badge/mobility-adapted vehicles.
2. Entry/Exit Barriers (Boom Arms)
Boom barriers control vehicle access for pay-on-exit and permit-based parking:
- Arm length: 3m–6m
- Boom types: round arm, flat arm, folding arm (for low clearance)
- Integration: ANPR, loop detectors, fob readers, intercoms
- Barrier speed: typically 1.5–3 seconds open, 3–5 seconds close
Cost: £1,500–£5,000 per barrier (supply); £2,500–£8,000 installed. Maintenance: £200–£500 per barrier per year.
3. Pedestrian Guardrails
Essential wherever pedestrians share circulation space with vehicles. Specification:
- BS 7818 (Welded steel pedestrian guard rails) as minimum
- Chapter 8 specification for highway-adjacent footways
- 1,000mm minimum height
Cost: £30–£80 per metre supply; £60–£150 per metre installed. Decorative/architectural: £100–£250/m installed.
4. Wheel Stops
Prevent vehicles from overshooting bays — protecting walls, pedestrian areas, and adjacent bays:
- Rubber wheel stops: Best practice — durable, visible, resilient (£25–£60 each)
- Recycled plastic: Similar performance, environmentally preferable (£30–£70 each)
- Concrete: Heavy and durable but can crack (£20–£50 each)
Height: Standard 100mm. Colour: Yellow or black/yellow high-visibility. Use minimum 2 anchor bolts with chemical anchors in concrete.
5. Perimeter and Parapet Barriers
Life-safety critical at elevated levels. For vehicle containment on upper floors:
- Minimum containment level: N2 (BS EN 1317-2)
- Parapet height: minimum 900mm; 1,000mm+ recommended
- Armco W-beam, thrie-beam, or proprietary car park parapet systems
Cost: £80–£200 per metre supply; £150–£350 per metre installed.
6. EV Charging Point Protection
Under Approved Document S (Building Regulations 2022), new commercial buildings with 10+ spaces must provide EV charge points. Protecting the investment:
- 2–3 steel bollards per charging unit: £460–£1,200 per unit
- Armco barrier behind charge points: £65–£145/m installed
- Raised kerb/wheel stop: £80–£200 per bay installed
Car Park Safety Specification Checklist
- ☐ Height restriction beam(s) at all vehicle entrances — height confirmed and signed
- ☐ Advance height warning signs at ≥45m approach
- ☐ LED height detection system (recommended for high-volume sites)
- ☐ Entry/exit boom barriers with loop detection or ANPR
- ☐ Pedestrian guardrail on all vehicle-pedestrian shared routes
- ☐ Designated pedestrian crossings with tactile surfacing
- ☐ Wheel stops in all bays adjacent to walls, fences, or pedestrian areas
- ☐ BS EN 1317 rated parapet barrier on all elevated levels
- ☐ EV charging point bollard protection
- ☐ Accessible bays to BS 8300 dimensions and marking
- ☐ Speed limit signs throughout
- ☐ CCTV coverage with protected mounting
- ☐ Annual inspection regime documented
Key Regulations
- BS EN 1317-2: Containment levels for VRS including car park parapets
- BS 8300:2018: Accessible and inclusive built environment
- Approved Document M: Access requirements including accessible parking
- Approved Document S: EV charging infrastructure requirements (2022)
- IStructE Technical Report: Design recommendations for multi-storey and underground car parks (4th edition)
Barriers Co supplies the complete range of car park safety products. Browse our product range or contact us for a car park safety audit and specification service.