What height does pedestrian guardrail need to be?

BS 7818 specifies a minimum effective height of 1,050mm for highway pedestrian guardrail. Industrial edge protection under BS EN ISO 14122-3 requires a top rail at 1,100mm, mid rail at 500mm, and kickplate at 150mm. Bridge parapets may require 1,200mm or higher depending on local authority requirements.

Is pedestrian guardrail a legal requirement?

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Workplace Regulations 1992 require employers to prevent falls and control traffic risks. While specific guardrail dimensions aren't always prescribed in law, HSE inspectors expect to see compliant edge protection where there are fall risks, and physical segregation where pedestrians and vehicles share space.

What is the difference between guardrail and Armco barrier?

Pedestrian guardrail is designed to restrain and guide pedestrians — it's lightweight, open design and positioned at 1,050–1,100mm height. Armco (W-beam) barrier is a vehicle restraint system — much heavier gauge steel, designed to absorb and deflect vehicle impacts at speed. Don't use pedestrian guardrail where vehicle containment is needed.

Guardrails & Protection

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Guardrails UK — Pedestrian Safety Guardrail & Handrail Systems

Protect pedestrians and prevent falls with our range of safety guardrails and handrail systems. From highway pedestrian guardrail for road crossings to industrial safety barriers for mezzanine floors and loading docks — all compliant with relevant UK standards and available with free delivery.

Guardrail Types

Highway pedestrian guardrail — BS 7818 compliant, galvanised steel for road crossings, bridges and school zones
Warehouse safety barriers — post-and-rail pedestrian segregation for forklift environments
Mezzanine edge protection — BS EN ISO 14122-3 compliant handrail for elevated floors
Loading dock guardrail — edge protection at vehicle loading areas
Staircase handrails — compliant handrail for industrial stairs and access platforms
Flexible safety barriers — spring-return barriers for forklift areas; deflect on impact

Standards Compliance

Highway pedestrian guardrail must comply with BS 7818:1995. Industrial edge protection must meet BS EN ISO 14122-3 requirements — typically 1,100mm top rail height, 500mm mid rail, 150mm kickplate. Our guardrail systems come with full certification and compliance documentation.