Perimeter security 'first' benefits Edinburgh Airport

08 Mar 10

Edinburgh Airport has become the first UK location to benefit from the installation of a new perimeter concrete security barrier designed by Britpave. Brian Sims reports.

By Brian Sims

A 120-metre length of BsecB security barrier has been installed to protect the main terminal building from the threat of cars and lorries travelling on the adjacent road being used by suicide bombers as 'weapons of terror'.

The barrier system has been successfully tested to prevent lorries and cars from breaching the perimeter protection. Full-scale tests that have been carried out demonstrated that the BsecB barrier could stop a 7.5 tonne lorry travelling at 50 mph (80kph), and would also prevent any follow-up vehicle from penetrating the barrier.

Originated by transport infrastructure group Britpave, BsecB is based on the slipform concrete safety barrier that's becoming a common sight on the central reservations of the UK’s motorways. The new barrier’s robustness and long-term performance means that it is well suited to combat the threat of terrorism.

It has been developed to provide permanent perimeter protection for key locations such as airfields and airports, power stations, transportation infrastructure, fuel storage and distribution depots. Once installed, the concrete barrier requires little or no maintenance, and is built to last for up to 100 years.

In addition, it meets all the security impact standards of PAS 68:2007.

Strength and long-term performance

“The motorway barrier has proven its concrete credentials in preventing numerous cross-over accidents by stopping vehicles from crashing through the central reservation into the path of on-coming vehicles," explained David Jones, director of Britpave. "The same qualities of strength and long-term performance will be realised for security barriers."

Installation of the barrier at Edinburgh Airport was simple. No foundation was required as it was directly placed upon the existing asphalt pavement and then firmly anchored into position.

Barrier contractor for the project was P J Davidson, with detailed design carried out by Norder Design Associates.

Edinburgh Airport: important facts and figures

Edinburgh Airport is located at Turnhouse, five miles west of the city centre just off the M8 motorway linking Edinburgh with Glasgow.

The airport is owned and operated by BAA, which also owns and operates five other UK airports and is itself owned by ADI Limited (an international consortium which includes Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and GIC Special Investments).

The airport is a base of EasyJet and Ryanair. Flyglobespan used to be based at Edinburgh Airport, but all of its operations were ceased on 16 December last year after the company passed into administration.

The present terminal building, designed by Robert Matthew, was constructed in 1977 and has been upgraded in recent years, with new car parking facilities and an extended arrivals hall. A new control tower was completed in 2005.

There are plans for expansion at the airport, with passenger numbers expected to reach 26 million per annum by 2030.

“BsecB offers sensitive buildings and infrastructure a robust defence against the threat of lorry and car bombs,” continued Jones. “It's a proven system that's readily available from licensed installers.”