PAS 13 Safety Barriers: A Practical Guide

What Is PAS 13?

PAS 13 is the publicly available specification that sets out a code of practice for safety barriers used in the workplace. It defines standardised impact test methods and performance criteria so that buyers can compare safety barriers on a like-for-like basis and choose products proven to perform under realistic forklift and vehicle impacts.

Before PAS 13, there was no consistent way to measure how a barrier would behave when struck. Manufacturers could make impact claims without a common test standard behind them. PAS 13 changed that by introducing repeatable, measurable impact testing, giving warehouse operators an objective basis for specifying protection that genuinely works.

Why PAS 13 Matters For Warehouses

Workplace transport, particularly forklifts striking people, racking and structures, remains one of the leading causes of serious injury in UK warehousing. Safety barriers are a primary control, but only if they actually absorb and contain the energy of an impact. A barrier that looks robust but transmits force into the floor, or fails on a single strike, offers a false sense of security.

Specifying PAS 13 tested barriers helps you demonstrate that you have selected protection on a sound, evidence-based footing. Combined with a documented traffic management plan and clear floor marking, it forms part of a defensible, layered approach to managing workplace transport risk.

How PAS 13 Barriers Are Tested

PAS 13 sets out controlled impact tests that measure how a barrier performs when struck with a known energy. The key things the testing reveals are:

• Energy absorption, how much impact energy the barrier safely absorbs
• Deflection, how far the barrier moves on impact and whether it returns to shape
• Residual force, how much force is transmitted into the floor and fixings
• Repeatability, whether the barrier continues to perform after being struck

Modern energy-absorbing polymer barriers are designed to flex on impact and recover, protecting both people and the barrier itself while transmitting far less force into the slab than rigid steel. This makes them well suited to high-traffic internal areas, while steel and Armco systems remain appropriate where outright vehicle containment is the priority.

Where Safety Barriers Are Needed

A site survey should identify every point where vehicles and people, or vehicles and assets, come into conflict. Common locations include:

• Pedestrian walkways, crossing points and segregated routes
• Rack ends and uprights exposed to MHE strikes
• Structural columns, building corners and roller shutter doors
• Loading bays, dock edges and yard roadways
• Plant, services and critical equipment that must stay protected

Specifying A Compliant Barrier Scheme

• Survey the site and risk-assess every vehicle and pedestrian interaction
• Match barrier type and strength to the vehicles, speeds and loads on site
• Choose PAS 13 tested products with published impact performance
• Ensure correct installation, fixings and floor condition for the system
• Inspect barriers after impacts and as part of routine safety checks
• Combine barriers with line marking and signage for a layered approach

PAS 13 Specification Checklist

How Fastline Can Help

As an A-SAFE partner, Fastline specifies and installs the world's leading range of PAS 13 tested industrial polymer safety barriers, alongside steel and Armco systems where required. We survey your site, identify the impact risks and deliver a complete, compliant protection scheme, integrated with our line marking and signage, with minimal disruption to your operation.