Hardstaff Barriers - Experts & Thought Leaders

Visitors to the UK’s Armed Forces Day event on June 25, 2022 were protected from the threat posed by vehicles, thanks to a system of safety barriers at the site. The temporary hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) barriers and swing arm gates were installed along the seafront in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom, where the event took place on Saturday June 25, 2022. HVM barriers installed for Armed Forces Day Attended by more than 100,000 people, Armed Forces Day was hosted by Scarborough Borough Council and was an action-packed event featuring the very best of the Armed Forces. Scarborough’s South Bay hosted military parades, numerous musical performances and aerial flypasts. The HVM barriers were installed by Hardstaff Barriers, the contractor responsible for delivering the UK Government’s National Barrier Asset (NBA) framework. National Barrier Asset (NBA) As a forces friendly employer, Hardstaff Barriers proudly employs several former service personnel The National Barrier Asset (NBA) is a substantial collection of surface-mounted temporary HVM, administered by the National Vehicle Threat Mitigation Unit (NVTMU). The NVTMU has expertise in mitigating the risk from a vehicle attack (known as Vehicle as a Weapon attacks) and the deployment and use of the NBA. As a forces friendly employer, Hardstaff Barriers proudly employs several former service personnel, who gained many of their most valuable skills from their careers in the Army. Armed Forces Covenant The company also readily signed the Armed Forces Covenant - a national promise that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. Jim Cotter, the Project Manager for Hardstaff Secure, who joined Hardstaff Barriers in 2020, following a 24-year career in the Army, said “It's an honor to have worked on this project, which ensured the safety of visitors to this important event that recognizes the dedication of members of the Armed Forces, past and present. Having served in the Army myself, I know just how important it is to honor those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our country.” Hardstaff’s barrier systems deployed in varied industries Hardstaff’s barrier systems are used across a range of industries, including aviation, nuclear, utilities, transport, construction and events - keeping people and property safe. As the trusted contractor for the UK Government’s National Barrier Asset (NBA) framework, security and safety are at the heart of Hardstaff Barriers’ work.

The conference program, devised by Europe’s two largest professional sprinkler organizations – EFSN & BAFSA will feature many innovative and ground-breaking developments from the water-based fire suppression industry worldwide. Over 50 presentations will be delivered over the two days. Residential sprinklers systems It is been five years since the Grenfell Tower disaster but the fallout continues. One reaction has been to see residential sprinkler systems much more widely applied in the UK. FSI 2022 participants will hear how the London policy on sprinklers restricts funding for social housing to apartment buildings protected with sprinklers. Grenfell was partly made of combustible materials and Daniel Joyeux of Efectis will present French guidance on how to protect wooden residential buildings, sprinklers being part of the solution. Fire safety design William Makant of Plumis will discuss how prescriptive approaches in standards can inhibit innovative concepts Shayne Parker of Domestic Sprinklers will review lessons learned from the many high-rise retrofits he has conducted, while William Makant of Plumis will discuss how prescriptive approaches in standards can inhibit the take-up of innovative concepts. Ruud van Herpen of Eindhoven University will explain why a stay-in-place fire safety design for residential buildings is only reasonable if it is protected with sprinklers. Fire protection The increasing height and storage capacity of warehouses is a fire protection challenge. In the first plenary session, Stuart Lloyd of Zurich Insurance will explain the challenge. In a workshop, Johannes Zimmermann of SSI-Schäfer will next present a protection solution for his company’s shuttle systems, while Ingunn Haraldseid of Autostore will present the latest fire tests of a protection concept for her company’s system and Steve Wolin of Reliable will present the latest guidance from FM Global. Later Wes Baker of FM Global will discuss when ESFR designs can be based on just nine sprinklers. Sprinkler and suppression market growth Paul Sincaglia and Russ Fleming of the International Fire Suppression Alliance will then review the state of the global industry and their research into what works when it comes to developing sprinkler markets. On the second morning, Amanda Kimball of the Fire Protection Research Foundation will give an update on its suppression research. In the final session, Ben Ditch of FM Global will present his company’s latest research learning.

At Hardstaff Barriers, gender has no bearing. They care more about a person’s skills than the gender they identify with. They’re proud to be an inclusive workplace where equality is ensured. This International Women’s Day, they’re celebrating gender equality and applauding the work of the amazing, invaluable women that work at Hardstaff Barriers. Highest containment levels This new REBLOC RB185A VRS may be towering over the Highways Account Manager, Sarah Compton, but nothing can overshadow her knowledge and passion for improving safety on the roads. The extensively crash-tested and fully EN 1317-1/2 compliant safety barrier has the highest containment levels The RB185A, which is supplied exclusively in the UK by Hardstaff Barriers, is the world’s first precast concrete safety barrier to have the highest containment levels of H4a and H4b, with a working width of W1 and a vehicle intrusion rating of VI2. The extensively crash-tested and fully EN 1317-1/2 compliant safety barrier has the highest containment levels, very high containment H4a and H4b, to protect bridge structures from the impacts from errant HGVs. Concrete safety barrier Sarah has fast become one of Hardstaff’s most knowledgeable REBLOC barrier specialists. Sarah said: “I am extremely proud to work for a business that values equality, that recognizes potential no matter what the sex and that gender has no bearing on the opportunities given.” “I feel very fortunate to be employed by a business that has such an open mind and is moving with the times. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD 2022) is #BreakTheBias and celebrates women’s achievements, while calling out inequality.” The IWD 2022 vision: Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together everyone can forge women’s equality. Collectively, everyone can all #BreakTheBias. “I am extremely proud to work for a business that values equality, that recognizes potential no matter what the sex and that gender has no bearing on the opportunities given,” said Sarah Compton, Highways Account Manager, Hardstaff Barriers.