Back in 1985, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security published the original vehicle test barrier methods – SD-STD-02.01 – to assess the crash performance of perimeter barriers and gates. Since then, from the initial World Trade Center bombing to 9/11 and beyond, the rise in vehicle bombings has increased dramatically. As a result, the Bureau addressed the need to address a broader spectrum of conditions, including vehicle types, attack velocities and acceptable penetration distances.

Originally, in order to be certified by the DOS, vehicle barriers must be tested by an independent crash test facility. Certification is based on speed and penetration ratings. “K” has indicated vehicle speed during the crash test, and “L” indicated the maximum allowed penetration of the barrier by the vehicle.

For test purposes, K12 denoted a speed of up to 50 mph, and L3 (the highest penetration rating) denoted a penetration of three feet or less. Other ratings included: K8 = 40 mph; K4 = 30 mph; L2 = 3 to 20 ft.; and L1 = 20 to 50 ft. Penetration levels were set at 3, 20 and 50 feet, measured from the point of attack to the final resting place.

In 2005, a revision (rev A) issued an update, eliminating all penetration levels except the 3-feet standard. Because it was determined that the cargo beds often went beyond the front of the vehicle in a crash, the Bureau also updated the way the test was to be conducted. They specified what the payload should be – 55 gallon steel drums filled with soil and strapped together – and how to measure the penetration – distance from the inside of the barrier to the front of the cargo bed.

Importantly, it was recognized that different types of trucks use different platforms, which would affect results. So, the new DOS test standard required the use of small passenger cars, pickup trucks, medium-sized trucks and trucks that haul heavy goods. As a result, today’s buyer of anti-terrorist barriers, bollards, gates and barricades is able to select the device most appropriate for their facility with a defined vehicle threat.

Use These Standards for Impact Condition Designations

Four types of vehicles are defined:

• Small Passenger Car:The car must have been manufactured in the last 10 years and weigh 2,430 +/- 50 pounds.
• Pickup Truck:The truck must be a ¾-ton model, manufactured within the last 10 years and weigh 5,070 +/- 100 pounds.
• Medium Duty Truck:This vehicle must have a diesel engine with a vehicle mass of 15,000 +/- 300 pounds.
• Heavy Goods Vehicle:This must be a tandem-axle dump truck or tandem-axle with drop-axle truck, tested at 65,000 +/- 1,300 pounds.

While defining the types of vehicles, the Bureau also established new penetration ratings:

• P1        Less than or equal to 3.3 feet
• P2        3.31 to 23.0 feet
• P3        23.1 to 98.4 feet
• P4        98 feet +

Note some of the differences. Most importantly, the new designations actually make some sense in that a car designation starts with a “C”, the pickup is designated as a “P”, the medium-duty truck gets an “M” and the heavy-goods vehicle is labeled an “H.” The number following the letter is the speed, measured in mph. Thus, a “40” means the vehicle was tested at 38.0 to 46.9 mph. An H30 designation thus defines a heavy-goods vehicle traveling at approximately 30 mph.

As a result, it is quite easy to determine the condition designation:

Car                              C40, C50 and C60

Pick-up                        P40, P50 and P60

Medium duty truck      M30, M40 and M50

Heavy goods               H30, H40 and H50

What Is the Difference?

It’s easiest to show the difference in designations with an example. For instance, a K54-certified barrier has been tested to stop a 65,000-pound truck traveling at 50 mph dead in its tracks. That also means it took on 5.4 million foot-pounds. Under the new system, this would be designated as an H50.

When deciding what barriers to invest in, now you have the tools to understand this new ASTM nomenclature system, and you can make a more informed decision about how to protect the perimeter and entrances of your facility from vehicle-borne terrorist attacks.