Wire Rope Crash Control Barriers - Technical Rescue Magazine

NOTICEBOARD
ALAN (AL) BANNON It is with immense sadness that we announce the Line of Duty death of our friend and colleague Al Bannon on 7th April 2010. Al was an original member of the Technical Rescue Unit upon who's work this magazine was founded. He was a wholetime firefighter with Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service (UK) and died along with colleague James Shears while tackling a blaze in a high rise block of flats in Southampton. He will be hugely missed by all of us and our heartfelt condolensces go out to Al's wife Charlotte, daughter Abi, Lin and Keith, Mum & Dad and all family and friends.

NOTICEBOARD

ALAN (AL)
BANNON
It is with immense sadness
that we announce the Line
of Duty death of our friend
and colleague Al Bannon
on 7th April 2010.
Al was an original member of
the Technical Rescue Unit
upon who's work this
magazine was founded.
He was a wholetime
firefighter with Hampshire
Fire & Rescue Service (UK)
and died along with colleague
James Shears while tackling
a blaze in a high rise block
of flats in Southampton.
He will be hugely missed by
all of us and our heartfelt
condolensces go out to Al's
wife Charlotte, daughter Abi,
Lin and Keith, Mum & Dad
and all family and friends.

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Wire Rope Crash Control Barriers

Published Technical Rescue 41-Summer 2004

Currently there are 2 types of wire fence, crash control barriers used on metropolitan and urban roads:
1. Brifen
2. Flexfence

These fences are designed to control a vehicles path and prevent the vehicle from entering areas which may result in severe impact with oncoming vehicles and other structures adjacent to a roadway.

Motor vehicles may become entangled within the cables complicating rescue and recovery operations.

Both fence systems are tensioned from 2 - 3 tonnes, therefore under no circumstances are the steel cables to be severed.The cutting of the cables will result in a sudden and dangerous release of energy that may result in fatal injuries to the rescuer and other persons in the vicinity of the fence system.

Under normal conditions during installation and servicing, the Brifen uses a simple de-tension system that can be manually operated using shifting spanners and a steel rod that is inserted into the turnbuckle recess.

A number of options are to be considered in the release of an entangled vehicle:

1. Request attendance of Vic Roads
Note: any impact or damage to either fence system must be reported to Vic.Roads.

2. Before any extrication attempt, stabilise the vehicle and cables if possible.

3. Request a tow vehicle allocation through a Victoria Police member on-scene.

4. Supervise the controlled lifting of the cables from the vehicle using the tow vehicle hook.

5. Control the return of the cables to the fence post line.
Note: Severing or movement of the vehicle or its component parts may result in the uncontrolled release of the steel cables.

6. Cordon off the area to prevent unauthorised entry, particularly in vicinity of the cable path should a sudden and uncontrolled release occur.

If there is no requirement for extrication and evacuation of a casualty, hand over to Victoria Police. Vic. Roads will de-tension the cables.

If the vehicle is not entangled and the cables are deflected out of alignment, consider moving the vehicle to allow the cables to return to their normal position, in alignment with the fence posts.

Trevor S. Owen

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