No. HVM is often associated with deliberate vehicle attacks, but it can also help reduce risks from accidental vehicle impact, unauthorised vehicle entry, ram-raids and disruption to essential services.

No. Not every public space requires a crash-rated HVM system. Some sites may need tested vehicle security barriers, while others may be better suited to traffic management, kerb design, landscape separation, street furniture, access control, operational procedures or a combination of measures.

The right approach should be based on the site-specific risk, the people or assets being protected, the available space, vehicle approach routes, operational requirements and the level of protection required.

Only where they are suitable for the identified risk.

If crash-rated protection is required, the selected system should be tested and rated for the relevant vehicle impact scenario.

Standard gates, fencing, bollards, barriers, planters, street furniture or architectural features should not be assumed to provide hostile vehicle mitigation unless they have been specifically designed, tested and installed for that purpose.

HVM can include many different product types, including crash-rated bollards, road blockers, gates, rising arm barriers, fencing, street furniture and integrated perimeter systems. The key is selecting the right solution for the risk, the site conditions and the way the site needs to operate.

PAS 68 is an older UK vehicle impact test standard that is still commonly referenced in product documentation. Many existing products have PAS 68 ratings, but specifiers should understand how that rating relates to the current project requirement.

ISO 22343-1 is a current international standard for vehicle security barrier impact testing. It provides a common way to describe the performance of tested HVM products.

ASTM F2656/F2656M is a US vehicle barrier crash-test standard. It may appear in New Zealand specifications where international products, overseas consultants or global security standards are involved.

A crash rating usually tells you the vehicle type or weight, impact speed, impact angle and penetration distance achieved during testing. This helps match a barrier to a site-specific risk.

Yes. HVM does not always need to look like a high-security installation. Depending on the risk level, solutions can include integrated bollards, planters, seating, fencing, gates or street furniture that supports both safety and design intent.

As early as possible. The best time to consider HVM is during site planning, concept design or early developed design. This gives the project team more options and reduces the risk of costly retrofitting.

Crash rated barriers are almost always not a standalone solution- it is one layer in the site’s high-security access and protection strategy.

The barrier, gate, bollard, blocker or fence provides the physical stopping point. But the full system may also rely on controlled access, fencing, surveillance, lighting, signage, intercoms, alarms, traffic management, safety systems and emergency override procedures.

Early coordination is especially important where crash-rated equipment is automated. Automated gates, bollards, blockers and barriers may require power, controls, ducting, drainage, access control integration, safety devices, traffic lights, loop detectors, intercoms, fire-system interfaces, manual release and emergency override planning.

For specifiers, the important point is this: HVM solutions must be coordinated early with the civil, electrical, security and operational design. If added late, integration becomes harder, slower and more expensive.

Depending on the project, the team may include the client, architect, security consultant, civil engineer, structural engineer, traffic engineer, landscape architect, and the approved crash-rated barrier installer (such as Hampden).

Currently, crash-rated HVM equipment used in New Zealand is sourced from specialist international manufacturers - on an as required basis, and often, made to order. While New Zealand has local manufacturers of bollards, barriers, gates, fencing and security products like Hampden Ltd, crash-rated HVM is a highly specialised category that requires physical impact testing to recognised standards.

Hampden works with several international manufacturers of crash-rated barriers to give New Zealand project teams access to a wide range of tested crash-rated systems, including bollards, road blockers, gates, barriers, fencing and other vehicle security solutions.