Perimeter security and HVM

A hostile vehicle can reach a building facade in seconds. Perimeter and HVM security stops it at the boundary, using impact tested bollards, barriers, gates and street furniture. PAS 68 and IWA 14-1 ratings state the vehicle, speed and penetration distance, so each product can be matched to the threat at each point of the boundary.

• PAS 68 and IWA 14-1UK and international HVM test standards
• 1,500 to 30,000 kgTest vehicle masses, car to heavy truck
• 48, 64 and 80 km/hCommon test impact speeds
• Tested as installedThe rating covers foundations and fixings

How vehicle impact ratings work

PAS 68 is the UK test standard for vehicle security barriers. IWA 14-1 is the international equivalent. ISO 22343-1:2023 is the current international standard, and it supersedes both. Specifiers in the UK most often ask for PAS 68, while international projects may reference IWA 14-1 or ISO 22343-1.

A vehicle impact rating records four things: the type and mass of the test vehicle, the impact speed, the angle of impact, and the penetration distance. Penetration distance is how far the vehicle travelled past the barrier line after impact. It decides how much standoff you need between the barrier and the facade.

Common test vehicles run from a 1,500 kg car through a 2,500 kg 4×4 and a 3,500 kg van to a 7,200 or 7,500 kg truck and a 30,000 kg truck. Common test speeds are 48, 64 and 80 km/h. The rating applies to the barrier as a tested system, including its foundations and fixings. A product copied without its tested foundation detail does not carry the rating.

Match the rating to the threat. Take the test vehicle and speed from the site threat assessment, then check the penetration distance leaves enough standoff to the facade. The vehicle figure alone does not tell the whole story.

Choosing the right HVM product

Each product below covers a different part of the perimeter. Start with the overview, then choose the elements that fit each zone of your site.

Who specifies perimeter security

Architects and security consultants set the requirement at design stage, once the threat vehicle and the available standoff are known. A security consultancy review at that point keeps the rating realistic and the barrier line buildable. Main contractors then procure the tested system with its foundations, and estates teams look after operable elements such as gates.

Typical sites include government and defence estates, transport hubs and public spaces where crowds gather. The full method behind the ratings is explained in our vehicle impact ratings guide.

Perimeter and HVM FAQs