Joule makes impact resistance tangible
The joule is a fundamental unit of physics and offers a perfect way to quantify energy in everyday life. This is why we use this unit to convey the impact resistance of our FLEX IMPACT® safety products.
JOULE FOR BEGINNERS: WHAT IS A JOULE?
Simply put, the joule is the unit of energy used to measure the amount of work or energy required to do something. It tells you how much energy is used, transferred or converted in a given situation.
We illustrate this with a few examples:
- Lifting an object: imagine yourself lifting a book off the floor and placing it on a shelf. We measure the energy used to lift the book in joules.
- Heating water: if you heat water on a hob or in a kettle, we measure the energy used to raise the temperature in joules.
- Running: when you run or walk, you convert the energy stored in your body into kinetic energy. We measure this energy in joules.
HOW IT WORKS
HOW DO OUR SAFETY PRODUCTS ABSORB ENERGY?
When a forklift hits an obstacle, it transfers a certain amount of energy to that obstacle. To stop the forklift, the obstacle has to exert a force over a certain distance.
If the obstacle is very rigid, such as a steel or concrete bollard, the force is enormous and the forklift will stop over a very short distance. As a result, the enormous force damages both the forklift and the obstacle. A more flexible obstacle will reduce the force and give the forklift a greater distance to come to a stop.
We illustrate this with an example. If someone throws you an egg and you want to catch it, you will move your hands in the same direction as the egg to give it a soft landing. The movement of your hands will reduce the force as it is applied over a greater distance.
Our safety products work in exactly the same way. In the event of a collision, they bend with the object to absorb the force of impact. And after the impact, they return to their original position, ready to absorb a new collision.
HOW DO WE CALCULATE THE IMPACT ABSORPTION VALUES OF OUR SAFETY PRODUCTS?
We measure the impact absorption of our safety products in joules. This makes it easy to compare products and choose the impact absorption value you need.
The impact absorption value varies depending on the angle of impact. We measure the impact values of our products at three different angles: 20°, 45° and 90°. Use the Impact Calculator to determine what product you need based on the (unloaded) vehicle's weight and speed and the angle of impact. You can find the Impact Calculator on the details page of every product.
AN IMPACT ABSORPTION VALUE OF 24.1 KJ: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ?
The world’s strongest polymer bollard
Have you ever had to push a car? If you have, you know how much effort it takes to get it moving.
Our FLEX IMPACT® BO250T bollard has an impact absorption value of 24,100 J or 24.1 kJ at a height of 0.61 m. To stop our 4,000 kg test vehicle at an impact value of 24.1 kJ over a distance of 0.5 m, our BO250T generates a counterforce force of 48,200 N or 4,820 kg, which is equivalent to the force of 120 people.