Armco Posts

Technical Overview of Armco Post Types

Armco posts are structural support elements that secure Armco barrier beams, which are widely used across commercial, warehouse and industrial environments to protect people, infrastructure and equipment from impact by vehicles such as forklift trucks, vans or HGVs.

These posts are fabricated in different profiles and fixing methods to suit ground type, risk level and required impact resistance.

All typical Armco posts manufactured by Armco Barrier Supplies are made from galvanised steel to BS EN 1461 standards for corrosion resistance and durability in demanding settings.

The core distinctions among the post types relate to:

• Section profile (RSJ/H-section versus Z-section),
• Fixing method (bolt down versus dig in), and
• Impact behaviour (rigid, shock-absorbing or flexible).

RSJ Bolt Down Armco Posts

Overview

Product example: Armco RSJ Post Bolt Down

• RSJ stands for Rolled Steel Joist and denotes a heavy-duty H-section profile designed to resist deformation.
• Bolt down posts are mounted onto existing concrete slabs or hardstanding surfaces using anchor bolts.

Technical Attributes

• Excellent structural rigidity and minimal deflection on impact.
• Suitable for high-impact zones and where a permanent, strong barrier network is required.
• Can be supplied in various heights to suit internal warehouse or external yard heights.

Best Use Cases

• Warehouses: Protection of racking, machinery, loading docks and pedestrian walkways.
• Commercial yards: Delivery bays, vehicle circulation routes where concrete flooring exists.
• Industrial yards: Areas with frequent vehicle movement and heavy loads.
• Concrete surface requirement makes them ideal for indoor installations and external areas with reinforced slabs.

RSJ Bolt Down Double Beam Armco Posts

Overview

• Product example: RSJ Bolt Down Double Beam Galvanised 1200mm
• Similar to the standard RSJ Bolt Down post but with double beam capacity, enabling two barrier runs at differing heights or greater bending resistance.

Technical Attributes

• Higher vertical strength due to the double beam support.
• Can support higher barrier assemblies often used where segregation of different vehicle heights or multi-tier protection is necessary.

Best Use Cases

• High-traffic industrial environments: Where both ground-level vehicle protection and above-floor assets need segregation.
• Commercial distribution centres: To complement segregated pedestrian routes above forklift routes.
• Warehouses with mezzanines: Where multiple levels of traffic or risk exist.

RSJ Bolt Down Flexi Post

Overview

• Product example: RSJ Flexi Post Bolt Down Armco Posts
• This variant integrates flexible behaviour into the RSJ post design, allowing controlled bending on impact without structural failure.

Technical Attributes

• Absorbs impacts and reduces peak forces transmitted to anchor fixings.
• Minimises damage both to the post and surrounding concrete slab.
• Still bolt down but engineered for impact flexibility rather than rigidity.

Best Use Cases

• High-usage loading areas: Where repeated contact from forklifts or pallet trucks is expected.
• Warehouses with intensive manoeuvring: Reduces repair and maintenance costs.
• Commercial yards with mixed vehicle types: Where collisions are moderate and absorption is preferable to rigid resistance.

Z Post Bolt Down

Overview

• Product example: Armco Barrier Supplies Bolt‑Down Z Post
• Lightweight posts formed in a “Z” profile. They mount to hard surfaces like bolt down versions.

Technical Attributes

• Less robust than RSJ sections but significantly cheaper and easier to install.
• Designed to crumple and absorb deformation upon impact, localising damage to the post rather than more substantial infrastructure.

Best Use Cases

• Lower-risk environments: Light commercial premises and warehouse areas with controlled vehicle speeds.
• Budget-sensitive projects: Where full RSJ barrier strength is not necessary.
• Pedestrian route delineation: Suitable when barrier rigidity is not critical.

Spring Buffer Bolt Down

Overview

• Product example: Armco Barrier Post Sprung Bolt Down
• Spring buffer posts incorporate spring steel or shock absorbing features to deflect impacts and return to their original position.

Technical Attributes

• Designed for low to moderate impact absorption and post return after collision.
• Reduces the need for post replacement compared with rigid Z or RSJ posts.
• Bolt down fixing for installation on concrete floors.

Best Use Cases

• Pedestrian interfaces in warehouses: Where occasional contact is likely.
• Commercial facilities with light vehicles: Where reducing post replacement costs is desirable.
• Loading areas with slow-moving traffic: Provides protective give without compromising safety.

RSJ Dig In

Overview

• Product example: Dig‑In Galvanised RSJ Post
• Structurally similar to the bolt down RSJ post but designed to be cast directly into a concrete foundation below ground level.

Technical Attributes

• Offers deeper embedment and foundation strength, suitable for softer ground or new build sites.
• Excellent for permanent installations where anchoring into hard surfaces is not feasible.
• Ideal for high-impact industrial zones.

Best Use Cases

• Outdoor industrial perimeters: Logistics hubs, yards without existing slab.
• Construction sites: Temporary or permanent vehicle segregation systems.
• Soft ground or earth substrates: Sites anticipating significant lateral forces.

Z Post Dig In

Overview

Product Example Z Post Dig In

A dig-in variant of the Z post profile, designed to be cast into the ground, providing increased lateral stability compared with bolt down versions.

Technical Attributes

• Less rigid and lower-cost than RSJ but benefits from the deeper foundation of dig-in installation.
• Suitable where budget considerations and moderate impact risk intersect.

Best Use Cases

• Open yards and construction site perimeters: Where minor vehicle impact protection is required.
• Soft ground operational areas: Where direct burial avoids the need for a slab.