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Iflex Pedestrian 3 Rail vs PED 90 vs PED 150 - What's The Difference?

If you’re in the market for a new pedestrian segregation barrier, you might be questioning the type of barrier that will work best for your warehouse or factory. And while its great to have so many options such as A-safe, MPM, Boplan, it can also be overwhelming to weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of each barrier type.

Luckily, there’s not just one answer for every building, which gives you the freedom to discover the available options, ask questions, and finally make a choice based on factual research.

Here at Clarity, we think it’s important to give an honest comparison of everything you need to know about polymer warehouse barriers so the decision is easier for you. In this article, expect to learn about:

  • The advantages and disadvantages of A-safe Iflex pedestrian 3 rail
  • The advantages and disadvantages of MPM PED 150
  • The advantages and disadvantages of MPM PED 90
  • Important considerations to keep in mind before you choose

When it comes to polymer barriers, MPM PED barriers are less well known and do not have the same appearance as the A-safe Iflex pedestrian barriers. That being said, MPM PED barriers are used by more companies across the globe than you may think or notice. 

MPM PED barriers are not for everyone. In fact, after reading this article, you may decide not to work with MPM, and we are pleased because you have made an educated decision, not one based on a whim or emotion.

“But aren't you an exclusive supplier of MPM barriers? I thought the only pedestrian segregation barriers you sold were MPM products?”

Well, here’s the thing. Despite working with busy factory managers to make their factories safer for over a decade, our pedestrian segregation barriers are 99% from the MPM range. However, we don’t want to tell you that MPM barriers are the best option for you. Especially if we know that may not be the case. 

So, today we want to share all of our knowledge with you, the Health and safety guru, at the end of the day, so you can make the best decision for you and your colleagues...even if that means not choosing an MPM barrier.

In this article we will discuss three main products - the two most commonly sold products by ourselves and a product we commonly compete against.

  • Cost (initial and lifetime)
  • Strength 
  • Appearance
  • Space requirement (footprint)
  • Testing
  • Customization
  • Installation time
  • Warranty
  • Durability

 

Is an A-safe barrier or an MPM PED barrier better for me?

While A-safe barriers can typically be more expensive to install and maintain over time, they are distinctive and bold  in terms of shape and finish materials. MPM barriers, on the other hand, tend to be a bit less expensive to install and maintain over time. And although they are not as bold in terms of shape, they do feature many popular features that may be considered upgrades for a polymer barrier.

So, which one is better for you? Let's get into the nitty-gritty below and help you gain a deeper understanding of each barrier type. 

A-Safe barriers tend to be more expensive to install and maintain over time. However, they stand out due to their distinctive shape and bold finish. On the other hand, MPM barriers are generally more affordable to install and maintain. While they may not be as bold in appearance, they offer several practical features that could be considered upgrades.

 

Cost Comparison

Barrier Type Cost per Linear Metre* Installation Cost per Day
A-Safe Iflex Pedestrian 3 Rail £250+ £1,000/day
MPM PED 90 £150 £750/day
MPM PED 150 £200 £750/day

*Pricing is based on a straight run without gates, corners, or installation.

Installation Considerations:

  • MPM PED barriers are modular and easy to install. You can install them yourself without voiding the warranty.

  • A-Safe barriers usually come with a 12-month warranty if self-installed.

  • Travel and overnight accommodation costs may impact the final installation price.

 

Strength

The strength of the barrier ‘system’ will probably be a big deciding factor on the barriers system you choose. Most polymer barrier systems have been tested in the same way and when it comes to strength - there are 3 different test criteria which you should know about when choosing your barrier, according to PAS 13, this ‘code of conduct’ suggests using the 45 degree impact energy of the rails to make a decision on the right barrier for you whereas UNI TR 11886 takes the weakest point on the whole barrier matrix and that then becomes your ‘barrier strength’, how you choose the best barrier for your application is up to you.

 

Barrier Strength Comparison

Strength is a crucial factor when choosing a pedestrian barrier. Most polymer barrier systems follow industry-standard testing methods, but different test criteria apply.

  • PAS 13 suggests using the 45-degree impact energy of the rails to determine barrier strength.

  • UNI TR 11886 measures the weakest point in the barrier system, which then defines its overall strength.

Barrier Type 90° Strength (KJ) 45° Impact Strength (KJ) Post Strength (KJ)
A-Safe Iflex Pedestrian 3 Rail 5,800 11,800 2,700
MPM PED 90 3,000 6,000 1,600
MPM PED 150 9,087 18,174 4,100

 

Appearance

MPM PED 90 barriers consist of flat faced rails with square posts, The ‘90’ represents the sectional size of the rail. The front of the post is rounded to assist deflection but the rails are flat with a ribbed texture to prevent deflection - this way we prevent pallets or forks from riding above or below the rails and entering into the pedestrian zone. MPM PED barriers are made from PVC for maximum durability, this means that to achieve a high impact resistance - we can use a significantly smaller profile than other polymer types.

MPM PED 150 is a beefed up version of a PED 90, the sectional size is 150mm and the dowel is significantly larger. 

A-safe Iflex Pedestrian 3 rail is a barrier made from round posts and round rails. The posts are 180mm diameter and are manufactured in the typical A-safe orange colour.

 

Space Requirements

Unlike many pedestrian segregation barriers on the market, none of the barriers being compared take up a particularly large footprint.

A factory can cost up to £1000 per square metre so any barrier system that eats into this space also should factor in the cost of the space consumed

PED 150, as the name suggests has a footprint of 150 mil diameter meaning for every linear meter used 0.15 m² of floor space will be consumed with the MPM had 150. Similarly, A-safe pedestrian three rail has a post diameter of 180 mm which means for every linear meter 0.18M of that will be consumed by the A-safe Iflex pedestrian three rail.

At just 90 mm diameter the MPM PED 90 consumes less than 10% of a square metre we can get one of the slimmest profile polymer pedestrian segregation barriers in the world.

 

Testing and Certification

One of the biggest concerns raised by many customers is around testing and certification. 

Some salespeople may try to suggest that MPM barriers are not third-party tested. However, both MPM PED 150 and PED 90 have been verified by TÜV, the same independent test house used by most polymer barrier manufacturers.

Testing methods include:

  • Pendulum swing test (standard forklift impact simulation)

  • Sled test (heavy impact simulation)

  • Fire resistance testing

  • UV stability testing (for outdoor use)

MPM Barrier - Costa DAmalfi Airport - Airfield 2

Both MPM PED 150 and PED 90 have been externally tested and verified to be V0 fire rated. Since the A-Safe Iflex range is made from a polypropylene blend, it is considered combustible and does not offer the same fire resistance.

 

Customisation

Customisation is quite a broad term and your interpretation of customisation could differ from everybody else if by customisation you are looking for a barrier system that can be produced that’s bespoke for your particular layout then in general terms both manufacturers offer a similar system. When it comes to different size and shapes of Gates then A-safe offer a broader range of products. A-safe pedestrian gates are available in a wide range of widths whereas MPM pedestrian gates are generally only available up to 1 m.

Both A-Safe and MPM supply their range of rails in set increments, for A-safe this is just 100 mm whereas MPM rails are supplied in 200 mm increments. The major difference here however is that due to the very simple dowel and socket design of the MPM pedestrian rail, the rail can be cut and drilled to an exact bespoke size on site in a matter of seconds giving you the exact dimensions required.

Another interpretation of customisation could be the ability to upgrade your barriers after installation has taken place. I can’t comment on the A-safe products as we don’t know what possible upgrade options are however both the MPM PED 150 and the MPM PED 90 can be upgraded in terms of impact resistance performance and can be upgraded to integrate with the Clarity projection systems.

Through beam thumbnail

 

Installation Time

Unless you are installing the barriers yourself or paying contractors on a day rate - this feature might not be relevant.

The installation method for all three barrier systems is the same - lay the barrier posts out in their correct position keeping them in a straight line using a string line. The posts should be positioned so that rails fit exactly. With both MPM products - the rails can be cut down and re-drilled on site but as standard, the PED 90 rails are supplied in 1500mm lengths and the PED 150 2000mm lengths

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At this point the posts can be fixed to the floor using two diagonal fixing points, 

The fixings are supplied with barrier.

Now the rails and dowels can be inserted, the final two fixings connected and the top caps installed.

A majority of our customers like to have their barriers installed for them.

 

For more information on the different barrier options from Clarity, download the guide here: