Terror barriers at the "Züri Fäscht
It is the largest public festival in Switzerland: the "Züri Fäscht". This weekend, the organizers expect more than two million people in the city on the Limmat. Security needs to be carefully planned - including vehicle closures.
Fortunately, there has not yet been an attack in Switzerland of the kind seen abroad: in 2016, a terrorist steered his truck into a crowd of people at the Berlin Christmas market. Dead and injured people were the result of this dastardly deed - a horror story.
This is not meant to stir up fear, but for the "Züri Fäscht", those responsible use 18 barrier elements to avert possible attacks with vehicles. It is part of the security plan of the organizers. The mobile barrier elements protect access roads from unauthorized intrusion.
Flow of people and escape routes guaranteed
Potential attackers must be stopped. However, the normal flow of people and escape routes must not be restricted in the process. The distance between the mobile vehicle barriers used at the "Züri Fäscht" is 1.2 meters. They are non-slip and the low ramps allow easy crossing, both for wheelchair users, strollers and bicycles. If an emergency vehicle needs to pass, the barrier elements can be quickly lowered manually. "Developing manually foldable elements that can withstand large impact loads and also comply with the legal escape route width was the biggest challenge during development," explained Francis Seijas, CEO of Consel Group AG, which was awarded the contract to supply the barriers for the "Züri Fäscht". Seijas also points out that his barriers would have a so-called penetration depth of only 6.6 meters in the crash test according to the international standards IWA 14-1 and ASTM F2656 with 7.2 tons at 48 km/h. (PD/rs)
More on the subject of general security at the "Züri Fäscht here
