Understanding Crash Ratings:

A Global Perspective from Secure India

Posted by Secure India | Updated: July 20, 2025

Secure India, a leader in hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) and access control systems, is committed to safeguarding critical infrastructure in India and beyond. With strategic partnerships across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Kenya, our crash-rated solutions are engineered to meet international security standards and adapted to regional needs.

What Are Crash Ratings?

Crash ratings are a critical benchmark used to assess the ability of security barriers—such as bollards, gates, and road blockers—to stop a moving vehicle. These ratings help governments, military bases, airports, embassies, and commercial facilities evaluate the level of protection a product provides against unauthorized vehicle intrusion.

Why Crash Ratings Matter

In today’s security-conscious world, not all barriers are built equal. Crash-rated barriers undergo rigorous testing to simulate real-world impact scenarios, offering assurance that they can prevent forced vehicle entry. Whether stopping a 7.5-ton truck at high speed or managing controlled access in urban zones, these ratings ensure the solution performs when it matters most.

Understanding the Global Standards

There are two primary standards for crash ratings that govern much of the global security infrastructure:

1. U.S. Department of State (DOS) Standard

Originally designated as K-Ratings (K4, K8, K12), this system measures a barrier’s ability to stop a vehicle weighing 6,800 kg (15,000 lbs) at various speeds:

• K4: 30 mph (48 km/h)
• K8: 40 mph (64 km/h)
• K12: 50 mph (80 km/h)

Each rating ensures that the vehicle's penetration into the protected area remains minimal.

2. ASTM F2656 Standard

Replacing DOS ratings in many regions, the ASTM F2656 standard includes more detailed classifications, such as:

• Vehicle type (e.g., small car, pickup, truck)
• Speed of impact (30, 40, or 50 mph)
• Penetration level (P1 to P4, with P1 being the best)

This framework allows for more versatile testing and better real-world application analysis.

Crash-Rated Solutions by Secure India

Secure India designs and delivers a full suite of crash-rated vehicle barriers, customized to the needs of each region:

• Crash-rated Bollards
• Road Blockers
• Wedge Barriers
• Crash Gates
• Tyre Killers & Spike Barriers

Each product is engineered in collaboration with German partners and manufactured in India, blending innovation with cost-effective deployment.

Our Global Commitment

From the bustling roads of Riyadh and Dubai to the diplomatic zones of Nairobi and Manama, Secure India stands as a trusted provider of perimeter protection solutions. We help governments, military zones, embassies, and private clients ensure vehicle-borne threats are mitigated with world-class products.

Crash ratings are not just technical details—they are the backbone of any serious physical security plan. By choosing Secure India's tested and certified solutions, clients ensure their infrastructure is protected against evolving threats, now and in the future.

Need help selecting the right crash-rated solution?
📞 Contact Secure India today or visit www.secure-india.com to learn more.