Archive for January, 2010
Traffic barricades – breaking down the confusion
There is a lot of confusion when picking out what type of traffic barricade is best. One of the first things to decide is the type of barricade you want. A ‘type 1’ or ‘type I’ barricade has one panel, a ‘type II’ barricade has two panels, and a ‘type III’ barricade has three panels. The type 1 and type 2 are not nearly as wide as the type 3; the type I and II barricades range from 24 – 36″ wide, while the type 3 barricades are between 48 – 144″ wide.
Type of sheeting (EG, HI, or DG) and whether you want sheeting on both vs. one side also needs to be considered, and most likely depends on the specs of the job. Barricades can be either completely plastic, plastic boards with metal legs, or plywood boards with metal legs. The options you choose can highly influence pricing, so be sure to ask the price difference between one feature and the next.
What’s the difference between a type b barricade light and a regular barricade light?
If you need a light that flashes 24/7, then a type b barricade light is what you are looking for. Though they cost between $80-$90 (versus a regular light that costs between $15-$20), that is the only barricade light that you will be able to see during the day and night. Also, type b barricade lights are naturally brighter because they have LEDs in them, so if you are putting up lights for a dangerous area and you want to MAKE SURE people see them, then type b is your best bet.
There are a variety of brands and options of type b barricade lights, so it is important to explore all the possibilities. But first off, realize that ALL type b lights have a hood on them and only flash on one side (all the energy is focused on flashing one way). The four type b barricade lights I know of; Empco 212-3S Solar Assist Model, Empco regular type b, Empco type b d-cell, and Solar Masters fully solar type b light. The “Solar Assist” model has 4 d-cell batteries that are ‘trickle charged’ by the solar panel when it is outside. The batteries last about 9 months before they have to be replaced. The Empco regular type b takes one or two 6 volt batteries (depending on the model) and the Empco type b d-cell takes (4) d-cell batteries. The d-cell lasts around 60 days, the 12 volt lasts around 60 and the 6 volt lasts around 150 before the batteries has to be replaced.
Reflective styles of traffic channelizers
When picking out what type of traffic channelizer you need, you must decide on whether you want reflective tape, and if so what intensity. The reflective tape is made so that it reflects a light, say from an automobile or snowmobile. The more intense the reflective tape, the more intense the reflection. There may be instances where you will not need reflective tape at all – you could have your own you wish to apply, or you could be using the traffic channelizer for something unconventional like to mark a path through the woods.
The lowest intensity of reflective tape is called “Engineer Grade” or EG for short. This is a very common choice for reflective tape, and is usually sufficient for the job. The next level of intensity is “High Intensity” or HI for short. The highest level is called “Diamond Grade” or DG for short, and is quite expensive. Lots of times there are state requirements for the number and type of reflective bands, so always be sure to check out your state’s Department of Transportation website before making a final decision.
What’s the difference between solar and battery powered barricade lights?
The first thing people notice is price, solar powered barricade lights usually cost 2 to 3 times more than battery powered lights. But, when looking at cost you have to take into consideration the expense of batteries. Typically, you have to change batteries in the battery powered lights every 2 to 3 months, costing around $2.95 per battery, and changing it 4 times per year would cost you an extra $12 per year. Solar barricade lights should last at least three years, so take $12×3 and you get an extra $36 for battery barricade lights! Keep in mind the market value of a solar barricade light is $34, and a battery powered light is $15, so after three years you would have spent a total of $51 on battery powered lights, versus just $34 for solar powered lights.
Of course, there are instances where it makes more sense to get battery powered lights because you may use the lights once and then not need them again. But some other points in favor of solar is the fact that you don’t have to have someone go out and change the batteries, reducing labor costs. It is better for the environment because you aren’t throwing away batteries and you aren’t paying disposal fees. In the end, it depends on the job, but solar powered barricade lights are always a better long-term decision.
The Crossing Guard
When I was in the fifth grade, I volunteered to work as a crosswalk guard at my elementary school. At that age, I saw this responsibility as momentous step in reaching maturity and adulthood. Every morning I would have to wakeup at 5 am so that I could get to school in time to don one of the traffic safety vests and hit the streets before the morning rush.
Although I was quite proud of my post when I was holding it, now that I am older I recognize my naivety. Don’t get me wrong, crossing guards play an important role in keeping people safe, but the position hardly carries the clout that I felt it did when I was in the fifth grade. Despite my recognition of my childhood disillusionment, I always think back to those days when I have to stop for five minutes in the morning while droves of elementary school kids pass by.