To the untrained eye, all concrete road barriers look the same. They are grey, heavy, and sloped. But to a civil engineer (and the RTA), the profile geometry makes a life-or-death difference.
The two main standards in the UAE are the Jersey Barrier and the F-Type Barrier.
The Jersey Barrier (The Classic)
Developed in the 1950s in New Jersey, USA.
- Profile: It has a steeper lower slope.
- Mechanism: When a car hits it, the tire rides up the slope. This uses gravity to slow the car down and push it back towards the road.
- The Risk: In high-speed impacts with small modern cars, the “ride up” can be too aggressive, causing the vehicle to roll over (flip).
- Use Case: Construction sites, low-speed zones, and perimeter protection.
The F-Type Barrier (The Modern Standard)
The “F-Shape” is the next generation of design.
- Profile: The lower slope is lower to the ground and flatter.
- Mechanism: It still lifts the vehicle slightly to absorb energy, but the “lift point” is lower. This reduces the pitch of the vehicle.
- The Result: The car is redirected parallel to the road without flipping.
- Use Case: High-speed highways (Sheikh Zayed Road, E311), permanent median separators.
What Does the RTA Say?
For temporary construction diversions, the RTA typically accepts standard Jersey Barriers (painted yellow/black). They are cost-effective and readily available.
For permanent highway installations, the specification is almost exclusively F-Type (or the newer Step-Profile).
Which One Do You Need?
- Are you protecting a hole in the ground? Use the Jersey Barrier. It’s cheaper, lighter (easier to move), and does the job of physical blockage perfectly.
- Are you building a highway median? You must check your specific RTA drawings. It will likely specify F-Type.
At Precision Precast, we manufacture both.
- Jersey: Stock item, available instantly.
- F-Type: Made to order for infrastructure projects.
Not sure which one is in your BOQ? Send us the drawing, and our engineers will identify it.
