Guardrail systems: W-beam and thrie-beam
| System | Rail | Post | Spacing | Height | Containment | Typical road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-beam single-sided | W 3.0 mm, 4.32 m (4.0 effective) | Sigma 100×55×3 or C 125×62.5, 1.9–2.0 m | 2.0 m (4.0 m light) | 750 mm | EN 1317 N2 / AASHTO TL-2/3 | Highways, rural roads, most exported |
| W-beam double-sided | 2 × W 3.0 mm | Sigma / C, 1.9–2.1 m | 2.0 m | 750 mm | N2 / H1 | Medians |
| W-beam 4 mm heavy | W 4.0 mm | Sigma 4 mm / IPE 100 | 1.33–2.0 m | 750 mm | H1 | High-speed highways |
| Thrie-beam | 3-wave 3.0–4.0 mm, 4.32 m | Sigma / IPE 100, 2.2 m | 1.33–2.0 m | 850–900 mm | H1 / H2 | Bridges, trucks, mountain roads |
| Bridge / parapet | Thrie-beam on base-plated posts | Base-plated IPE / sigma | 1.33 m | 900–1 000 mm | H2 / H4b | Bridge decks |
| Terminals / transitions | Flared, fish-tail, energy-absorbing | — | — | — | Per class | Ends, bridge approaches |
W-beam rail: dimensions and weight
| Beam | Profile | Thickness | Length | Effective length | Weight (galv.) | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-beam Class A | 312 × 83 mm two-wave | 2.67 mm (12 ga) | 4 318 mm | 4 000 mm | ≈ 45 kg | ≥ 550 g/m² (Z550) |
| W-beam Class B | 312 × 83 mm | 3.50–4.0 mm (10 ga) | 4 318 mm | 4 000 mm | ≈ 62–70 kg | ≥ 550 g/m² |
| W-beam EN (3 mm) | 310 × 81 mm | 3.0 mm | 4 320 mm | 4 000 mm | ≈ 49 kg | Z550–Z600 |
| Thrie-beam | 506 × 83 mm three-wave | 3.0 / 4.0 mm | 4 318 mm | 4 000 mm | ≈ 70 / 92 kg | ≥ 550 g/m² |
| Terminal end (fish-tail / bull-nose) | — | 3.0 mm | — | — | ≈ 8–15 kg | ≥ 550 g/m² |
Rails are roll-formed from S235JR / S355JR strip, punched with 8 slotted splice holes and post slots, then hot-dip galvanized; minimum 550 g/m² (≈ 78 µm) per AASHTO M180 / EN 1317 practice.
Posts, spacers, bolts and accessories
| Component | Specification | Qty per 4 m | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma post | 100 × 55 × 3 mm (or 4 mm), 1 900–2 000 mm, galvanized, cap | 2 | 2 × 12–15 kg |
| C post (alternative) | 125 × 62.5 × 4.5–6 mm (US) or UPN 100, 1 830 mm | 2 | 2 × 19 kg |
| Spacer block | W-shaped 3 mm galv. or sigma 100 × 55 × 3, 350 mm | 2 | 2 × 2.5 kg |
| Splice bolts | M16 × 30 mushroom-head fishbolt, 8.8, galv. + nut + washer | 8 | 0.8 kg |
| Post bolt | M16 × 40 / M16 × 200 with washer plate | 2 | 0.5 kg |
| Delineator / reflector | Galvanized bracket + reflector | 1 per 12–20 m | 0.2 kg |
| End terminal | Fish-tail, bull-nose or flared per 100–200 m section | — | 8–15 kg |
Per kilometre of single-sided W-beam: 250 rails, 500 posts, 500 spacers, 2 000 fishbolts, 500 post bolts ≈ 24–26 t (3 mm) — one 40' HC.
Testing and classes: EN 1317 and AASHTO
EN 1317-2 rates a barrier by containment level (N1, N2 for cars; H1, H2, H4b for trucks and buses), working width (W1–W8) and impact severity (A–C), proven by full-scale crash tests; ministries in the Gulf, Balkans and Central Asia specify N2 for roadsides and H1/H2 for medians and bridges. US-influenced markets (Iraq, Africa, Saudi MOT) call up AASHTO M180 Class A/B Type 2 for the beam and NCHRP 350 / MASH TL-3 for the system. We supply systems with the test reports and CE certificates (EN 1317-5) of the manufacturing plant.
Galvanizing and durability
Rails and posts are hot-dip galvanized after roll-forming and punching to EN ISO 1461 / ASTM A123 with a minimum 550 g/m² (Z550, ≈ 78 µm) and typically 600–700 g/m², giving 25–40 years in inland climates and 15–25 near the coast; zinc-magnesium (ZM310) rails are available for coastal and de-icing-salt routes. Bolts are 8.8 hot-dip galvanized or Geomet-coated.
Installation and quantities per kilometre
Posts are driven (2 m spacing) or set in concrete on bridges and rock; rails lap in the direction of traffic, 8 fishbolts per splice; height 750 mm to the top of the W-beam (850–900 mm for thrie-beam). One crew of 5 installs 300–500 m per day. Quantities per km (single-sided, 2 m spacing): 250 rails, 500 posts, 500 spacers, 2 000 splice bolts, 500 post bolts, 50–80 delineators, 2 terminals per section. We prepare the bill of quantities from the road length and spacing.
Guardrail price per km
Guardrail is priced per metre or per kilometre of system: as a guide, a single-sided 3 mm W-beam N2 system with sigma posts at 2 m, Z550, complete with bolts and spacers, runs 12–16 USD per metre FOB Istanbul in 10 km lots; 4 mm and thrie-beam 25–40% more; rails only are priced per ton from the galvanized section band. Firm price per BOQ within one working day.
Bands from our weekly export list (September 2026), FOB Istanbul, full-container quantities, excluding freight and certificates. Firm price per project on RFQ within one working day.
Export and packing
Rails nested in stacks of 25 (1.2 t) on timber bearers, strapped; posts bundled 20–40; bolts in cartons on pallets; one 40' HC holds about one kilometre of single-sided 3 mm system (24–26 t). HS code 7308.90 (structures and parts of iron or steel) — some markets classify rails under 7216.61.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 1 km system (≈ 1 × 40' HC) or 20 t of rails |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul / Derince · CIF / CFR Gulf, Red Sea, Africa · DAP Iraq (Habur), Balkans, Caucasus · DAP Aktau / Almaty |
| Lead time | 3–5 weeks per 10 km; rails from stock 2 weeks |
| Packing | Rails nested 25 per stack (1.2 t) on bearers; posts bundled; bolts palletised |
| Container / truck | 40' HC ≈ 1 km single-sided 3 mm (24–26 t) · truck ≈ 0.9 km |
| Documents | EN 1317-5 CE, crash-test reports, EN 10204 3.1, zinc reports, certificate of origin; SONCAP / COC / SASO / EAC on request |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy; L/C at sight via London office; government tenders per contract |
Certificates
EN 1317-5 CE certificate and crash-test reports of the system, EN 10204 3.1 for strip, zinc thickness reports (magnetic gauge), bolt certificates, certificate of origin; SONCAP (Nigeria), COC (Iraq — pre-shipment inspection), SASO (KSA), EAC (Kazakhstan) arranged before loading.
How to order
Send road length and type (single/double-sided, class N2/H1/H2), rail thickness, post type and spacing, terminals, and the destination port. We return a bill of quantities, price per metre and per km, container count and lead time within one working day.
Standards
- EN 1317-1/-2 (road restraint systems: performance classes N2, H1, H2, H4b)
- AASHTO M180 (corrugated sheet steel beams for highway guardrail)
- ASTM A123 / EN ISO 1461 (hot-dip galvanizing)
- EN 10025-2 (S235JR / S355JR rail and post steel)
- ASTM A307 / ISO 898 (bolts)
- TS 7768 / RAL-RG 620 (Turkish and German system standards)
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: S235JR · S355JR
Frequently asked questions
What is W-beam guardrail?
A two-wave corrugated galvanized steel rail (312 × 83 mm, 3–4 mm thick, 4.32 m long) bolted to posts at 2 m spacing — the standard roadside crash barrier under AASHTO M180 and EN 1317 N2.
What is the difference between W-beam and thrie-beam?
Thrie-beam has three waves (506 mm deep) and higher containment (EN 1317 H1/H2) for trucks, bridges and medians; W-beam (two waves) covers cars and light vehicles (N2 / TL-3) on ordinary roads.
How much guardrail per kilometre?
Single-sided at 2 m post spacing: 250 rails, 500 posts, 500 spacers, 2 000 fishbolts, 500 post bolts and terminals — about 24–26 t for 3 mm rail, one 40' HC.
What zinc coating is on the guardrail?
Minimum 550 g/m² (Z550, ≈ 78 µm) hot-dip after forming, typically 600–700 g/m², per AASHTO M180 / EN ISO 1461; ZM310 for coastal routes.
Is the system EN 1317 tested?
Yes — the systems we supply carry EN 1317-5 CE certificates and crash-test reports for their class (N2, H1, H2); AASHTO / NCHRP 350 documentation for US-spec tenders.
What is the price of guardrail per metre?
About 12–16 USD per metre FOB Istanbul for a complete 3 mm W-beam N2 system in 10 km lots; thrie-beam and 4 mm 25–40% more. Firm price per BOQ within one working day.
Which posts do you supply?
Sigma 100×55×3/4 mm (European standard), C 125×62.5 (US), UPN 100 or IPE 100 for heavy systems, base-plated for bridges — all galvanized, with caps.
Do you deliver to Iraq and Africa?
Yes — weekly trucks to Iraq via Habur with COC inspection in Dilovası, containers CIF to Umm Qasr, Lagos, Mombasa, Dammam and Jebel Ali with SONCAP / SASO handled.