Statistics have shown that the frequency of high speed accidents has grown exponentially on South Africa’s major routes, and injuries could be far worse were it not for the robust Mentrail guardrails that are erected on most Gauteng highways and on countless other arterial routes in South Africa.
Mentrail guardrails are manufactured by Andrew Mentis, and these guardrails are designed to ensure that out-of-control vehicles are restrained in such a manner that the least damage and danger are caused to other vehicles on the road.
Specialised machinery at Andrew Mentis’ facility in Elandsfontein manufactures the 2,6 mm thick steel guardrail in standard 3.81 metre lengths to SANS 1350-2005 specifications. The Mentrail guardrail has a tensile strength of 445 MPa and yield strength of 310 MPa.
Adding to the practicality of the Mentrail system, if a section of the guardrail itself is damaged, the performance of undamaged portions remains unaffected.
Mentrail is easy to install without further tension or stretching, and this can be done by a small team without requiring any special tools.
The advantages of Mentrail’s prefabricated, bolt-together, assembly-on-site design are obvious, with all assembly hardware supplied, eliminating any need for field fabrication. Pre-punched holes further facilitate erection, using 350 mm long post bolts to fix it to upright wooden posts. Available in either galvanised or uncoated lengths, it has a buried end for the start and terminates in an end wing.
For instances where double rows of guardrails are used, it has bullnose end wings. Its performance is enhanced by joints which absorb normal expansion and contraction so that the posts remain in alignment. Concave and convex rails are also available to cater for bends and turns.