Looking at Barricades for Sale? 5 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Buy
From airports to grade schools, construction sites to rock concerts, many organizations are looking at barricades for sale. With such a wide variety of uses, it can sometimes be challenging for business leaders to identify the most suitable barricades for their specific situation. At OTW Safety, we aim to take any confusion out of the buying process. Whether you contact us with specific requirements or a specific application in mind, we can guide you in the right direction!
After helping thousands of clients each year, we put together this guide of frequently asked questions we hear, as well as other questions we think you should consider when researching barricades for sale. Here’s our top five:
Are the barricades fit for your purpose?
The first question any prospective buyer should ask about barricades is if they will be able to stand up to the task they’re being used for. For instance, a construction company that operates along roadsides will need barriers that pass certain government safety standards (i.e., from the FAA, FWHA, etc). There is little point in considering any barricades for sale that won’t meet or exceed regulatory requirements.
Additionally, business leaders should look for barricades that are suited to their preferences. There’s a big difference between a lightweight billboard barricade meant for crowd control and a heavy-duty 42” LCD designed for construction sites, both in their use and appearance.
Are the barricades you’re considering safe?
In many instances, professionals deploy barricades to ensure the safety of their employees, customers, visitors, and/or passersby. As mentioned above, barricades should meet crash-testing requirements for potentially hazardous areas like work zones. However, the barricades themselves should also be safe! The safest choice (and often the most durable!) is plastic barricades, which are not susceptible to the same wear as other types of safety barriers and don’t present additional safety issues.
How adaptable are the barricades for sale?
Sometimes, an organization may only require one set of barricades for one specific purpose. More often, though, organizations can reuse and repurpose barricades in a number of ways. For example, one month, a city might put together a fun block party with a concert in the park and use crowd barricades to block off the stage and create walkways. The next month, they could use those same pedestrian barricades as portable delineators for tiny tot soccer fields – we’ve seen both in action!
It’s a good idea to ask about the versatility of a set of barricades before you decide to pull the trigger. To gain a full picture of a particular barricade’s versatility, consider asking these auxiliary questions when looking at barricades for sale:
- Can the barricades connect to form a solid line?
- Are they suitable for use indoors and outdoors?
- Can they be moved and rearranged quickly?
- How heavy are they when empty?
- Can they be ballasted with water?
- Can the barricades be customized by color?
- Can they be altered to include different messages or to display different logos or brand insignia?
How durable are your potential barricades?
No one wants to invest in an unreliable product. Unfortunately, many business leaders find that they have to replace some or all of the barricades they purchase on a fairly regular basis. That’s why it’s important to inquire about the durability of barricades. Ask about how well they hold up to adverse weather conditions like rain, sleet, and snow. Knowing how many years you can expect a barrier purchase to last can also help you form budgets more effectively.
Would the barricades in question be a good investment?
In the end, a barricade purchase should generate meaningful value for an organization. To accurately measure value, consider all of the following factors:
- Barricade price
- Shipping and installation costs
- Storage costs
- Durability
- Versatility
- Overall effectiveness
Keeping these themes in mind will help you make an informed purchase decision when the time comes.
Ready to find the right barricades?
At OTW Safety, we specialize in designing, manufacturing, and delivering plastic barricades. You’ll find a wide range of barricades for sale on our site that are incredibly safe, versatile, and durable. We’ve worked with businesses across a wide spectrum of industries and pride ourselves on exceptional customer service – so let us answer any barrier-related questions you may have! Give us a call or contact us via email, and we can help identify the best barricade for your project today. No matter where you’re located – from New Mexico to Maine to Washington to Florida – we can help.
