Temporary pedestrian routes are part of everyday life on UK building sites, roadworks, industrial yards and outdoor events. When they’re planned properly, people move safely and confidently through a site. When they’re not, bottlenecks, vehicle conflicts and avoidable accidents start creeping in.
This guide walks you through how trades can plan safe pedestrian movement using temporary barriers, cones and supporting kit. It draws on real on-site experience, not theory, and keeps things practical enough for both professional installers and DIY event organisers.
- Why Temporary Barriers Matter
- Types of Temporary Barriers
- How to Plan Safe Pedestrian Routes
- Choosing the Right Barrier for the Job
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying Guide
- FAQs
Why Temporary Barriers Matter
On any live site, you’re dealing with a simple problem. People tend to take the quickest route between two points. If that route happens to cross a telehandler swing area, a reversing wagon or a trench line, you’ve instantly got a safety issue.
Temporary barriers steer people away from hazards, shape foot traffic, slow movement where needed and create a visual boundary between pedestrians and plant. They’re also essential for events, helping keep queues tidy, preventing lane merging and guiding visitors through unfamiliar layouts.
Supporting equipment like traffic cones and site signage helps reinforce direction, especially during busy periods or low-light conditions.
For wider authoritative guidance on separating pedestrians and vehicles, the HSE provides detailed advice here.
For more on general site safety considerations, see our article: Winter Safety on Your Building Site.
Types of Temporary Barriers
There’s no one barrier that suits every environment. Different sites need different solutions, and the wrong choice can make a route harder to follow rather than clearer.
Metal Pedestrian Barriers
Galvanised steel barriers remain the go-to option for construction sites and busy outdoor events. They’re strong, durable and handle knocks from plant or crowd pressure without folding. They usually come with fixed legs and hook-and-eye connectors for quick deployment.
These work especially well where footfall is continuous and you want a clear, solid line that people instinctively avoid crossing.
Plastic Pedestrian Barriers
High visibility plastic barriers, including Chapter 8 style barriers, are lighter and easier to handle. They’re suitable for roadworks, temporary footpaths and environments where you need strong visual contrast.
For official UK Chapter 8 requirements, you can refer to the Government’s Traffic Signs Manual here.
They’re also less noisy than metal when vehicles pass close by, which makes a difference in built-up residential areas or indoor venues.
Queue Management Systems
For controlled indoor environments, such as event entries or ticket desks, belt barriers or post-and-chain setups help form neat, predictable lines. They’re not suitable for exposed outdoor sites, but inside they keep crowd movement clean and controlled.
The HSE’s event safety guidance covers wider principles of safe queuing layouts here.
How to Plan Safe Pedestrian Routes
Good pedestrian planning starts long before the barriers come out of storage. You need to think like the people using the route. Where are they coming from, how fast are they moving, and what will distract them?
1. Identify Hazards and Vehicle Interfaces
Plant crossings, blind corners, reversing zones and delivery areas all need clear separation. If a wagon arrives unexpectedly, the pedestrians should already be guided well away from the risk zone.
For public highways or any work affecting pavements, refer to the official Code of Practice (Red Book) here.
2. Avoid Bottlenecks
It only takes one narrow choke point to cause crowd compression or people walking outside the barrier line. Keep pedestrian lanes wide enough for two-way passing where possible, and allow natural widening at busy entry points.
3. Consider Weather and Ground Conditions
Plastic barriers catch more wind than steel. On exposed sites, you’ll often need ballast or linking clips. On grass or uneven ground, steel barriers track straighter and sit flatter, reducing trip hazards.
The HSE provides guidance on wind loading and securing temporary structures here.
4. Plan Line of Sight
Routes should make visual sense. If pedestrians can’t instantly see the direction of flow, they’ll hesitate or wander. Gentle curves are fine, but avoid sudden hard turns unless supported by cones or signage.
5. Maintain Access for Emergency Services
Make sure any barrier layout can be opened quickly if ambulance access is required. Avoid creating dead ends or loops that trap users.
For further reading on pedestrian safety, see Pedestrian Safety Using Chapter 8 Barriers.
Choosing the Right Barrier for the Job
Here’s how to match the right barrier to the right environment:
- Busy construction sites: metal barriers for durability, supported by cones and traffic management equipment.
- Roadworks and temporary footpaths: Chapter 8 compliant plastic barriers. For formal public-highway guidance, see the Red Book here.
- Festivals and outdoor queues: metal barriers for strength and line stability.
- Indoor queues or controlled spaces: belt barriers or post-and-chain systems.
- Windy or exposed sites: use ballast blocks to stop lateral movement, following general temporary-structure safety guidance here.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Using barriers without weighting: wind will move lightweight plastic sections unless secured.
- Creating blind corners: pedestrians will drift into unsafe zones when they can’t see the route ahead.
- Mixing incompatible barrier types: different connectors lead to misalignment and gaps.
- Overtight layouts: narrow lanes cause congestion, queue jumpers and frustration.
- Poorly marked transitions: always support barrier changes or entry points with cones or signage.
Buying Guide
For most temporary pedestrian routes, you’ll typically be choosing from these categories:
- Pedestrian safety barriers for routine site and event layouts.
- Chapter 8 compliant barriers for roadside works and high visibility requirements.
- Traffic cones to reinforce turning points or highlight hazards.
- Traffic management equipment for extra visibility and control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need permission to install temporary pedestrian barriers?
On private land or construction sites, no. For public roads or pavements, you must follow local authority guidance and usually need permission.
Are plastic barriers strong enough for outdoor events?
Yes, provided they are Chapter 8 compliant and ballasted when needed. They are less suitable for very high crowd pressure compared to steel barriers.
How wide should a temporary pedestrian route be?
Aim for a comfortable shoulder width for two people passing. Narrower lanes slow flow and encourage people to step outside the route.
Can metal and plastic barriers be linked together?
Generally no. Their connectors are different, which leads to unstable lines and gaps.
Do barriers need signage?
Usually yes. Barriers guide, but signage explains routes. Use cones and signs to reinforce changes in direction or entry points.
If you need help planning a layout or selecting the right barrier type, our team is always on hand. Get in touch.
