# ASTM F2656 vs F3016

> F2656 rates vehicle security barriers against trucks at 30–60 mph; F3016 rates low-speed impact protection with a 5,000 lb vehicle at 10–30 mph. Which one a storefront, a plaza or a government site needs.

Canonical: https://safetybollards.ca/vs/astm-f2656-vs-f3016
Last updated: 2026-10-26

They answer different questions. F2656 asks whether a barrier stops a deliberate attack by a truck. F3016 asks whether a bollard stops a car that wasn’t meant to be there.

|  | ASTM F2656 | ASTM F3016 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tests | Full vehicles: small car up to 65,000 lb heavy goods vehicle | A 5,000 lb (22,250 N) surrogate vehicle |
| Speeds | 30, 40, 50, 60 mph | 10, 20, 30 mph (S10, S20, S30) |
| Penetration | P1 ≤ 1 m to P3 (P4 dropped in -15) | P1 < 1 ft, P2 < 4 ft |
| For | Perimeter security: government, critical infrastructure, crowded places | Storefronts, patios, gas pumps, parking-lot edges |
| Foundations | Often deep, though shallow systems exist (Delta DSC650: 12 in) | Often modest (Gibraltar G-1631F: 8 in; McCue CrashCore: 42 in pier) |
| Older equivalent | US DOS K4 / K8 / K12 ≈ M30 / M40 / M50 | None |

## Ask for F2656 if

- A security assessment names a vehicle and speed (e.g. “M30 P1”).
- The threat is deliberate.
- The site is public-facing and crowded.

## Ask for F3016 if

- The risk is a driver mistake: a storefront facing parking stalls, a patio, a pump island.
- You want a tested product without a deep anti-ram foundation.

Full tables: [crash ratings explained](https://safetybollards.ca/crash-ratings).

## Sources

1. [ASTM F2656/F2656M-20, Standard Test Method for Crash Testing of Vehicle Security Barriers](https://www.astm.org/f2656_f2656m-20.html) (checked 2026-10-26)
2. [ASTM F3016/F3016M-19, Standard Test Method for Surrogate Testing of Vehicle Impact Protective Devices at Low Speeds](https://www.astm.org/f3016_f3016m-19.html) (checked 2026-10-26)
3. [Gibraltar Perimeter Security, Crash certifications explained](https://www.gibraltarperimetersecurity.com/crash-certifications/) (checked 2026-10-26)
4. [TrafficGuard, About ASTM F3016](https://www.trafficguard.net/resources/about-us/astm-f3016) (checked 2026-10-26)
5. [Reliance Foundry, Bollard crash ratings](https://www.reliance-foundry.com/bollard/crash-ratings) (checked 2026-10-26)
6. [Delta Scientific, DSC650 fixed bollard modules (PU50/P1)](https://deltascientific.com/product/fixed-bollard-modules-dsc650-certified-pu50-p1/) (checked 2026-10-26)
7. [Gibraltar, Safety bollards (G-1631 series)](https://www.gibraltarperimetersecurity.com/safety-bollards/) (checked 2026-10-26)
8. [McCue, CrashCore S10 customer drawing (PDF)](https://www.mccue.com/hubfs/assets/products/crashcore-bollards/resources/McCue-CrashCore-Bollard-S10-Customer-Drawing.pdf) (checked 2026-10-26)

To get a written quote for this, use the site-plan builder: [Build a site plan](https://safetybollards.ca/quote?item=crash-rated-bollard).

## Related

- [Bollard crash ratings explained](https://safetybollards.ca/crash-ratings)
- [Crash-rated bollards](https://safetybollards.ca/crash-rated-bollards)
- [Best bollards for storefronts](https://safetybollards.ca/best/bollards-for-storefronts)
- [Installing bollards in existing concrete](https://safetybollards.ca/installation/core-drilled-bollards)