Connectors from Wieland Electric have become pivotal in a new concept that is beginning to challenge the way in which UK road designers consider the provision of roadside features alongside high-speed roads. Wieland's gesis® RST 20i 3 pole male and female connectors are being fitted inside Jerol passively safe Composite Lighting Columns and Sign Posts to allow safe disconnection of power upon impact.The Post & Column Company, which is based in Cheshire, manufactures traditional steel posts and columns but was keen to develop a range of safety posts and signed an agreement with Jerol Industri of Sweden to market and distribute the revolutionary Jerol Post in the UK. Due to their construction, the Jerol posts and columns collapse under impact, thus reducing the chances of serious injury to drivers and passengers. The post or column has been designed in a way that it can disconnect the power which is supplied using the gesis® RST 20i 3 pole connector system making the structure safe and removing any possibility of electrocution should any wiring be uncovered on impact.
As Howard Luther, Managing Director of Post and Columns Ltd, states, "We need to be sure that the connectors we recommend meet all the relevant safety criteria. Wieland was able to provide all the necessary information and technical input we required."
The Jerol Composite Lighting Columns and Posts are manufactured in Sweden by a patented process from glass fibre composite, and comply fully with the latest European standard on passive safety, EN12767.
Wieland connectors were designed for the safe installation of lighting and other building services components and perfectly complement the Post & Column Company's determination to provide a safer post that causes less damage to vehicles and their passengers. Wieland manufacture the most user and installer friendly connector products on the market today and with an ingress rating of IP65/68, spring clamp and screw connection for simple and safe connection and minimum assembly effort, gesis® RST 20i fulfils all the requirements of an economical, electrical installation. With only 4 basic modules the system can be connected using the "Lego principle" for quick on-site assembly, thus offering reduced installation times of up to 90% and reduces costs by around 25%. Furthermore, all conducting parts are protected against accidental touching, whether connected or disconnected.
