Use cases - where BLOCKSTAHL vehicle barriers protect

Christmas markets and town festivals

Christmas markets and town festivals are among the most intensively reviewed event formats in Germany since the Magdeburg attack on 20 December 2024. Large crowds in tight spaces, multiple access points and remaining delivery-traffic corridors place high demands on the security concept of the municipality and the organiser.

Typical requirements

• Protection against car and (depending on location) truck impact
• Set-up within the regular event build-up, no special equipment
• Emergency clearance for emergency vehicles in under 1 minute
• No structural intervention in the market square
• Reusability over multiple seasons

Recommended protection class

For inner-city 30 km/h zones, the BLOCKSTAHL FSB M300 (class N1G, car at 48 km/h) is generally sufficient. For high-risk scenarios or truck-capable access routes, we recommend the FSB E600 (N2A, 7.5-t truck). The final choice is based on the site-specific threat analysis coordinated with you by the police and public order office.

Real-world example

At the Saxony-Anhalt Day 2026 in Bernburg, BLOCKSTAHL barriers were deployed during the festival parade, around the stage area and at the access routes to the inner city. Images and crash test videos.

Major events, concerts and sports events

At open-air concerts, public festivals, festivals and sports events with several thousand visitors, three requirements take centre stage: protecting visitor zones from unauthorised vehicle access, orderly access for stage, catering and VIP traffic, and unrestricted routes for emergency services at all times.

Typical requirements

• Variable barrier lines depending on the event phase (build-up, event operation, dismantling)
• Modular expandability for different site sizes
• Integration with traffic management and security services
• Visible security presence without deterring visitors

Recommended protection class

For festivals and concerts with car access, the FSB M300 is the standard solution. For events with logistical truck traffic or heightened threat (e.g. major political events), the FSB E600 is the right choice.

Special case: branding

The integrated advertising spaces on every BLOCKSTAHL module can be used by sponsors or city marketing. This way, part of the rental cost is refinanced over the event duration.

Pedestrian zones and inner cities

Municipalities and city administrations use mobile vehicle barriers to secure pedestrian zones temporarily - for example during heightened threat, on open-on-Sunday shopping days or at the instruction of security authorities. Especially in historic old towns and listed heritage areas, fixed bollards are rarely approved.

Typical requirements

• No drilling, no foundation, no excavation work
• Preservation of paving, stonework and historic ground cover
• Reversibility without visible traces
• Flexible traffic management - delivery and resident traffic controlled
• Unobtrusive design that does not dominate the cityscape

Advantage of mobile solutions

BLOCKSTAHL FSB M300 and FSB E600 work purely through their own weight and intelligent construction. They can be moved between locations and fit into the same storage as standard event equipment. For municipalities an economic advantage: one system covers multiple deployment locations.

Critical infrastructure and authorities

Authorities, energy providers, airport operators, railway operators, industrial facilities and data centres use mobile vehicle barriers for perimeter protection - temporarily or as a supplement to stationary solutions. The principle: keep vehicles as far away from the protected asset as possible, not stop them at the asset itself.

Typical requirements

• Certified protection class with documented stopping performance
• Fast reaction capability to threat scenarios
• Linear or ring-shaped deployment around the site
• Integration into existing access control and surveillance systems
• Verifiability towards authorities, insurers and auditors

Recommended protection class

For government buildings, energy facilities and high-risk locations, the FSB E600 (N2A) is the minimum class. The DHPol technical guideline for mobile vehicle barriers (2019) provides authorities with concrete planning guidance; BLOCKSTAHL systems are developed explicitly for government use.

Combination with stationary systems

Mobile vehicle barriers do not replace stationary solutions - they complement them. Typical applications include weak-point reinforcement, temporary openings of access routes, or short-term heightened threat scenarios. The fast set-up time (4 min. per module) makes the response in practice faster than any structural solution.