A rail secured to uprights and erected along the exposed sides and ends of platforms.
Guard rails, guardrails, railings or protective guarding, in general, are a boundary feature and may be a means to prevent or deter access to dangerous or off-limits areas while allowing light and visibility in a greater way than a fence. Common shapes are flat, rounded edge, and tubular in horizontal railings, whereas tetraform spear-headed or ball-finialled are most common in vertical railings around homes. Park and garden railings commonly in metalworking feature swirls, leaves, plate metal areas and/or motifs particularly on and beside gates.
High security railings (particularly if in flat metal then a type of palisade) may instead feature jagged points and most metals are well-suited to anti-climb paint.
A handrail is less restrictive on its own than a guard rail and provides support.
English
Alternative forms
- guard rail
Etymology
From guard + rail.
Pronunciation
Noun
guardrail (plural guardrails)
- A rail set alongside a dangerous place as a barrier, to improve safety.
- Synonyms: guard railing, guide board, guide rail, side rail
- (Canada, US) A strengthened barrier installed on the sides of a (usually major) road to keep vehicles on the highway and reduce the risk and/or impact of crashes.
- Synonyms: crash barrier (British),
