Bollards | Protection against vehicles

Bollards are an essential part of industrial
security. They are “short and sturdy vertical posts”,
that can be installed in industrial buildings, pedestrian
paths, or parking lots.

Its function is to act as a protective barrier to ensure
that neither the facilities nor the pedestrians are damaged or hurt
by the impact of vehicles or moving objects.

Source: arsam.es

Perhaps you may know them more for being used in ports to tie up
boats, as this is what they were originally invented for this.

However, this useful and resistant tool can be seen
anywhere:

• Industrial warehouses
• Hospitals
• Shops
• Parking lots
• Etc.

They are a protection system that is part of our day to
day, used in many places, and being very useful to protect industrial
racks and shelving.

These structures are not only decorative because they can also
be used in industrial facilities to protect structures by stopping
impacts from large vehicles, etc.

In this article, we are going to explain how they are
installed and what types of bollards exist.

Bollard installation

Bollards are really easy to install. 98% of these
are embedded or screwed into the ground.

However, the best alternative is the first option. This is
because it is the only way that can guarantee absolute
sturdiness.

Also, it is the best alternative to withstand strong impacts
from vehicles and, in addition, guarantees their retention.

There is a type of bollard, security bollards, that can
only be installed by being embedded into the ground.

However, sometimes, due to the installations such as gas,
electricity, and communications, bollards cannot be embedded into
the ground because they require a lot of depth. This sometimes may
cause breakages and damage.

Types of bollards

Within the classification of types of bollards, we are
going to distinguish them by material and by function.

Types of bollard differentiated by materials

Bollards can be made out of many and varied
materials.

The material we chose will depend on the bollard’s use and
where it is going to be installed.

Plastic bollards

Usually made of EVA (Ethylene-vinyl acetate), they are
intended to visually separate high-speed traffic zones.

Its intention is mainly signaling, since, in the event of a
vehicle impact, they must cause the least damage/destruction
possible.

They are designed with very striking colours and generally have
reflective horizontal bands.

Fixed parking bollard |
BECOSAN®

Concrete bollards

Generally made out of granite or out of marble if a higher
quality is desired.

They are widely used by architects and landscapers since they
can be considered decorative elements and high-quality features
providing a unique and personalized touch.

.

They can have all sorts of different shapes: geometric, spheres,
slender, etc. To create them, a paste is poured into moulds which
are normally made of steel.

Concrete bollards | BECOSAN®

The limitations and shapes are determined by their geometry.
They cannot present any kind of imperfection in shape or
thickness.

As we mentioned before, concrete bollards are installed to build
a unique space and create a visual impact.

Usually, they are gray or white, mostly defined by the cement
that is used.

Aluminum bollards

They have more of a decorative purpose and less complex shapes.
The only requirement, which in theory should be applied to all
types of bollards, is that they cannot have any imperfections.

They are cheaper than other types of bollards and if they
need to be repaired, don’t think twice about it: change it for a
new one.

Barrier bollard |
BECOSAN®

When manufacturing aluminum bollards, a series of 4,000
to 5,000 units are usually made, so they can be considered to be
less unique.

Aluminum bollards are widely used in ports and are very
resistant to dog urine, so if you need to install them in
your urbanization and there are a lot of dogs, don’t hesitate on
using them.

Steel bollards

They are the best value for money and the most commonly used in
cities.

Usually made out of a steel tube and a welded cap at one end,
which will be the visual part, the rest is embedded into the
ground.

To avoid them rusting over the years, they must first be
galvanized and then painted.

There are also versions in stainless steel, and at BECOSAN® we recommend choosing the
AISI 316 version for coastal areas and the AISI 304 for interior
spaces.

Bollard types by function

Now that we defined the different materials a bollard can be
made from, the following classification will be focused on a
bollard’s specific function, as well as its installation.

Retractable bollard

Retractable bollards are ideal for limiting access to a
pedestrian zone, but also allowing residents of an urbanization or
public administration services such as firefighters, cranes, or
police to enter the area easily.

They are usually have incorporated a remote automatic operating
system, in which it is not necessary to get out of the car or
vehicle to activate it.

Fixed bollards

They can be mounted onto the existing concrete surface or new
concrete can be poured for its installation.

The bollards are designed to be attached with their own
mounting system, which is minimally invasive since you only have to
drill into the concrete and anchor with inserts or epoxy
resin.

Source: asafe.com

These bollards can be used merely as visual deterrents, or for
aesthetic purposes, as they offer little resistance to impact.

However, if you want a fixed bollard to protect against
impact, it can always be embedded at a depth of several meters, as
long as the ground conditions allow it.

Removable bollards

Fixed bollards can be prepared to be removable by adding
a galvanized base.

If the bollard is removed from the surface, there is a plug to
cover that gap that it leaves and to avoid any possible accidents
that may be caused by the hole if left covered. They are very
stable.

Ram-raid bollards

There is a well-known type of burglary that is called
ram-raiding.

This technique consists of stealing a vehicle and crashing it
into the front of a shop window.

This is a rather noisy type of robbery, but if you act quickly,
thieves can steal a significant amount.

In those cases, it’s very important to have an activated alarm
and neighbour’s help.

These robberies are usually carried out in small shops that sell
high-value objects, such as jewelry or watches.

To prevent this kind of theft, the installation of ram-raid
bollards, right in front of shop windows, has become popular
and, on many occasions, it has been a success since these
bollards are very good and resistant compared to common
vehicles.

Anti-terrorist bollards

Some recent terrorist attacks in Europe have raised the alarm
with the authorities.

Although there is no common solution, what is usually done is to
install planters, benches, and bollards of high resistance and
enormous dimensions, to act as an architectural barrier.

These shapes are taken to give a more subtle and decorative
touch to something very important to guarantee the safety of
citizens.

Bollard as an element of citizen security

In line with the above, if what we want is to make sure that
bollards can act as a security element, an embedded
bollard installation must be carried out.

It is the only way to prevent the entry of vehicles on public
pedestrian roads. The resistance of the bollard depends on two
fundamental factors: how it’s anchored to the ground and its
geometry.

Anchoring to the ground

As we have mentioned on several occasions, embedded
bollards guarantee a better anchorage against an impact than a
bolted one.

Screws, although they are very strong, deep, and thick, will
never offer as much resistance as an embedded bollard.

Bollards on pavement | BECOSAN®

For a good embedment, it is essential to assess the quality of
the soil in which it will be embedded. It is not the same to embed
a bollard on rock than on the sandy ground.

The rock will withstand impacts and the kinetic force of
vehicles

If you have any doubts about which of the two installation
methods to choose in your industrial facility, at BECOSAN®
we are very clear about it: embedded bollards.

Geometry

Geometry becomes essential to ensure the bollard’s retention
capacity.

For example, its height. The higher the bollard, the greater its
retention capacity. Being 50 centimeters high would be enough to
stop a car at a speed of 40 km/h or less. If the speed were higher,
the car could exceed the bollard.

But, of course, if we are talking about trucks or vans, that
height is insufficient. To offer minimum security, we would have to
use bollards which are a meter high.

Different types of
bollards – protectors | BECOSAN®

Another important geometric factor to measure the strength of
a bollard is its section.

For example, if it is circular, regardless of the angle from
which it collides, it offers a similar resistance.

But, if it is square, it has greater resistance if the attack is
orthogonal.

More industrial protection elements

As we have said before, bollards are an element of industrial
protection used on the interior and exterior of an industrial
building.

Bollards are an essential part of internal logistics,
defining what zones are for vehicle transit and which are
inaccessible to them, offering safety to pedestrian
workers.

Industrial safety and protection are also provided by other
elements that must be taken into account. They are the
following:

• Resistant industrial
  flooring
• Industrial
  signage
• Industrial
  cleaning

The post Bollards
| Protection against vehicles appeared first on BECOSAN®.