A Complete Guide to Safety Bollards for Home and Commercial Use 

Picture this: You want to set up a race track around the house to help your young one win her go karting race. But how do you create this space that will let your kid get the practice in while keeping her safe. Safety bollards are the answer here. Purchase a few plastic/rubber bollards, mark down a track that goes around your house, line the track with bollards and voila your own go kart track is ready for practice. 

This is sourced from Youtube@Uline

Safety bollard is a key safety item that can be seen everywhere. Traffic signals, sidewalks, airports, schools, parking lots, you name it these bollards are a common sighting. A safety bollard is a safety installation that will help you control the movement of the crowd and the vehicles to a particular pathway.

Whether you are a property manager planning a new parking lot, a storefront owner looking to avoid accidental damage, or a homeowner wanting to secure your driveway, this comprehensive guide will give you everything you need to make an informed decision about safety bollards.

Table of Contents

• What is a safety bollard?
• Why You Need Them - Uses of Safety Bollards
• Types of Safety Bollards
• How to Choose the Right Safety Bollards
• Are Safety Bollards Worth the Investment?
• Installation and Maintenance Tips for Safety Bollards

What is a safety bollard?

A safety bollard is a short sturdy post that is installed to line a pathway to control traffic, protect people, and safeguard property. You will spot them lining cycle paths, defending storefronts, guiding cars in parking lots, cordoning off sensitive industrial zones. From subtle barriers in urban landscapes to high-visibility installations at highway rest stops, the practical uses of bollards go far beyond mere crowd control.

Bollards can be identified easily through both their design and placement. They are engineered to improve visibility by equipping them with reflective bands, distinctive colors, or integrated lighting. Common materials used to make these include concrete, plastic, and stainless steel. Each has its own specific use cases in terms of functionality and aesthetics.

Why You Need Them - Uses of Safety Bollards

Many think that safety bollards are only used for for high-traffic commercial zones or government buildings with critical security needs. In reality, bollards are just as vital for small businesses, residential properties, and private driveways. 

• Prevent vehicle ramming incidents

Whether it is a distracted driver jumping the curb or a delivery truck reversing too quickly, accidental ramming is common. Fixed bollards and crash-rated bollards act as a physical barrier, protecting storefronts, gas meters, and entryways from expensive and potentially dangerous impacts.

• Protect pedestrians and cyclists in mixed-use spaces

Parking bollards and flexible bollards help guide cyclists and pedestrians safely while creating designated spaces for both walking and cycling. These offer safety and control in big commercials zones, residential complexes and city streets.

• Improve property security by minimizing vulnerability points

Beyond accidental damage, bollards can also stop robberies where vehicles are used to smash through entrances or any type of unauthorized vehicle access. Removable bollards and retractable bollards are particularly valuable here, as they allow controlled access for authorized vehicles while maintaining a secure perimeter.

• Reducing liability risks

Property owners can be held responsible if a vehicle causes harm to pedestrians or damages another property on their premises. Security bollards can be used to mark controlled zones that minimize these risks which is considered as taking proactive safety measures. This can help reduce insurance premiums.

• Meet safety codes for business and public spaces

The IBC and IFC, which most states adopt, require vehicle impact protection in situations where equipment, utilities, or pedestrian areas could be hit by vehicles. In these cases the laws also put down specifications of the bollard to be used. These rules usually apply to things like gas meters, fire hydrants, electrical equipment, and pedestrian walkways near traffic.

Most storefronts invest in crash rated bollards to reduce the likelihood of costly injury claims and lawsuits in case a driver crashes into the their storefront. Homeowners can use retractable or removable bollards to cordon off private driveways, set up a play area for infants in the backyard, set up a training space for dogs, etc.

Types of Safety Bollards

As mentioned before, these bollards have multiple use cases. Depending on where you plan to install them and the desired use, you will need the right style and material. Below are the most common types of safety bollards:

1. Fixed Bollards

As the name mentions, fixed bollards are heavy-duty posts attached firmly into the ground. Made of steel, concrete, and high-impact plastic, they are usually dug into concrete and are permanent bollards. Designed to provide maximum impact resistance, they can be found in high-risk areas like storefronts, loading bays, and utility protection zones. Because they are immovable, fixed bollards are commonly used where security is a constant priority.

Best for:

• Storefronts prone to vehicle collisions
  
  
• Gas meters, hydrants, or critical utilities
  
  
• Long-term traffic and access control

2. Removable Bollards

These are lightweight bollards that are installed when security or traffic control is needed. They offer flexibility and can be removed when you dont need them. They are typically locked into a notch in the ground and can be unlocked with a key or mechanism.

Best for:

• Driveways or event spaces needing occasional vehicle access
  
  
• Seasonal pedestrian zones
  
  
• Temporary work areas or construction sites

3. Retractable Bollards

Retractable bollards are buried in the ground, with a mechanism that help them  slide up and down. There are both manual and electric retractable bollards. You can remotely control the latter while you will have to physically interact with the bollard with the former option. You might have seen in them in airport security points, military entryways, etc.

Best for:

• Private or restricted-access roads
  
  
• Business parks or commercial driveways
  
  
• Areas requiring a sleek, modern security solution

4. Flexible Bollards

Made from impact-resistant materials, flexible bollards are that bend when vehicle crashes into it and are portable bollards that has to manually placed in desired areas. You can often see this lining the cycling zones, spots of road accident, etc. These are not only give a caution sign to passersby but also results in zero damage even if you crash into one of them. 

Best for:

• Marking up parking lots
  
  
• Loading areas where many trucks have to parked at the same time
  
  
• Pedestrian pathways 

5. Crash-rated Bollards

When maximum protection is the ask, crash-rated bollards are on the top tier. These bollards are tested and certified to survive vehicle impacts at specific speeds and weights, making them a popular safety installation amongst government buildings, banks, and other high-security facilities.

Best for:

• Military or government facilities
  
  
• Banks, airports, and sensitive commercial properties
  
  
• Any site with a high threat of deliberate vehicle intrusion

6. Parking Bollards

Parking bollards are primarily used to mark up separate parking zones on the streets. Sometime traffic police use them to control traffic flow and barricade certain roads and bridges. They are fixed and removable options available in the market.

Best for:

• Shopping center or office parking lots
  
  
• Apartment complexes
  
  
• Car parks needing clear traffic separation

7. Stainless Steel Bollards

These bollards provides maximum security while lending a certain aesthetic appeal to the property. They have a modern look coupled with the added bonus of durability and weather resistance. the steel safely bollards are often installed in front of luxury retail stores, modern office complexes, and pedestrian-friendly city centers.

Best for:

• Large retail storefronts
  
  
• Commercial zones
  
  
• Corporate campuses like tech parks 

Looking for a safety bollard that can be easily installed but gives your building the utmost protection. Check out the Garvee Safety Bollards.

How to Choose the Right Safety Bollards

Choosing the right safety bollard depends on the your security needs and budget. It is important to know the types of bollards and the situations each type will be used to arrive at the right choice. Here are the steps that can help you narrow down the right safety bollard:

1. Assess your risk level

Analyse the risk level and match it with the right type of bollard:

• Low risk

Locations like moderate traffic zones or parking lots are low risk zones. Also, places like quiet neighbourhoods, residential streets are also low risk. Flexible or parking bollards are perfect in these cases. 

• Medium risk

Storefronts, walkways, parking lots, buildings are medium risk zones which occasionally deal with vehicle collisions. These cases call for fixed or removable bollards depending on the level of safety you want.

• High risk

High security areas like government buildings, military facility; heavy traffic zones, busy streets, are some of the high risk locations. Here crash-rated or heavy-duty fixed bollards should be the choice.

2. Consider accessibility needs

Let us say you have a loading dock at your farm where you load your daily produce. You don’t want any vehicle to enter without permission because you have to constantly guard your warehouse which leads to dock. Removable or retractable bollards can do the trick. Once you are done loading your truck simply activate your retractable bollard before you are off to the market. If you are looking for a more permanent boundary, fixed bollards are more cost-effective.

3. Understand the investment

Flexible and parking bollards are on the cheaper side and work very well in low and medium risk areas. But crash-rated and retractable bollards needs you to shell out more money. However, the presence of a crash rated or a retractable bollard on your premises can influence your liability and insurance claims in the case of a crash. 

4. Aesthetics

Most modern properties now sport stainless steel bollards. They are durable and their metallic shine adds to the visual appeal of the property. In industrial areas 
or areas powder-coated steel or concrete bollards work well and are painted over in case design is a factor. 

5. Check compliance and codes

Certain locations such as gas stations, schools, or government buildings require crash-rated bollards or bollards in a specific diameter and height. If you are going to install it in a sensitive location like this check local building codes, fire codes, and ADA requirements for spacing and placement of the bollards. 

These are the factors you should look at before you choose a safety bollard. This results in maximum safety and leads to better return on investment.

Are Safety Bollards Worth the Investment?

You might first think from a cost angle to narrow down your choices. But you should know that many property owners are grateful that they installed safety bollards when there was accidents, property damage, liability lawsuits, and even loss of life. 

Lets us get into a cost analysis so you can get an idea pf the cost, savings and investment if you choose a safety bollard.

Upfront Costs

The cost of bollards depends on the type you choose and the materials they are made of. Here is a list of bollards with their prices to give you a better grasp.

• Flexible or parking bollards: $100 - $400 per unit
  
  
• Fixed bollards: $300 - $1000 per unit 
  
  
• Removable or retractable bollards: $700 - $3000 per unit 
  
  
• Crash-rated bollards: $3000 - $10000+ per unit 
  
  
• Stainless steel bollards: $500 - $2500 per unit

Long-term Savings

Now let’s look at how much you will end up saving with safety bollards installed on your property:

• It is estimated that storefront crashes cost U.S. businesses $200 million annually. Affixing crash-rated bollard or even fixed concrete bollards can stop a vehicle before it crashes into a storefront.
  
  
• Protecting areas where pedestrians walk implies that you have proactively taken measure to ensure that people are safe. This helps reduce lawsuits and lower insurance premiums.
  
  
• Removable or retractable bollards allow you to manage access without investing in complex gate systems which are much more expensive. 
  
  
• Stainless steel bollards or architecturally designed models are known to boost curb appeal, which in turn increases its market value.

Installation and Maintenance Tips for Safety Bollards

For parking bollards to execute their function properly, the first thing to do is install it right and then have a schedule to inspect and maintain the bollards.

Installation tips

• Check the safety codes first

As mentioned before certain areas that are risk prone will have safety codes which specify the kind of bollards that can installed along with specifications. Read and understand these specs and write down the requirements like diameter of the bollard, height, positioning, etc. 

• Use the right foundation

Usual practice is that fixed and crash rated bollards are typically buried into the ground about 3 feet in concrete. Bollards need to have a strong base so it can survive any impact. You definitely don’t want you bollard to be thrown into your storefront upon impact. Reinforced concrete is the best choice for the foundations of your bollards.

• Ensure adequate space between each bollard

Bollards are typically placed 3 - 5 feet apart. This is to restrict access to the vehicles but still allow people to pass through. If they are placed too far apart vehicles might be able to slip through and if they are too close it will cause difficulty in access. Also be mindful that ADA guidelines require at least 36 inches of spacing between bollards to allow wheelchair access.

• Ensure adequate height

Standard bollard heights range from 3 - 4 feet. This ensures that they are visible to both pedestrians and vehicles while providing ample protection.

• Follow manufacturer’s instruction

There will a an instruction manual on hoe to install the bollard. Follow these instructions carefully while setting up the bollards otherwise this might lead to ineffective installation hampering your purpose of having a safety bollards. If your bollards are surface-mounted make sure that it is bolted down tightly with the necessary bolts.

Maintenance tips

• Inspect regularly

Once installed regularly inspect them. Fixed bollards and stainless steel bollards are durable and doesn’t need much maintenance. Surface mounted bollards will need torquing of screws on a schedule. You will need to check the bollards for looseness, cracks, corrosion, or fading paint. 

• Repaint

All the bollards with paintings and marking on it must be applies with a fresh coat of paint every year. This prevents fading and ensure visibility is maintained. Reapplying paint will also help bollards to resist rust.

• Check the functionality

Since retractable bollards are mechanical you need to regularly check the locks, lifting mechanisms and sleeves to ensure that they are clean of any dust and move up and down smoothly without any noises or interruptions. Lubricate the moving parts as needed to ascertain mobility.

If your bollards have survived the impact of a crash then major that you check the bollard and its foundation  for any repairs. If the bollard is bent or compromised then it has to be replaced. 

From parking bollards that guide vehicles safely to crash-rated bollards that stop high-speed threats, safety bollards are far more than simple posts. Whether you manage a retail store, oversee a commercial facility, or want to secure your home driveway, the right bollard system can prevent costly accidents and reduce liability. To create a safe environment you need to understand the different types of bollards and assess your risk level to choose the right one. 

More to read

Safety Bollard Buying Guide: How To Choose The Right Size And Strength