Whether they’re for aesthetics or security, bollards find homes across the country, mostly in front of office buildings, government buildings, and sometimes schools.
Whether they’re for aesthetics or security, bollards find homes across the country, mostly in front of office buildings, government buildings, and sometimes schools. Although they do enhance the overall look of an area, they mainly serve security purposes. These heavy-duty accessories create visible and physical barriers to a property by limiting access and separating a private space from a public one. Here’s a look at exactly how bollards increase security.
Types
The three different types of bollards that you’ll see providing enhanced safety and security for an area are permanent, removable, and moveable. As the name suggests, permanent bollards are fixed permanently in place. They extend into nearby concrete by several feet and are especially useful for protecting against impact. Removable bollards operate like permanent ones below the surface but can be temporarily removed to allow access, especially for vehicles to load or unload cargo or drop off and pick up passengers. Moveable bollards, however, are made with weighted stone or concrete and can be moved entirely out of place, usually by a machine.
Functionality
Bollards mainly serve three purposes: decoration, direction, or security against impact. Decorative bollards are put in place to enhance the curb appeal of a building. They are adorned with various ornaments and are made from aluminum, steel, iron, and concrete. They can also be painted and designed to complement the design of the structure that they surround. Bollards that enhance the safety of an area and provide direction are often enhanced by chains that link them together. They deter people from entering a specific area and direct pedestrians and cyclists to non-restricted areas. In some cases, bollards also help separate vehicle lanes from bicycle lanes and pedestrians.
Security
Need more security? Bollards are highly valued for their impact resistance and their ability to stop intentional attacks on a specific target. The design process for these bollards includes calculations that help determine the amount of resistance needed to stop vehicles from hitting a building, whether from an accident or intentional attack. They are usually made from a carbon steel pipe and filled with concrete to enhance rigidity.
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