Five Considerations When Choosing Security Bollards

Bollards play a vital role in security and public safety. However, there are a number of different models to choose from. This means that in order to determine which is the best suited to your needs, there are several factors to assess. Here are five of the most important considerations you should think about before making a decision.

Is Your Location a Target for Criminals?

If your location is the target for trespassers or vandals, or the more serious threat of thieves and terrorists, you may wish to think about additional security. There are heavy duty security bollards that can be incorporated into your landscaping or property plan that are not only a  good deterrent but can provide additional protection.

Is Access Required at Certain Times of the Day?

If you need the flexibility to allow you to permit vehicle access at certain times of the day or week, then this will influence your choice of security bollards. Fortunately, there are a number of retractable and removable options that provide excellent security, but also allow authorised vehicles to gain access to pedestrian or restricted areas.

Is it a Prominent Area?

If the location is in view of the general public, your choice of bollards will differ from if you want to protect an out of the way area. While you can expect to pay a little more for more ornate bollards, these are likely to look more in keeping with the aesthetics of your property. However, if the area is remote, appearance is to be far less of a priority.

Are There Weather or Geographical Conditions That May Affect the Bollard?

For example, if you live in an area which receives high levels of snow or rain, then you are likely to require a bollard that offers maximum visibility. Areas with hills, high winds or other weather conditions may cause certain types of bollard to deteriorate and lose functionality. For example, bollards may be vulnerable to abrasion from grit and other debris in high winds. In this scenario, you are likely to need a toughened material that can be treated to withstand these harsh conditions.

Are There Consequences if the Bollard is Ignored?

This question can have a number of answers depending on the type of your location. If there is a risk of serious injury for those who ignore a bollard or others in the area, you may need to consider additional traffic calming measures. For example, while a security bollard may be the final barrier, you may need speed humps to slow vehicles and warn them of a potential hazard ahead.

If you are considering bollards, security measures and other traffic calming measures, you should speak to us. The Image Bollards team can offer guidance on our vast product range to help you determine which solution is best suited to your particular needs. 

Could Retractable Bollards be the Solution to Your Parking Problems

Many businesses now consider unauthorised parking to be a growing issue and have need of a solution. Fortunately, there is a wide selection of traffic calming and restricting measures including bollards that can offer a resolution for this issue. However, how do you know which method is the most suitable for your property? We will explore this topic further to provide you with the details you need to make an informed decision.

Identify Your Needs:

The first step of determining if retractable bollards could solve your parking problems is to identify your specific needs. Are you looking to stop vehicles parking in unauthorised areas or provide pedestrian protection? Do you still require access to the building for service vehicles, staff parking and deliveries? Each of these scenarios will have a solution that is more well suited to the specific needs. However, retractable or removable bollards do provide the greatest flexibility. They allow you to cordon off areas to prevent unauthorised vehicles, but still retain the possibility of access as and when required.

Retractable or Removable?

Of the vast range of bollards for sale, retractable and removable models tend to be the most popular. As mentioned above, they offer the greatest flexibility, but you may be unsure which is the better option for you. To determine this, you need to understand the differences between these two models. While both operate on the same principle, a removable bollard requires the bollard to be lifted out of the housing and moved elsewhere to allow access. Retractable models have a housing which is mounted below the ground surface that allows the bollard to be lowered, permitting access without creating a trip hazard.

Removable models tend to be cheaper, but this can quickly be dismissed if you face the frustration of needing to move a bollard pole several times a day. If access is seldom required, this is likely to be the more economical option. On the other hand, if you require access frequently, a retractable model is the logical choice.

Manual or Automatic?

Once you have determined that a retractable model is the right choice for your requirements, you face a final decision of whether to choose a manual or automatic option. Again, this comes down to convenience. If access is very frequently required, an automatic bollard removes the need to physically trigger the retraction. This can prove very convenient as staff can simply check if a vehicle is authorised and lower the barrier as from inside the premises as and when required. However, these models tend to be far more costly, so you will also need to consider your budget.

If you would like to know more about your options of retractable bollard, Perth property owners should contact us. The Image Bollards team would be happy to provide guidance on the bollard model best suited to your needs.

A Brief Guide to Parking Bollards and Other Physical Access Control Methods

Physical access control is simply the method of selectively restricting access to a particular area or space. While a locked door is a sufficient method for controlling pedestrian access, this is simply not viable for areas which may need to permit vehicle access. For this reason, companies rely on bollards, barriers and other controls to control traffic flow and access. Here we will explore these options to provide insight into which method may be best suited to your requirements.

Concrete Barriers:

This is perhaps one of the most frequently seen methods of physical access control. This type of barrier can be used to protect paved areas from vehicle traffic. However, this method offers a very low rate of adaptability. The weight of the material means that they are impractical unless long term control is necessary.

Plastic Barriers:

This type of barrier is often filled with water and offers a solution where a permanent installation is not viable. While there is still a low adaptability, these barriers are more portable and can be used to create pedestrian only spaces or a temporary work zone. Since the full weight is only applied when they are filled, this type of barrier can be used in situations where security is a greater priority.

Removable Parking Bollards:

This type of parking bollards allows for easy access using a key. This can provide an economical option for those areas requiring access control in the long term. The bollard post will allow cyclists and pedestrians to pass unimpeded, but vehicle traffic is only permitted when granted access. This means that in the event of an emergency or event, vehicles can be allowed to pass into areas which are usually designated pedestrian only.

Retractable Parking Security Bollards:

Retractablebollards operate on the same principle as a removable bollard. When access is required the bollard is lowered into the ground to a concealed receiver rather than being physically removed. This type of self storing option can be more convenient as there is no need to lift or transport a potentially heavy post. Most models of retractable bollard are mounted, so the receiver is flush with the ground to avoid creating a trip hazard when access has been granted.

The preferred method of physical access control will depend on a number of factors. You will need to consider whether access would be required or if the barrier should be a permanent solution. Budget, aesthetics and other practicality factors will also need to be considered.

If you would like assistance determining the method of physical access control best suited to your property, you should speak to us. Image Bollards is one of the area’s leading parking bollard suppliers. Our sales team would be happy to discuss your requirements and help you to determine the most suitable solution. 

Do Parking Bollards Need to Stop a Car?

When many people think of parking bollards, they consider whether they actually have the capacity to stop a moving car. In most cases, these bollards appear to lack this capacity, but does this compromise their functionality? While you may need anti ram barriers to protect your storefront from a smash and grab robbery, but if all you are seeking is to control traffic flow and ensure orderly parking, your chosen bollard may not need to be impact resistant.

The Value of Non Impact Resistant Bollards:

From flexible bollards to the lightweight automatic parking bollards, non impact resistant varieties of bollards are all around us. We see them in property developments and retail parks in towns and cities across the country. While these bollards are not likely to halt a speeding car, this does not mean that they lack value. In many cases, these barriers provide a perceived impediment for access, which will prevent most people from entering a restricted area. Although there is no ability to prevent vehicle encroachment physically, most drivers unconsciously operate on a civility culture which means that for psychological reasons they will not cross a barrier. While there are those who are intent on causing damage, most drivers are law abiding and will immediately understand that their vehicle is not permitted to enter the designated area.

Is Impact Resistance Necessary to Call it a Bollard?

Some would argue that in order for a barrier to be classified as a bollard, it should provide anti ram resistance and be embedded in place. However, this is not the case. There is a vast array of bollard designs and materials available to suit a range of purposes. Bollards can be used to highlight the architectural features of a site or direct pedestrian traffic. If a bollard is used for an architectural or decorative application, it is not likely that it will need impact resistance. This type of bollard is needed for its aesthetic value rather than its physicality. The bollards are chosen to enhance the ambiance of the property, creating a visual perimeter or defining a space.

Bollard models that do not offer impact resistance can provide a number of helpful functions in your outdoor space. From lane delineation to highlighting architectural features or even providing safety lighting, a non impact bollard could play a vital role in your property design. None of these functions require the ability to stop a car in order to fulfil their role, so they should not be overlooked.

If you would like to learn more about decorative or parking bollards, Perth property owners should speak to us. We have a massive selection of bollard designs including those offering impact resistance or decorative models. The Image Bollards sales team is ready to discuss your needs and offer a solution that is best suited to your requirements.