To tell you the truth, nearly no one understands what a bollard is. This happened because just a few firms sell bollards, and only a few specialized enterprises or local governments employ them. We promise that if you read the definition below, you will not only recognize a bollard, but also its purpose. While the following advantages of various types of bollards may seem overly familiar, this is because to the fact that you have most likely encountered them in your daily routine.
What exactly is a bollard?
A bollard is a short post used to create a defensive or architectural boundary. When employed as a visual signal, a bollard is often used to guide traffic and indicate boundaries. Furthermore, bollards come in a variety of forms and sizes to increase their visibility in specific situations.
These security bollards are designed to have both ornamental components to suit the environment and the ability to absorb force impact. Bollards can be composed of a variety of materials depending on their role and use, with metal, stone, cement, and plastic being the most prevalent.
What are the functions of bollards?
As previously stated, a bollard is necessary in two basic situations: as an aesthetic feature and as a safety component.
When it comes to safety and security, bollards can be placed in locations where different forms of traffic are separated in order to keep pedestrians and bicycles safe. Other applications include deterring intruders from loading docks or garages, as well as bike routes, streetscapes, cemeteries, government buildings, stadiums, and golf courses.
Decorative bollards are most commonly employed in pedestrian-only areas or parks, where they protect wildlife or plants from harm. When a bollard is present, the message is clear: you should be cautious where you walk, drive, or cross, as it may indicate that access is restricted.
Bollards come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
So, while bollards perform a variety of functions, the primary objective for their installation is to serve as a safety device for both property and people. Let’s look at the most frequent sorts of bollards and what they’re used for to have a better grasp of these fascinating structures that are deliberately positioned all over the place.
Bollards that can be removed
Detachable bollards, also known as removable barrier posts, are excellent for limiting access to a specific location, such as a private residence. The majority of individuals employ detachable bollards in situations where they want to prohibit unlawful parking, while such bollards allow owners flexibility for site admission.
Bollards that can be removed are simple to operate and can be unlocked, lifted, or passed over with little or no effort. Furthermore, because those bollards are not required for installation, they may be kept elsewhere.
Bollards for construction
These sorts of bollards are most commonly seen during road construction projects, but they have also been spotted in front of construction sites for buildings. A construction bollard’s purpose is to protect the area and the employees within it from any external threats, such as traffic redirection or entry prohibition.
The reflective tape is carefully placed on the surface of these bollards, which are composed of flexible and brilliantly colored plastic. Construction bollards should be placed near together in order to give the illusion of a continuous visual edge.
Bollards for security
Security bollards differ somewhat from construction bollards in terms of visual indications for both pedestrians and traffic participants. Almost all security bollards are composed of steel, are filled with concrete, and are ornamented to blend in with the surrounding terrain.
Furthermore, a security bollard’s resistance is determined by the quality of the materials used in its construction as well as the method in which it was erected on site. The engineering required to secure a bollard to the ground determines its impact resistance.
Bollards for the sea
Marine bollards, also known as mooring bollards, are an important component of mooring systems. Simply described, it’s a bollard built as a short post to which boats can be moored. Its form and dimensions vary depending on its intended use.
They are meant to resemble a mushroom with a big diameter top so that ropes may be put over them without coming free. A cross rod is frequently included for added security when tying the ropes.
Bollards for bicycle parking
Bicycle parking bollards, like maritime bollards, provide hitching supports for a secure bike lock-up, and are commonly built in a post-and-arm shape to accommodate two bikes on the same bollard.
The purpose of a bicycle parking bollard is to reduce obstruction by establishing a designated parking place for bicycles. They also effectively sustain the weight of the two wheeled vehicles since they are composed of a sturdy material, and they may be created in various forms and sizes depending on the landscape.
Solar bollards and landscaping
As you might have imagined, a fancy application for a bollard is to beautify the landscape. They provide ambient lighting for houses, alleyways, pedestrian areas, and parks, as well as increasing visibility and identifying walking paths. Landscape bollards are also regarded an environmentally beneficial lighting source since they can be recharged using solar energy.
A bollard’s impact resistance levels
Aside from the aforementioned classification, we may divide bollards into three types based on their impact resistance.
First, flexible bollards, which are composed of polyurethane, are designed to protect automobiles when they collide with them. In other words, if these bollards are hit, they will bounce back without inflicting major damage to the vehicle. Those bollards are usually found in parking spaces, but they may also be utilized as lane delineators on highways or other high-traffic locations.
Low impact bollards, which include concrete anchors and bolts to keep them steady, deliver essentially little stopping force to a hitting vehicle. High impact bollards, on the other hand, are regarded the best safety bollards since they are often formed of steel pipes filled with cement. These bollards are designed to resist a variety of collision scenarios while also preventing harm to the area they guard.
While keeping these facts in mind, you can go ahead and invest money to buy bollards.
