What is a Bollard Used for?
Oct 31st 2017
Increased awareness and concerns about security and safety these days are opening doors for companies to come up with products such as bollards. Security bollards are considered to provide anti-collision or anti-bump defense so that proper safety can be ensured any time of the day.
Some Uses of Bollards
Following are some primary uses of bollards:
- Traffic Control
- Traffic Control
- Mooring Posts for Docks
- Decoration
- Access Control
- Pedestrian Control
Security bollards are extensively used for controlling the vehicle traffic in crowded open areas. Bollards made of steel or concrete are being used for this purpose in order to ensure that vehicles follow in line and don’t overtake each other. Most of the times these bollards are permanently installed so that they don’t get misplaced if a vehicle bumps into them. They are also painted with bright reflector colors, in this way they are easily spotted by motorists and the risk of accidents is reduced.
Pedestrian Control
Highly removable rising bollards are used when it comes to the control of pedestrian traffic. They are typically made of concrete or plastic. The posts can be used to control or direct the traffic of people who are roaming inside the building as well as those who are coming in and going out of the building. They are also used as pathway guides to the elevator areas, information desk, cashier, rest rooms, and so on.
Access Control
A lot of facilities use bollards for access control purposes. These include parking garages, propane dispensing facilities, gas stations, convenience stores, self-storage facilities, automated car wash facilities among others to restrict access to undesired areas. In warehouses and factories, bollards are important for guarding capital equipment and storage racks as well as protecting pedestrians from fork truck collisions.
Decoration
Apart from providing security and access control, bollards are also used as architectural enhancers because they help decorate the entire area being fenced. A variety of decorative bollards are available on the market for this specific purpose. Decorative bollards also work well for indoor use as they can make the interior of a building more stylish. Removable bollards are the best option in this regard because you can easily move them around and place them where necessary.
Mooring Posts for Boats
You will see concrete bollards if you happen to pass by wharves and piers. They work great as mooring posts for boats to which the boats will be tied. These bollards keep the boats in place while they are docked.
Conclusion
Bollards with innovative designs can offer access control, security, safety, as well as enhance the visual appeal of any establishment or building. Bollards, no matter which material they are made from (steel, plastic, or concrete) have a very clear purpose. These vertical posts are built for our safety more than anything else, so people should be aware of them. While there are some types that are built for decorative and directive purposes, but certainly there is still a higher function that they serve.