What is an industrial safety bollard?

A bollard is a solid vertical post that provides robust protection from unwanted impacts, such as vehicle collisions and large forces that have the potential to cause damage.  

An industrial bollard is specifically used in industrial settings, such as: 

• Factories 
• Warehouses 
• Distribution centres 
• Storage facilities 
• Airports 
• Car parks 

What are the components of an industrial bollard?

The main components of an industrial bollard are the base and the post. The base is where the bollard is secured to the floor and the post is the upright that absorbs the force of impact.  

Some bollards do not have a separate base but instead are a single post that is secured directly to the floor. In addition, some bollards have a core that helps to strengthen the bollard’s structure.

Where are industrial bollards used?

Industrial bollards are used throughout busy facilities where there is an increased risk of accidents involving site vehicles such as forklift trucks. They are often used to protect: 

• Machinery 
• Infrastructure (buildings, corners, structural columns, etc.) 
• Assets (stock, goods, etc.) 

They can also be used in other areas where there is a high volume of vehicles in operation, such as: 

• Car parks 
• Loading bays 
• Airport aprons 

What are industrial bollards made of?

Industrial safety bollards are usually made from one of three types of material. They are: 

• Concrete 
• Steel 
• Polymer / plastic 

What is the difference between concrete, steel and polymer bollards?

Concrete, steel and polymer bollards largely perform the same function – providing robust protection from site vehicles, however each material has its own properties that can make the level of protection vary substantially.

Concrete bollards

Concrete bollards are primarily used outdoors. They are secured to the ground with cement and sometimes have a steel post at their core to strengthen them. While concrete bollards can be very effective at preventing vehicle collisions, they are usually a single-use product as one impact could render them damaged or substantially weakened.

Steel bollards

Steel bollards are traditionally the most common type of protection in industrial settings, although in recent years there has been a move towards polymer bollards. They often feature a post (sometimes with a concrete core) and a base that is bolted to the floor. While steel bollards do provide a good degree of protection, like concrete bollards, they can often be substantially weakened, damaged, or even pulled from their footings in the event of a collision, which would mean they need replacing.

Polymer bollards

Bollards that are made from polymer differ from traditional steel and concrete because they’re designed to be used again and again. Polymer is a term that is used interchangeably with 'plastic'. All plastics are polymers but when people refer to polymer bollards, they mean flexible plastic bollards that bends on impact and reforms to their original shape without incurring any substantial damage. Therefore, polymer is increasingly becoming the preferred bollard material. It is low-maintenance and highly visible making it ideal protection in busy industrial settings.  

Learn more: Comparing concrete, steel and polymer bollards