How bollards can be better tool for building security?

A bollard is a strong, stable and a vertical structure usually built using some kind of a metal. Bollards are used all around the world for different purposes. The concept was primarily used for anchoring boats or even big ships. The ships were tied to the bollards in such a way that they could not float away. The practice is still under use. With time, bollards have grown from being ugly short dull looking structures to being exquisitely designed structures with multiple colors, designs and even company logos where the structure is being used.

The usage of the bollards has also grown, and the purposes widened. The structures are now used for much more than just anchoring boats. Amongst other uses of the bollards, one of the most important one is to act as a security element in architecture. More and more organizations are now using bollards for safety and security. In general, bollards provide security in two broad ways:

1. Psychological security

Bollards act as boundaries of a particular area and the limits till which an area is accessible to a certain group of people. The metal strictures prevent people from trespassing a limit by signaling them about the limit. Bollards for this purpose are used at people’s houses in a neighborhood where several houses are interconnected and are close to each other. Additionally, they can also be used at a hospital to identify people that normal people are not allowed ahead of the area where the bollards are placed. Bollards are placed on roadsides to prevent people from getting off the footpath and going on to the road. Although there are gaps between bollards and people can easily go through, but it is a message that is delivered by the placement of the bollards.

Furthermore, bollards can be used at any place where unauthorized personnel are not allowed ahead of a point. Examples include at banks, supermarkets, government facilities and any business with the inflow of customers.

2. Physical security

Physical security purpose of bollards is much broader than the branch of psychological security. Physical security constitutes of further several branches under the branch. Following are some of the threats to combat against which the bollards are installed:

• Traffic

If a site is located at a place with high proximity and flow of traffic, the chances of accidents are very high. Therefore, an accident can seriously damage property as well as can impose threats to lives of passersby. A car might lose control or can be impacted forcefully due to an accident to get off road and get onto the footpath. Once the car gets on footpath with high enough force and impact, the damages can be substantial. If it hits a building, the foundations of a building can be damaged, let alone the paintwork and glass installations. Additionally, people coming out of the building or just standing nearby can be seriously hurt as well.

Therefore, to protect against these damages, bollards are placed around the building and they sort of create a boundary to separate the road the building area. As a result, the bollards protect the enclosed area by minimizing the impact or stopping it altogether.

At some places, bollards are even used to divide the roads into two lanes. This is usually done at heavy traffic roads but building a wall or a concrete division would cost a lot and will also take up a lot of space. Additionally, some removable bollards also give you an option to turn the roads into one way roads if the need arises.

• Vehicle ram attacks

Vehicle ram attacks are executed by a process where the culprits ram a vehicle into the building to gain access to the building forcefully. This way, the entrance and exits of the building are blocked by the rammed vehicle and the occupants of the building are taken by surprise and utter shock to the extent where they get incapable of doing anything.

There are several cases of bank robberies and even terrorist attacks using this strategy of vehicle ram attack. In addition to the damage to the property and the forceful entry into a facility, vehicle ram attacks can also pose serious threats to people’s lives who are either nearby the building or inside it. When the vehicle hits, they can get in way and get seriously injured or even lose their lives.

Therefore, protecting the perimeter of buildings using sturdy bollards can substantially reduce the chances of vehicle ram attacks being successful. Let alone being successful, most of the robbers or terrorists will not even try this seeing the bollards in place.

More and more organizations are now using bollards to protect their sites from any such vehicle ram attacks and this practice will go on to continue.

Especially, after the 9/11 attacks, many important government and other buildings in USA started covering their parameters using the bollards. Also, recently there has been a rise in the vehicle ram attacks in Europe and USA especially in the New York City.

• Pedestrian safety

The governments of several countries have started placing bollards on roadsides to protect the pedestrians from traffic accidents. The way in which bollards protect in this situation is similar to mentioned above. The bollards reduce or finishes off the impact and protect the people.

• Preventing parking on sidewalks

In highly dense parking spaces, drivers tend to park their vehicles in such a way that the vehicles start mounting the curb and park of the edges of sidewalks. This results in vehicles damaging parks and expensive sidewalks. Bollards, when placed around these sidewalks, prevent people from parking on sidewalks.

Bollards provide security from the above-mentioned threats as well as several others. The popularity of bollards’ usage has increased in the past few years substantially.

With the passage of time and the changes happening around everywhere, the bollard industry has changed drastically too. The bollards that are available currently were not available a few years back. Previously, bollards were just considered to be security or ship docking devices, but now the bollards need to look good as well. Therefore, more and more companies have introduced several different kinds of bollards into the market including retractable bollards, collapsible bollards, portable bollards, steel pipe bollards, bolt down bollards and so on.

All these and other bollards are available in different sizes as well as various colors. The newest entrants are customizable bollards in which you can get the logos and other things related to your business printed on bollards.  This helps in refreshing the business’ brand name. All the bollards around an organization’s property will have their logos printed on them. This surely does look fancy too.

Bollard Shop has various kinds of security bollards for sale in their product offering. The company offers great quality of products at very reasonable prices. Apart from all the kinds of bollards, the bollard covers are available too in different sizes, colors and designs. Bollard caps are another newly introduced offering by the company.