Bollards

The foundation depth and design vary depending on the bollard type and crash rating. High-security bollards often require deep, reinforced concrete foundations, while standard traffic or decorative bollards may need much less.

Maintenance needs depend on the type of bollard. Fixed bollards typically require minimal upkeep, while retractable or automated bollards should be checked regularly for mechanical, hydraulic, or electronic issues to ensure reliable operation.

Absolutely. Many bollards can be fitted with decorative sleeves or covers made of stainless steel, cast iron, or other materials, allowing you to maintain aesthetic appeal without sacrificing protection.

Yes. Bollards are available in fixed, removable, or retractable (manual or automatic) styles. These are ideal for locations needing flexible access—like service drives, event spaces, or emergency vehicle routes.

Crash-rated bollards are tested and certified to stop vehicles traveling at specific speeds and weights, based on standards like ASTM F2656. Non-rated bollards offer visual deterrence and light impact protection but haven’t undergone formal crash testing.

Crash-rated barriers are barriers that need to change in some minor way to fit a particular site’s characteristics. The changes should be carefully analyzed to ensure that the barriers effectiveness will not be affected by the changes.

Crash-engineered barriers are barriers that have not been field tested, but have been engineered by a particular entity to stop an attack of a particular vehicle at a certain speed within a strict set of guidelines. Crash-rated barriers have been certified by a rating agency as having passed a full field crash test where a particular barrier is certified to stop the attack of a particular vehicle traveling at a certain speed with a strict set of guidelines.

IronSite professional services can provide engineered calculations for the maximum potential speed a vehicle can achieve at all points around your facility.

Controls impact multiple pieces of equipment, including safety sensors, obstruction loops, vehicle barriers, integrated gates, traffic arms, signal lights, warning systems, and other aspects of the barrier systems. In addition, they include programming the sequence of operations. This makes controls extremely complex and unique to the needs they meet.

AVB = Active Vehicle Barrier
1. Utilized for active vehicle entrances, sally ports, unmanned entrances


2. Wedges, bollards, sliding, rising or pivoting horizontal beams, integrated into gates etc.


3. Hydraulically, electrically, pneumatically, or manually operated


4. May be surface-mounted, shallow-mounted, or standard depth installation



SVB = Static Vehicle Barrier

1. Utilized for fence lines, permanently closed gate openings, temporarily closed gate openings


2. Cable-type barriers, bollards, berms, trenches, walls, street furniture, vegetation, concrete barriers, guardrails etc.