Bollards vs. Barriers: Which One Suits Your Security Needs?

Over the last decade, there have been growing instances of vehicle borne threats across the world. Terrorists have been increasingly using vehicles to transport weapons, explosive devices, and attackers into sensitive locations to inflict maximum damage to human lives and property. In another disturbing study, the vehicles themselves are used as weapons to ram into open densely-populated areas, with around 62 vehicle ramming attacks taking place in the last decade.

These threats and attacks have spurred the need for more effective security infrastructure and access control systems at sensitive and vulnerable sites. Installation of various hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) measures such as road blockers, and vehicle barriers and bollards are seen as powerful deterrents to such attacks. These high-security hydraulic road bollards and hydraulic road barriers undergo rigorous tests to ensure that they can prevent any type of vehicular attacks.

What are Hydraulic Road Bollards?

Hydraulic road bollards are innovative security devices that are used to prevent vehicles from entering protected areas by force. They are short cylindrical posts made of heavy gauge materials, weighing between 60-130 kg, that are typically installed at the entrances and exits of secure establishments such as government buildings, gated industrial and commercial centers, car parks, etc. to act as barriers against unauthorized entry of vehicles and to regulate their entry and exit.

They can also be deployed as traffic calming devices to control the speed and flow of vehicles on heavily congested roads and to keep pedestrians safe from moving vehicles.

An automatic hydraulic road bollard is installed in a concrete foundation at a shallow depth and can be raised or lowered in 3-5 seconds using hydraulic power and operated with a remote-control system. Usually, several bollards are installed in a straight line with narrow, equal spacing between them. They can also be deployed in conjunction with other types of vehicle barriers such as automatic rising arm barriers.

Need for Road Bollards and Barriers

Road bollards and barriers are highly effective perimeter security and HVM devices in areas or locations where it is not possible to install hydraulic road blockers. While providing the same security as road blockers, they have the added advantage of being both unobtrusive and unthreatening. Not just that, bollards can be customized with multiple colors and designs to match the aesthetics of their surroundings. They can even be fitted with LED lights to provide better visibility. 

Both automatic bollards and barriers are silent, easy to operate, and can be installed in a wide variety of settings to control the movement of vehicles. They can also be quickly uninstalled and relocated from and to locations that do not require permanent barriers.

Types of Road Bollards and Barriers

There are several types of road bollards and barriers to suit a wide range of purposes. We can categorize road bollards as follows:

• Fixed bollards: These bollards are installed to permanently prevent any kind of vehicular incursion. They are usually made of materials like concrete or steel and can be found lining pavements or pedestrian walkways.
• Removable bollards: Usually made from metal or polyurethane, they are installed in areas where only temporary restriction of vehicles is required, or to segregate temporary parking areas.
• Retractable bollards: These bollards can be operated either manually or remotely and can be raised or lowered to control the movement of vehicles. Made from high density materials, they can also be crash rated to withstand high-impact collisions from vehicular terrorist attacks. SABTECH’s hydraulic bollard is an excellent example of a PAS 68 rated high-impact automatic bollard that can survive collisions from heavy vehicles.

Similarly, barriers can also be categorized as temporary, permanent, and automatic or manually operated. Depending on the type and purpose, they can be made with metal or polyurethane and customized according to client specifications.

Key Differences Between Road Bollards and Barriers

While bollards and barriers serve much the same purpose, i.e., control the movement of vehicles, prevent, or restrict access, and provide security, there are a few essential differences between them.

• Bollards are fixed vertically to the surface of roads, while barriers are fixed horizontally between two fixed posts.
• Several bollards need to be installed at one location with predetermined spacing between them, whereas, only one barrier needs to be installed at entry and exit points of buildings and parking areas to control access.
• Bollards can be spaced just wide enough to allow pedestrians to pass through unhindered, while barriers generally do not offer this functionality.
• Barriers can be installed at a certain height to restrict the passage of big vehicles such as buses and trucks, while allowing smaller vehicles to move through. Bollards do to provide any such facility.
• Bollards can be customized with various designs and colors to match their surroundings, while barriers are not generally considered for their aesthetic appeal.
• Bollards are usually deployed on pedestrian walkways or near the perimeter of secure facilities, while barriers are installed at entrances and exits of buildings, parking lots, toll booths, level-crossings, etc.

Bollards or Barriers: The Right Solution

Whether someone chooses to use bollards or barriers depends entirely on the application they are meant for. The different uses of road bollards and barriers have been covered extensively in this blog. However, there can be instances where both can be used, which may lead to uncertainty about which one to choose. In such cases, a more careful and thorough examination of the usage parameters need to be carried out. Prospective users should consult with any leading security bollard supplier in Saudi Arabia to decide which one to purchase. As the top hydraulic road bollard manufactures in Saudi Arabia, SABTECH is well-positioned to provide the best advice about the right choice to make to ensure the best protection of the facility.

Conclusion

Whether you install road bollards or barriers, your priority should be to ensure the maximum possible protection to your establishment from attempts of forced entry and attacks. Therefore, it makes sense to ensure that you purchase the best equipment from reputable manufacturers only. When it comes to road bollards, in terms of price, quality, technology, reliability, and customization options, SABTECH is a cut above the rest. Get in touch with their representatives today to discuss your requirements.