A bollard is a boundary that vehicles understand without instruction, and the type chosen decides whether that boundary is permanent, adjustable or temporary. Fixed, removable and folding bollards solve different problems and mixing them up is expensive to correct after the concrete is poured.
Fixed Bollards
Fixed bollards are set permanently into the ground and give the strongest and simplest boundary. They suit places where vehicle access is never required, such as pedestrian entrances and building fronts. Installation is a civil job: the foundation depth and the anchoring decide the resistance to impact, not the bollard body alone.
Removable Bollards
Removable bollards lift out to open a route and drop back to close it. They suit service entrances, event spaces and areas that are pedestrian most of the time but need vehicle access on a schedule. The receiver and the lifting effort decide whether the system is actually used or simply bypassed.
Folding Bollards
Folding bollards pivot down flat to the ground when access is needed and stand up to close it. They work well where a route is opened often and where a loose bollard would be lost or mislaid. They cost more than removable units and the hinge is the part that takes the wear.
| Type | Access | Typical Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed | None | Pedestrian fronts and permanent boundaries |
| Removable | Occasional and scheduled | Service and event entrances |
| Folding | Frequent | Routes opened and closed often |
Installation and Foundations
Whatever the type, the foundation carries the load. Shallow fixings fail at the ground line while the bollard body stays intact, which gives a false sense of the system. Foundation depth, drainage and the ground type belong in the same order as the bollard itself.
Specifying the Bollard
State how often access is needed, what level of vehicle resistance is required and what the ground is made of. These three points decide the type and the foundation, which together are the actual system.