Wausau Tile - Bollards Anchor Methods
Parking bollards are a form of security that serves as both a physical and visual barrier. They come in various shapes, sizes and designs. Bollards and security barriers protect people and property by maintaining a safe traffic flow. Knowing the differences between types of bollards may help you select the ideal post for your location.
Parking bollards are an important part of parking area design, and can help keep your parking area safe and attractive. They should be used at all times when there is a need for pedestrian, storefront, or building protection. We'll look at crash ratings in further depth below:
A bollard is a sturdy post used to block or control traffic in parking areas and parking lots, in addition to other uses. There are many styles of parking bollards, but the most common are made from concrete or metal. Parking bollards can be installed in the ground or attached to the surface through a specially prepared mount. They can also be either functional or aesthetic.
Decorative Bollards
Decorative bollards provide visual appeal to building fronts or walkways. They may direct traffic or identify areas, such as handicapped parking, valet parking, or curbside services. Given these applications, decorative bollards are not a good choice for serious security.
Fixed Bollards
The most common type of fixed bollard is the concrete parking bollard. Concrete parking bollards are heavy and durable, making them ideal for controlling traffic in parking areas. They can be installed in the ground or attached to a surface, and come in various shapes and sizes. Concrete parking bollards are also available in different colors to give you the ability to match them with your parking area's aesthetics.
Removable and Retractable Bollards
Retractable bollards, like their permanent counterparts, are temporarily used to prevent or block off specified places. They may be positioned and removed as needed. Retractable bollards, on the other hand, are permanent fixtures that can retract into the ground when not in use. Locking pins or sockets keep the bollards in place; they can be removed for vehicle access if necessary.
Automatic Bollards
These can automatically retract into the ground, depending on their control mechanism. While some have high impact resistance, most use a hydraulic or electronic system to raise or lower as needed. They're an efficient, flexible solution for managing traffic in a restricted area or for site-specific applications.
Functional
Bollards are most often used to define the boundaries between pedestrian and vehicle areas, as well as to prevent unauthorized access.
Aesthetic
Bollards may be used as a form of design to separate areas in both residential and commercial projects. In other situations, architects or landscape designers draw bollards into designs to provide aesthetically appealing methods to differentiate spaces. Bollards are purely ornamental in some examples and have no impact resistance.
Other Bollard Considerations
However, impact resistance isn't the only aspect to consider. Perimeter barriers should keep visitors from becoming overwhelmed by debris or distractions. Security bollards, unlike barbed wire fences or huge concrete blocks, may restrict automobile access while allowing clear pedestrian passage.
Installation of parking bollards varies depending on their style and purpose. Most parking bollards are installed in the ground, but some can be attached to a surface.
At Wausau Tile, parking bollard technology has been refined and enhanced, adhering to stringent security specifications. These parking bollards are in use in high-security, high-profile areas, such as military facilities and the U.S. State Department. Bollards from Wausau Tile are used as simple vehicular crash deterrents to K-rated, ASTM certified, and Department of Defense approved solutions.
While Wausau Tile’s bollards in and of themselves are not K or M rated, they can integrate with a K or M rated system by providing a decorative façade for the bollards. This crash test shows a K or M rated system that is capable of integrating with Wausau Tile bollard façades.
This crash test was using a K or M rated system without our bollard façade. This should be worded in a way that our bollards integrate with these systems.
Regardless of the requirement, Wausau Tile provides high-end bollards from across the spectrum. Here are 7 examples of bollard options from Wausau Tile.
In situations where there's a risk of vehicle collision, crash-rated bollards are generally used. K-ratings or M-ratings are the most common types of ratings for these bollards. While Wausau Tile’s bollards are not K or M rated, they can integrate with a K or M rated system by providing a decorative façade for the bollards.
K-rated Bollards
This rating system has six general categories. The first three are based on the size of the vehicle that can be stopped.
The second three describe how far a vehicle will go after it comes in contact with the bollard. These designations are certifications, not ratings.
M-rated Bollards
This system basically replaced the K-rating.
It is more comprehensive in scope and details the type and size of a vehicle when it comes to penetration of the barrier. These are certifications rather than ratings:
At Wausau Tile, our plastic and concrete bollards can add flair to any project. Our bollards come in various forms, sizes, hues, textures, and finishes, from round to tall and lighted to custom.
Wausau Tile offers a bollard that suits any purpose, from security to traffic flow to a pleasant welcome at schools or businesses with dependability. Contact us today for more information.