6 min read·
Bollards are cheap insurance against expensive damage. The question is rarely whether to install them — it's where, what type, and how many.
Where bollards belong
- Both sides of every dock door
- Corners of racking and exposed columns
- Around electrical panels, gas meters, and fire risers
- At pedestrian crossing points and break room entries
Types of bollards
- Steel pipe filled with concrete — classic, low cost
- Polyurethane-sleeved steel — better visibility, less concrete patching
- Plastic flexible bollards — for low-impact pedestrian zones only
Installation depth matters
A bollard is only as strong as its footing. For forklift-rated impact protection, expect a 3-foot embedment in concrete — anything less and the bollard becomes a projectile in a real impact.