Bollards play a critical role in protecting buildings from potential damage caused by vehicle collisions, whether they are accidental or intentional. The placement of security bollards near buildings is therefore crucial to mitigate these risks and prevent costly property damage, injury or even loss of life.
In this post, we will explore the importance of proper bollard placement near buildings, the potential risks to buildings from vehicles, and the role bollards play in mitigating these risks.
We will also discuss the factors that influence bollard placement near buildings, including the size of the building, the type of vehicles that may be in the area, and the nature of the pedestrian traffic.
What Guidelines Are There on How Far a Bollard Should Be from a Building?
There is no universal answer to the question of how far bollards should be from a building. This is because the appropriate distance is entirely dependent on the environment and purpose for their use. The risks posed in a particular location are key to how far away from a building your bollards should be.
Vehicles can pose several types of risks to buildings, including accidental collisions, intentional attacks, and ram-raiding. Crash-rated bollards can mitigate these risks by providing a physical barrier between the building and the vehicles.
They can absorb the impact of a collision, prevent vehicles from approaching the building at high speeds, and make it more difficult for ram-raiders to gain access to the building.
Generally speaking, the higher the risk, the further away the bollard should be. A greater air gap between bollard and building minimises the chance that a vehicle could damage the bollard and hit the building behind it, creates an open space that would deter thieves and burglars, and would lessen the impact of an explosion.
A 5ft gap should be sufficient for a low-risk application, while a greater distance could be of benefit for an important building or vital infrastructure.
How Is the Risk Calculated?
There are many types of risks that bollards and other vehicle security barriers can help to mitigate. Accidental collisions are the most common, and are typically caused by driver error or loss of control of a vehicle.
Intentional attacks may be carried out for various reasons, such as terrorism, burglary, or protest. Ram-raiding is a type of attack where a vehicle is used to break into a building, often with the intention of stealing valuable goods.
When determining the level of risk for bollard spacing, the type of road the building is on is relevant. How fast is the speed limit on the road, and is speeding common despite the speed limit? The higher the speed, the greater the force of the crash, and the greater the required distance between bollard and building.
Different types of buildings also have different risk profiles and therefore require different types of bollards and placements. For example, a building that houses valuable assets may require bollards that offer a higher level of protection, such as HVM bollards. A house on a quiet residential street, by contrast, is less at risk.
The type of bollard is also relevant. HVM bollards may require less of an air gap between themselves and the buildings they protect, because they are designed to absorb exceptional amounts of force.
To determine the appropriate bollard placement for a specific building and situation, it is important to consult with experts, such as Macs Bollards.
Contact Macs Bollards for All Your Bollard Needs
If you need bollards, whether you want them for your driveway or your place of business, talk with a Macs expert today.
Our expert advisors will thoroughly discuss and assess your specific needs and offer support and advice on the right products for you. We offer a wide range of products, from simple fixed bollards to fully automatic barrier systems.
To discuss your requirements and request a quote, contact Macs Bollards today. Fill in our online form, email enquiries@macs-bollards.com or call us on 0161 320 6463.
Macs Automated Bollard Systems Ltd specialise in the nationwide supply of automatic rising bollards. Our experts keep the Macs Bollards blog updated with all the latest bollard news!