Safety bollard acts as visual and physical barrier. They differ in shapes, sizes and designs. Safety guard rails and bollards protect lives and property by creating a controlled traffic setting. It can also protect the vehicle that crashes in to reduce the impact which otherwise would have been heavy. If you have a clear idea of the types of bollards it could help you select the best post for your place.
Impact protection is not the only factor you should consider. Perimeter barriers help avoid unwanted clutter and bother for visitors. Unlike other barriers like fences or large concrete blocks, security blocks could restrict vehicle access while allowing clear pedestrian flow.
Each building and property has various common risk factors which should be considered. Other than security, thorough design strategies must review surrounding aesthetics and access needs.
Security barriers create psychological and physical deterrents to unauthorized entry. When considering a site’s safety bollard, it is very important to know what requires protection and the potential threats and risks and the more vulnerable areas.
Threat factors You could Consider
Some vehicles cause untold damage upon impact with a building as well as pedestrians and occupants. Hence, it is important to consider the surrounding driving environment to understand how the occupants and a building could be threatened if there are no safety barriers.
- Access and proximity to traffic – Find out how close the vehicles get to your building or other sensitive areas. you have to consider the onsite roads, parking lots and public streets.
- Traffic frequency – You have to check if the site is located in a high-traffic area. Greater vehicle activity could increase the likelihood of an accident.
- Speed of nearby vehicles – Speed is an important factor which needs to be considered. Higher speeds reduce driver reaction times and increase vehicle momentum which might increase the damage potential.
- Types of traffic – There are a variety of vehicles like cars, bicycles, trucks or scooters. Vehicle mass needs to be considered as there is a huge difference in the amount of damage a bike might cause to a huge truck. A one-ton truck would have a huge mass when compared to a compact car meaning the damage it might cause proportionally multiplied.
- Building and road orientations – Consider the whereabouts and directions of nearby traffic. Unobstructed and long run-ups could increase the risk as they would allow the vehicles to build up more speed. Downhill trajectories can reduce the effectiveness of braking. Roads might not be the only potential hazard. Nose-in or front-in parking orientations could be dangerous as a minor gear-shifting error would send vehicles flying into buildings.
- Driver behaviour – Drivers might be typically in a rush near any building. The surrounding environment, distractions etc could be a factor here. A good restaurant would see a lot of traffic during the summer while winter road conditions are a hazard, especially when it comes to hillsides.
When you plan on-site security, it is critical to assess the security needs and the range of options that would be available – like precisely measured impact resistance to more economical options. Other factors like traffic control and aesthetic design should also be considered. Effective security installations include a lot of stakeholders and experts to assess the needs of a specific site and to find the most optimal solutions. Improper planning might lead to poor functionality which could be costly or near impossible to replace or fix. The consequences of a failed barrier might be disastrous.
