Most people who need security bollards have little to no knowledge of them, which can make it difficult to know where to start, however the correct advice can make the difference between an expensive mistake and a smart investment.
You may be thinking, ‘why would I want to install a security bollard? After all, our company vehicles are locked, and the premises is secure’. Well, thieves are often seasoned criminals and as security technology has become more advanced, unfortunately, so has the counter-technology used by those who want to steal vehicles from your premises and your staff. Therefore suitable, efficient security should be a priority, as it’s of little use to a thief if your premises and car park are blocked off by high security bollards.
Security bollards also act as visual deterrents; the very sight of them signal to a would-be thief that even attempting to steal from your premises would be a monumental task. Bollards are simply too tough, too heavy, and too solid to be dealt with, even if your premises is left unattended for a lengthy period.
Why should security bollards be used?
The main reason to install security bollards at your business premises is to improve the overall physical security. However, security bollards have a range of additional benefits aside from helping boost the overall security of your premises.
Here are our 7 top reasons why your business should consider using industrial bollards for your premises:
1. Enhanced security
Parking bollards create a physical barrier that impedes vehicular access to restricted areas. This means they act as a deterrent to any form of crime that relies on (or benefits from) access to a vehicle. Common examples of such crimes are vandalism, vehicle theft and crimes involving forced entry to a building (e.g., ram-raiding).
The versatility of parking bollards means that they are deployed in a wide range of situations. For example, many businesses use them to protect strategic areas such as car parks and warehouses by using them to act as a deterrent. Equally, government agencies often use them to safeguard critical infrastructure from serious crimes such as terrorist sabotage.
2. Control parking space usage
Probably the single most common use of parking bollards is, quite simply, to control parking. Using parking bollards makes life easier for everyone, particularly the staff in charge of managing the car park.
Many businesses use parking bollards to divide their car park into zones. For some businesses, this simply means indicating which area is for staff and which for visitors/customers. For others, this will mean creating more granular zones such as accessible zones, VIP zones and loading zones.
In some cases, these zones may only be in operation at certain times of the day. Loading zones, for example, may only be needed in the early morning. In these cases, businesses may opt to use telescopic rising parking bollards. These can be activated and deactivated according to the usage schedule for the space.
3. Improve traffic flow
The simplest way to ensure that traffic flows the way you’d like it to is to ensure that drivers know what they should be doing. A popular use of parking bollards is to act as guideposts for drivers. In particular, they can be used to define entry and exit points. This can be for the parking area as a whole or for different zones (or both).
By making sure everyone uses the parking space in the intended way, parking bollards can help to reduce congestion. This makes using the parking space a much pleasanter experience for everyone. More importantly, it also improves safety by reducing the risk of drivers accidentally bumping into each other.
4. Protect pedestrians
Parking spaces need to be safe for pedestrians as well as vehicles and their drivers and passengers. At a minimum, people will be going to and from their vehicles. They need to be able to do so safely.
In many cases, car parks will be crossed by people who are not in vehicles. For example, cyclists may use bicycle racks. Train (and bus) commuters may need to go through (or around) the space to reach the entrance they need to use.
At a minimum, pedestrians need to be kept separate from vehicle users. Technically, cyclists can follow the standard vehicular traffic flow. In many cases, however, it’s desirable to keep cyclists separate from both vehicles and pedestrians. Bollards can be used to create and enforce safe walkways (and cycle lanes).
5. Boost aesthetics
If your idea of parking bollards is the concrete blocks you see in many public spaces, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover just how many options there are available. Concrete bollards are often chosen for public spaces because they fit in with the overall environment in these areas.
If, however, your space has a different aesthetic, then there are plenty of other options available so you’re sure to find something to suit it. In fact, you might even find something to enhance it.
As a bonus, installing parking bollards can boost the value of your property too. Everyone wants to feel safe where they work (or live). Parking bollards deliver extra safety (and security) and hence are highly appreciated.
6. Environmentally-friendly options
It’s becoming increasingly common for parking bollards to be made out of recycled materials, especially plastic, rubber, and metal. This helps to promote a circular economy.
Some parking bollards are now leveraging solar technology. These bollards use solar panels to power LED lights, providing illumination for pedestrians and drivers without requiring electricity from the grid. They are particularly useful in remote or off-grid locations, where running power lines would be difficult or expensive.
7. Save money
There are two main ways that using parking bollards can save you money. The first is by reducing the likelihood that damage will be done to your property. The second is by reducing your insurance costs.
It’s also worth noting that accidents happening on your property can lead to reputational damage. This also has a cost, and it can be very expensive to repair.
The cost savings offered by parking bollards are generally more than enough to justify the cost of the initial investment fairly quickly. Furthermore, this investment can be expected to give returns for many years.
The different types of bollards
We here at Newgate offer various types of bollards that are suitable for a variety of business and commercial premises. The main types of bollards we offer include:
- Telescopic– These bollards can be manually lowered allowing for a more flexible security system. Telescopic bollards are often a popular choice as they are easier to use and extremely effective.
- Removable– Removable bollards are just as flexible as telescopic but can be completely removed, if necessary, perhaps to protect them from water damage.
- Fixed– Fixed bollards offer high quality security due to their permanent status that completely inhibits vehicular access.
- Automatic– These represent a more sophisticated high-end level of security as they can be operated remotely. If your premises is being accessed often the automatic system could save a lot of time in the long run
The Newgate range of bollards can be easily integrated with additional security measures such as a security gate or rising arm barriers to provide a strong and flexible security system to ensure that your property is fully secure. In addition, they come with a range of accessories and are fully customisable in design and colour to meet your exact security requirements.
Bollard maintenance
Bollards are strong, durable and solid objects; they are built to last. Because of this, some people overlook the importance of maintaining them, but they still require a little bit of love from time to time in order to perform to their absolute best. It is recommended that security bollards are serviced once a year in order to ensure that they maintain their strength to provide security to your business premises for years to come.
Contact Newgate today!
Here at Newgate, we offer a range of bespoke or standard maintenance packages designed to meet your needs. Our team can ensure that your newly installed bollards meet the latest legislation and are fully operational and efficient. For more information or to view our range of bollards, feel free to contact our team or click here.
