Bollards are unlikely to last the life of a development without being impacted, yet surprisingly most bollards are NOT resistant to impact. We have the solution.

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AS 2890 recognises the use of protective devices, including bollards, where required to protect buildings, pedestrian areas and fixed objects from vehicle damage. For most carparks, the objective is not hostile vehicle protection — it is reducing repeated damage, protecting assets and keeping the development safe, functional and presentable.

Impact Recovery Bollards are recommended where low-speed impact resilience, reduced maintenance and whole-of-life cost savings are the priority. Certified crash-rated bollards should be used where vehicle containment is required. In many carpark and low-speed development environments, bollards are not installed as road safety barriers or hostile-vehicle mitigation devices.

They are commonly used to:

• improve driver visibility
• protect buildings, columns, walls, stairs, lifts and services
• prevent minor vehicle encroachment
• guide vehicle movement
• separate pedestrians from parking areas
• reduce repeated damage to pavements, footings and assets

Choosing the Right Level of Protection

 Where a bollard is required to stop an errant vehicle, a certified crash-tested protection device should be specified. ZERO CIVIL Impact Recovery Bollards provide a practical low-speed solution by

·       allowing controlled deflection,

·       protecting footings from damage and

·       enabling fast reinstatement after severe impact.

Where the bollard is being used

·                in a low-speed carpark environment for asset protection,

·                visibility, parking control or minor vehicle encroachment,

a non-certified bollard may be appropriate where selected following a site-specific risk assessment.

Over-specifying crash-rated bollards in low-speed areas can increase project cost, maintenance complexity and damage to vehicles and pavements. Under-specifying bollards in high-risk pedestrian areas can create safety and liability exposure.

It should be recognized that rigid devices are themselves a hazard; they have the potential to cause serious injuries. The intention of Standard AS/NZS 3845.2 is that these devices are only installed at locations where the risk with the device installed is significantly less than the risk without the device.

 

Match the bollard to the risk

In low-speed environments, the objective is often not formal vehicle containment. It is usually to reduce damage, protect assets, improve presentation, improve safety and reduce long-term maintenance costs.

Impact Recovery Bollards occupy the practical middle ground between basic rigid bollards and certified crash-rated vehicle containment systems.

They are suited to:

• carparks
• disabled parking bays
• shopping centres
• commercial developments
• loading areas
• service vehicle areas
• utility assets
• drive-through areas
• low-speed access control points
• pedestrian separation in low-speed environments

Where pedestrian exposure is high, vehicle speeds are higher, or formal containment is required, a certified crash-tested bollard system should be specified.

Recommended selection hierarchy

1. Standard Bollards

Use where the objective is visibility, guidance or basic access control, and vehicle impact risk is low.

2. Impact Recovery Bollards

Use where the objective is low-speed impact resilience, reusable footings, reduced damage and faster reinstatement.

3. Certified Crash-Rated Bollards

Use where the objective is vehicle containment, pedestrian protection from errant vehicles, hostile vehicle mitigation or compliance with a specific crash-test requirement.

For most carparks and low-speed commercial environments, the objective is not hostile vehicle mitigation or formal vehicle containment. The objective is to reduce repeated damage, protect assets, maintain presentation and reduce long-term maintenance costs.

In these environments, Impact Recovery Bollards provide a practical and sustainable option by allowing controlled deflection, helping absorb impact energy and protecting the surrounding footing from repeated damage.

Where certified vehicle containment is required, a crash-tested system such as the EAB Bollard should be specified.

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