How are steel, iron, concrete, and polymer bollards different?

To keep everyone safe it is necessary to install the right safety products. These can come in various forms, from bollards to fencing. We have made it our job to supply and install the essential items on sites across the UK. To help with this, our merchandise comes in a multitude of sizes. What's more, we make everything available for highly competitive rates.

Since there are various types of bollard in existence, it pays to know about the different options. With the right information on hand, you can better choose a solution for your needs. In this guide, we will be discussing a handful of the materials you can choose. It will help you to see which are best for various applications.

Steel

One example would be the steel bollard. There are lots of options here, including mild and stainless steels. You can choose these for metal posts and uprights. They tend to offer protection against vehicles because they are strong and durable. Also, they segregate walkways and stop vehicle access.

Stainless steel has a good advantage because it is weather resistant. This makes the bollards preferable for long-term exterior usage. Some of them come with a concrete core for extra support.

There are a number of different styles too. For example, you have dynamic models that can be raised and locked in place or lowered to permit access. Others are permanent and cast into the ground.

Iron

Classic bollard products were often cast iron. Such a durable and robust material made them extremely practical. At the same time the designs could be more decorative than other items. Occasionally, the installations are a cast iron cover over a concrete or steel post.

However, it is important to think about corrosion resistance. Iron has low resistance to corrosion so you need to think about moisture levels and protection. They can be better for indoor use.

Concrete

Usually, you find these outdoors. They tend to take the form of big concrete blocks or cast posts. Using them offers you robust protection against vehicle impacts. You can find them in public places with a lot of pedestrians because they provide really good protection.

Polymer

These are more flexible and lightweight if you compare to the other materials above. Thanks to the polymer plastic, there is a flexibility here that metals and concrete lack. What this does is permit the bollard to bend on impact and then return to the normal shape after. These are wonderful for protecting against industrial vehicles like forklift trucks.

Talk to us about choosing bollards

At Barrier Mart, we offer customers surface mounted and cast in styles of bollard. They come in a multitude of sizes to satisfy a wide range of requirements. In addition, we manufacture them in house like the rest of our merchandise to guarantee quality.

So, if there is anything we can help you with when it comes to bollards, feel free to contact us. We can even advise you about using different types in various settings.