Parking Bollards & Security Posts Buying Guide

• The folding and fixed bollards and posts are provided with fixings including bolts (M10 x 100mm), raw plugs and washers to allow the posts to be secured to the ground. They can usually be installed in under 30 minutes by a general handyman or DIY-er. Before installing we recommend ensuring the road surface is clean, dry and undamaged to ensure the bollard can be flush on the ground when installed. Mark out the areas where you wish to install the bollards and drill holes for the fixings. Ensure the holes are free from dust and debris prior to inserting the fixings. We recommend that hand tools are used to prevent damage to fixings.
• When installing Telescopic Bollards or Removable Bollards, excavation is required. We recommend for a confident builder to install these for you. It is recommended you check the sites utility plans and undertake a scan prior to installation to prevent damage to any underground pipes or wires. A hole is required to be dug to install the bollard, along with drainage at the base of the bollard. Please view the link to the full installation guide below.

• In the UK, regulations focusing on bollards mainly focus on the installation of bollards in public areas. In general, if you are installing a bollard on a private driveway you will not need to secure planning permission. Please do note there are of some exceptions to this, for instance if you own a listed property it is likely you will need to seek permission prior to installation. It is important to always secure the landowners permission prior to installing bollards.

• For public areas, permission, including planning permission, is required to install bollards. Regulations such as The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 and Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 cover the topic of bollards in public areas. The UK government has also published various guidance around installing fixed bollards in public areas to ensure pedestrians can still move freely.
• The Highways Act 1980 places restrictions around placing obstructions on or near public highways which is why it is important the bollards do not exceed your boundaries, for example ensure the folding bollards fold into your driveway rather than onto external pavements or roads. Under the Equality Act it is also important areas remain accessible for all. We therefore recommend when installing bollards and security posts that wheelchair users and pedestrians can still safely access the area.
• Various standards in place surrounding security bollards however these mainly focus on bollards used for industrial use or on public roads. Vehicle Security Bollards are generally used to enhance security at events and within crowded areas. BS EN 12899-2 focuses on the standards for traffic bollards which are commonly see on public roads.
• PAS 68 was a British specification for testing bollards and other vehicle security barriers to assess their performance against vehicle impact. This standard has since been withdrawn and superseded by BS ISO 22343-1:2023. IAW 14-1:2013 was a further standard focused on vehicle impact testing which has also been withdrawn. While impact-tested bollards may be required for some higher-risk sites such as tourist areas and city centres, or where a specific security specification is in place, they are not necessary for every application. Many bollards are used simply to deter unauthorised vehicle access and manage parking, such as on business parks, residential driveways, private car parks and commercial premises. In these lower-risk applications, a durable bollard may provide the level of access control required without needing to be impact tested.

• Whether you need a certified bollard, or impact-tested bollard, depends on the level of protection required and the risk associated with the location. When considering a certified bollard, it is also important to consider which standard you require the bollard to be tested or assessed against. For example, many bollards on the market are advertised as being tested or certified to standards such as IWA 14 and PAS 68, both of which have since been withdrawn. IWA 14-1:2013 has been replaced by ISO 22343-1:2023, while PAS 68:2013 has been withdrawn by BSI.
• In most instances, parking bollards are purchased as a deterrent to prevent drivers from parking in private parking bays, turning in private car parks or driveways, or entering business car parks when they are closed. They are also used as a deterrent to vehicle theft by acting as an additional obstacle in place of a parked car. For those seeking to reduce the risk of vehicle theft, in most instances a standard parking bollard may be suitable. Whilst it cannot stop vehicle theft, as a determined thief could potentially uninstall the bollard or drive into it with force, it works in a similar way to a gated system, burglar alarm or camera doorbell by assisting to deter thieves and placing an additional barrier in their way.
• To assess whether you need a certified bollard, we would firstly recommend considering where it is being installed. For many businesses, the requirement is simply for an access control or parking management solution, meaning an impact-tested option may not be necessary. Impact-tested bollards are designed to withstand the force of vehicles travelling at speed, which is why they are generally intended for higher-risk areas where there is a specific requirement for protection against deliberate vehicle impact. Those seeking to install bollards and security posts in higher-risk locations, such as crowded public spaces, key tourist locations or critical infrastructure, or companies that may be at greater risk due to high-profile work, may be more likely to require impact-tested vehicle security barriers designed to provide a specified level of protection against deliberate vehicle attacks.
• For those installing bollards in public areas owned by the council, you will generally need to refer to your local council's guidelines around bollard requirements. For example, Surrey County Council offer specific guidance around the type of bollards which can be placed on streets in Surrey.
• For those who are concerned about intruders and are seeking to protect high-value items, you may wish to seek LPS 1175 security-rated products, as these products are tested against manual forced-entry attacks. LPS 1175 addresses a different type of security threat to vehicle impact testing, so it is important to consider the specific risk you are looking to protect against.

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