When it comes to safeguarding properties, ensuring pedestrian safety, and enhancing the visual appeal of spaces, bollards play a crucial role. We here at Ideal Shield offer an extensive range of American-made Bollard options designed to meet various needs and preferences. To help our customers, we wanted to breakdown the different bollard types we offer, highlighting their unique features and applications.

What is a Bollard?

Bollards are sturdy, short steel posts installed into the ground via a core-in or surface mounting, to control traffic, protect buildings and pedestrians, and manage vehicle access. They come in various materials, designs, and functionalities, each tailored to a specific purpose. While there are plenty of suppliers across the country, Ideal Shield offers one of the largest selections of quality American-made bollard options at cost-effective price points. 

What Bollard Options are Available?

1. Steel Pipe Bollards

Overview: Made from high-quality, 100% U.S. steel, these Bollards offer robust protection against minimal impacts from vehicles. Available in schedule 40 or schedule 80 pipe, the Steel Pipe Bollards are cored into the ground, increasing the strength level compared to surface mounted Bollards. Finishes include raw, galvanized, prime painted, and powder coated; all of which we recommend sleeving with a Bollard Cover. 

Applications: Designed for common, medium-impact areas like parking lots, storefronts, and loading docks, these Steel Pipe Bollards provide simple vehicle protection and can withstand harsh environmental conditions.

Galvanized Steel Pipe Bollards being installed using a trench and Sonotube to simplify the process.

2. Base Plate Bollards

Overview: The Base Plate Bollards are made with the same material as the Steel Pipe Bollards but are fabricated with base plates. The surface mounted protection pipes are designed for quick and easy installation without the need for deep foundations. Available with different types of base plates, including heavier duty or hidden, the Base Plate Bollards offer sturdy protection and are ideal for temporary or permanent use in low-to-medium impact areas. 

Applications: Suitable for warehouses, industrial facilities, and other shop floor areas where underground installation is not feasible, these Base Plate Bollards are great for locations that may need frequent reconfiguration.

Ideal Shield’s Base Plate Bollards with Bollard Covers protecting an entrance gate. 

3. Removable Locking Bollards

Overview: Made from 4″ or 6″ schedule 40 U.S. steel pipe with a specially designed ground floor sleeve, the Removable Locking Bollards provide versatility to any location as they can be simply removed and reinstalled when necessary. They are ideal for areas that require occasional vehicle access.

Applications: Pedestrian friendly areas, event venues, emergency access routes, and walkways benefit from the flexibility of Removable Locking Bollards, making them ideal for both temporary and long-term use.

Ideal Shield’s Removable Locking Bollards installed on a bike trail.

4. Collapsible Locking Bollards

Overview: The Collapsible Bollards are available in 4″ or 6″ options, are are designed to be “folded” or dropped down to allow larger vehicle passage when needed, offering a practical solution for temporary access control. Not designed for impacts, the Collapsible Bollards are more of a visual deterrent than a vehicle barrier. 

Applications: Driveways, restricted areas, and emergency access points can utilize Collapsible Bollards to control access without permanent obstruction.

Ideal Shield’s Collapsible Bollard with Bollard Cover dropped down to the ground for vehicle access. 

5. Bounce Back Bollards

Overview: An Ideal Shield exclusive, the Bounce Back Bollards are rebound bollards that are made to withstand minor impacts from forklifts or vehicles. Made from 4″ or 6″ U.S. steel pipe with a specially designed rubber flex system in the base plate, the Bounce Back Bollards absorb the energy of impacts and deflects up to 18 degrees, making the protection bollards ideal for traffic management and pedestrian safety. The 6″ Bounce Back Bollard is designed to stop a 10,000 lbs. forklift at 5 mph. 

Applications: Shop floors, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, storefronts, parking garages, and any other temporary traffic control areas benefit from the resilience of the Bounce Back Bollards, providing safety without significant damage from low-speed impacts.

Ideal Shield’s Bounce Back Bollard protecting structural assets and machinery at a manufacturing facility.

6. Block Out Bollards 

Overview: New to Ideal Shield, the Block Out Bollards are a set of two 6″ x 48″ Base Plate Bollards with an interior retractable caution tape dispenser for sectioning off designated areas. The caution tape can reach up to 29.5 feet. 

Applications: Shop floors, storage sections, end of racking, forklift picking areas, machinery areas, or other worker locations where areas need to be properly marked off to keep people or forklifts out of the area. 

Ideal Shield’s Red Block Out Bollards with extended caution tape to block off an active forklift working area. 

7. Flexible Bollards

Overview: The Flexible Bollards are a collaboration with FlexPost Inc. and are available in two different strength levels, Standard and Heavy Duty. Unlike the Bounce Back Bollards, these Flexible Bollards do not actually feature a Steel Pipe Bollard, instead they feature specially designed spring interiors sleeved with a Bollard Cover and are more of a protective deterrent that flexes upon vehicle impact while limiting damage to the vehicle and the surface. 

The Standard Flexible Bollard are designed to give drivers a warning sign when exceeding parking space or veering out of a lane while the Heavy Duty Flexible Bollard is designed to only flex when impacted by a vehicle and includes a lifetime warranty on manufacturer defects. 

Applications: Parking spots, storefronts, drive-thru delineators, bike lanes, and other pedestrian zones where lighter vehicle impacts are common find Flexible Bollards essential in maintaining safety and infrastructure integrity.

Ideal Shield’s Flexible Bollard upon impact from a pickup truck.

8. C40 Traffic Impact Bollards

Overview: The C40 Traffic Impact Bollard is exclusive to Ideal Shield and is the most cost-effective Crash Bollard on the market. Designed for storefront protection, the C40 Bollards are engineered and independently tested to meet the ASTM C40 P1 Standard and F3016-F3016M S30 P1 Standard as one individual C40 Bollard is designed to stop a 5,000 lbs. vehicle at 30 mph with less than 12″ of penetration. 

Applications: Storefront protection, commercial parking areas, pedestrian or residential areas near roads and intersections, and urban streetscapes utilize C40 Traffic Impact Bollards for their strong protective qualities in busy environments.

Ideal Shield’s C40 Traffic Impact Bollard during independent crash testing with a vehicle with the engine block inside. 

9. K4 Crash Bollards

Overview: The K4 Crash Rated Bollards are 8″ x 72″ prime painted pipe barriers tested and certified with ASTM F2656-07 M30 P1 Rating and are designed to stop a 15,000 lbs. vehicle at 30 mph within one-meter of penetration. These security bollards have bi-directional stopping capabilities and unrestricted spacing limits, and have been approved by the Department of Defense and are listed on the Anti-Ram Vehicle Barrier List. 

Applications: High traffic areas, storefronts, school zones, government buildings, embassies, and sensitive infrastructure installations rely on K4 Crash Bollards for their proven ability to deter vehicular threats.

Ideal Shield’s K4/M30 Crash Rated Bollards after fabrication and painting. 

10. K12 Crash Bollards

Overview: Offering the highest level of impact resistance out of any Ideal Shield Bollard, the K12 Crash Bollards are 10″ x 75.5″ prime painted pipe barriers tested and certified with ASTM F2656-07 M50 rating (k12) as they are designed to stop 15,000 lbs. vehicles at 50 mph with 1.2-meter penetration. Like the K4 Bollards, these heavy duty security bollards have bi-directional stopping capabilities and unrestricted spacing limits, and have been approved by the Department of Defense and are listed on the Anti-Ram Vehicle Barrier List. 

Applications: Government buildings, military bases, critical infrastructure, and high-security zones depend on K12 Crash Bollards for top-tier protection against extreme vehicular impacts.

Ideal Shield’s K12 Bollard installation.

Making the Right Choice

Choosing the right Ideal Bollard involves assessing security requirements, environmental factors, aesthetic preferences, budgetary limits, and maintenance needs. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

High-Security Needs: For areas requiring maximum security, such as military bases or government buildings, K12 Crash Bollards are the best choice. For moderate security needs, K4 Crash Bollards are suitable.

Traffic Control and Pedestrian Safety: Flexible Bollards are great for delineation for drive thru lanes or storefront parking but for real protection, the Steel Pipe Bollards or C40 Traffic Impact Bollards are ideal for ensuring pedestrian safety in urban environments and high-traffic areas.

Temporary Access: Removable Locking Bollards and Collapsible Bollards are perfect for locations that require temporary access control, such as event venues or emergency routes. The C40 Bollards can also be made to be removable if heavier duty protection is needed. The Block Out Bollards are great for a visual deterrent for limiting access to areas. 

Aesthetic and Functional Balance: Base Plate Bollards with your choice of Bollard Covers offer both protection and aesthetic appeal, making them suitable for commercial properties, public parks, and historical sites.

Industrial Protection: Steel Pipe Bollards and Base Plate Bollards provide robust protection from forklifts or fork trucks in high-impact areas like loading docks, machinery areas, storage racking, and parking lots.  

Ideal Shield’s diverse range of Bollards ensures that there is an option for every possible need, from high-security areas to decorative urban spaces. Investing in the appropriate pipe barrier not only enhances safety and security but also contributes to the overall functionality and appeal of your property or business. Trust Ideal Shield’s quality and expertise to provide the perfect bollard solution for your project.

For more information on what the difference is between the Bollard options and which Bollard is best for your need, contact the experienced sales and engineering team here at Ideal Shield today!