1. What type of bollard should I use?
2. What is the difference between bollards?
3. What type of footing or embedment do I need to use?
4. What if there are utilities and underground pipes that I am not aware of?
5. I have a parking structure, can I core drill into the suspended slab?
6. I need to shut down certain parts of a street at certain times for Farmer’s Markets, events, parades, etc.  What should I use?
7. I need a big bollard for a medium to high security application, but I also need to be able to remove it occasionally. What should I use?
8. What are the bollards made from?
9. What are the colors or finishes available to me?
10. What are the sizes/diameters of the bollards?
11. What is the difference or advantages of an internal locking bollard and an external locking bollard?
12. Is a base plate mounted bollard as strong as a fixed/embedded or locking/removable bollard?
13. Are the bollards manufactured in The United States?
14. Do I need to fill the bollard with cement?
15. What is the expected delivery time from when I place the order?

ANSWERS

What type of bollard should I use?  
Many factors go into the decision of what type of bollards should be used for a particular application.  A few things to consider before choosing a particular bollard are: What am I trying to accomplish?  What is it that I need to stop?  Is it a traffic deterrent or a security issue?  If it is a security issue, I need to ask, how big a vehicle do I want to stop and how fast could it be traveling when it makes impact?  These are the basic questions you need to ask yourself before starting the bollard selection process. You may find useful suggestions for your project on our CAL PIPE BOLLARDS RECCOMENDS page.

What is the difference between bollards?>
Basically, there are 4 different styles of security bollards. Fixed or embedded post, base plate, locking/removable and retractable. Lighted bollards are a type of fixed or embedded bollard.

 

What type of footing or embedment do I need to use? 
Cal Pipe Security Bollards recommends either a core drill or a strip footing.  For maximum security protection, a strip footing with a rebar cage tied into the bollards will make it more secure and much stronger because the whole footing will absorb the impact as opposed to an individual footing for each bollard.  Sometimes an individual footing is the most practical on a less security sensitive site. We do, however, always recommend a rebar cage for any type of footing.  Please ask for footing recommendations and Cal Pipe Security Bollards will be happy to provide them. Email us at info@calpipebollards.com for help.

 

What if there are utilities and underground pipes that I am not aware of?
In the course of the installation process, it is always recommended that you x-ray the area that will be excavated before installation. If you x-ray the area first, it will eliminate expensive downtime if a hidden utility line or water pipe is accidentally hit.

 

I have a parking structure, can I core drill into the suspended slab? 
Cal Pipe Security Bollards never recommends core drilling into a slab. We recommend a base plate bollard in that situation. Although, a base plate bollard does not have the vehicle stopping capacity that an embedded or removable bollard has, it will be a visual deterrent and will protect items to some degree.

 

I have a need to shut down certain parts of a street at certain times for Farmer’s Markets, events, parades, etc.  What should I use? 
Cal Pipe Security Bollards recommends a locking/removable bollard. With this type of bollard, you have the flexibility and security of an embedded bollard. Instead of embedding the bollard itself, you install the embedment sleeve and the bollard slips into the sleeve. When the event is over, simply remove the bollard and the stainless steel flip top lid that is attached to the embedment sleeve falls into place to cover the hole. The lid has a security bolt with it so you can lock down the lid when not in use. More and more clients are seeing the benefits of the locking removable bollard and are getting more embedment sleeves than bollards for multiple locations. That way, whenever a bollard is needed in any given area, the embedment sleeve is already in place. Lifestyle Centers as well as city or town events are the perfect candidates for a locking/removable bollard. Locking/removable bollards have either an external padlock for locking into place or an internal key-locking system for a tamper proof solution.

 

I need a big bollard for a medium to high security application, but I also need to be able to remove it occasionally. What should I use?
This situation would probably require a retractable bollard. When a bollard is over 6” in diameter, a retractable bollard would be the most practical. Over 6”, they are simply too heavy to move. With a retractable bollard you need to determine whether you want it to be manually retratcted, retracted using assisted-lift technology, or retracted automatically? A manually retractable bollard has the advantage of simplicity and is for lighter bollard solutions. A simple twist raises or lowers the bollard post in or out of the embedded bollard sleeve. Assisted lift retractable bollards feature compressed air assistance, built into the bollard, to make raising it as simple as turning a key and watching it float and lock into position. Retracting the bollard is just as simple; turn the key and gently push the bollard down and step on it to lock it in the down position. An automatic retractable bollard should be used in high use areas such as a guard gated entrance, an entrance with numerous deliveries per day or any use where the bollards will be going up and down on a near continuous basis.

 

What are the bollards made from?  
The bollards are manufactured out of carbon steel, 304 stainless steel, or 316 stainless steel for highly corrosive areas. Aluminum bollards are for architectural uses only.

 

What are the colors or finishes available to me.  
We polish the stainless steel to a #4 satin finish.  We can also electrostatically powder coat our bollards with your choice of either safety yellow or black as standard colors, or choose from over 150 custom colors.

 

What are the sizes/diameters of the bollards? 
Our bollards range in size from 3” diameter to 12” diameter for the majority of our bollards.

 

What is the difference or advantages of an internal locking bollard and an external locking bollard?
The most obvious difference is that an internal locking bollard is virtually tamper proof. Another feature of the internal locking bollard is that when in place, it will look the same as the embedded bollards it is most likely mixed in with. The lock is waist high, so there is no kneeling on the ground to unlock the padlock. The external padlocking bollard is preferred for industrial use such as an alley or thru-way.  The police or fire department usually prefer the padlocking bollard because they have the universal key – the bolt cutter for emergencies.

 

Is a base plate mounted bollard as strong as a fixed/embedded or locking/removable bollard? 
No. The base plate bollard should be used when there is either a suspended slab or underground utilities that can’t be disturbed or inside of warehouses and distribution centers. The base plate bollard is only as strong as the cement it is mounted into.

 

Are the bollards manufactured in The United States? 
Cal Pipe Security Bollards are manufactured entirely in the United States. We currently have 3 manufacturing facilities. 2 in Southern California, 1 in Indiana. -top

 

Do I need to fill the bollard with cement?
That is entirely up to the installer. However, a common misconception is that a cement filled bollard is stronger. The strength of a bollard is dependent upon the diameter and wall thickness of the bollard coupled with the proper footing installation of the bollard. Cement adds bulk but not strength.

 

What is the expected delivery time from when I place the order? 
For Fixed, base plate, and any of our locking removable line, delivery is approximately 4 weeks. For most retractable bollards the delivery time is approximately 8-12 weeks, Our goal is to manufacture and deliver the highest quality bollards as fast as we possibly can.