Bollards stop vehicles. That might mean protecting a shopfront from a ram raid, stopping vans driving onto a pavement, or simply keeping people from parking in the wrong place. The right bollard depends on what you are trying to stop, so it is worth being precise before you choose.
Fixed, removable and retractable
- Fixed: permanently set into the ground. Simplest, cheapest and the most reliable, because there is nothing to go wrong.
- Removable: lifted out of a socket when you need vehicle access. No power needed, but someone has to do it and replace it.
- Retractable: lower into the ground manually, or automatically using a motor or hydraulic system. Convenient for access control but more complex and needs servicing.
Ratings: what do all the codes mean?
Bollards for serious vehicle protection are crash tested. You may see:
- PAS 68: the older UK specification for vehicle security barriers, with ratings that describe the vehicle weight, speed and how far the vehicle penetrates.
- IWA 14: an international agreement that built on PAS 68.
- ISO 22343: the more recent international standard that now sits above the earlier two.
- PAS 170: a lower-energy test for accidental or low speed impacts and smaller scale ram raids.
Not every bollard is rated. Light-duty bollards are fine for guiding traffic or protecting a wall from knocks, but they will not stop a determined vehicle attack. If you need real protection, ask for the test certificate and the rating that matches your risk.
Planning permission
For a private driveway in England, bollards are generally treated like other gates and means of enclosure, so they are often permitted development within the height limits: 1 metre next to a highway, 2 metres elsewhere. Bollards on or next to the public highway, in conservation areas or on listed properties usually need consent, and commercial sites often do too. Always check with your local planning authority and, for the highway, the highway authority.
Cost
Costs vary hugely with type and rating:
- Simple fixed bollards: a modest cost per bollard installed.
- Removable and telescopic bollards: higher, because of the socket and the mechanism.
- Automatic or hydraulic bollards: the highest, because of the equipment, groundworks and power.
- Crash-rated bollards: priced to the rating and need substantial foundations, which are a big part of the price.
Ground conditions and underground services can change a quote significantly, so a survey is important.
Checklist before you buy
- What are you protecting and from what? Accidental knocks, parking or a deliberate attack?
- Do you need vehicles to get past regularly?
- What rating, if any, do you or your insurer require?
- Is the land yours, and is planning or highway consent needed?
- Who will service and test moving bollards?
We supply and install bollards and barriers for homes and businesses. See our gates, barriers and bollards page, or read about layered perimeter security.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission for bollards?
On a private driveway in England, bollards are normally treated like other means of enclosure and are often permitted development within the height limits. Bollards on or next to the public highway, or on commercial sites, normally need consent.
What does PAS 68 mean?
PAS 68 was the UK specification for testing vehicle security barriers against vehicle impact. It has largely been replaced by IWA 14 and then ISO 22343, though PAS 68 ratings are still widely quoted.
Are retractable bollards as strong as fixed ones?
They can carry the same crash rating, but they have moving parts that need maintenance, and they only protect when they are raised.