Use Bollards to Protect Equipment Screens

Mechanical equipment screens aren’t a cheap investment for property managers. Whether you need a simple square-shaped enclosure to surround a dumpster or a series of panels protecting an entire rooftop border, you’ll want to take measures to ensure that the final installation is safe from impact-caused damage. Some of the fixtures that require screening are located at ground-level, and if the site in question’s near a parking lot, there is the chance of a vehicular impact. A fast-moving vehicle can cause significant damage to the screens and, potentially, the equipment contained within. Even a slower-moving vehicle can cause dents and dings that’ll cost you some good change to repair and mend.

In this article, we’ll explain why PalmSHIELD’s bollards are the top choice for protecting ground-level equipment screens. PalmSHIELD sells four distinct types of bollards: surfaced mounted, embedded, removable, and collapsible. Which one constitutes the best choice depends on your situation and needs.

Protecting Equipment Screens from Vehicular Impacts

When it comes to shielding against heavy mobile objects such as vehicles, you obviously need bollards that possess an exceptional connection to the ground. For this reason, the removable bollard option is not advisable; these are commonly used, instead, at car shows, flea markets, and other public events that only need security on a temporary basis. Instead, we recommend our embedded bollards. These are installed directly into the ground via a dug up hole that is then fitted with cement. The reinforced strength from the cement provides the bollards the exceptional strength needed to push back against impact.

What’s more, removable bollards can be knocked around by an impact, potentially slamming into items or people. Embedded bollards, because they’re stuck into the ground, aren’t as predictable and are less likely to cause additional damage in the event of an accident.

Visual Aid for Approaching Vehicles

Colors and objects play an instrumental role in the automobile world. Red stop signs, coded traffic lights, white speed limit signs with massive black lettering. Objects like these stand out visually to drivers, and this is another area in which bollards come into play. When drivers approach an area that’s protected, they’re more likely to notice the colorful columns protruding between the parking lot and the walkway and the equipment screens on that walkway.

Easy Passage for Pedestrians

A key benefit of bollards over fencing is easy passage for civilians. Bollards are strategically spaced apart at such a distance to prevent passage of automobiles. At the same time, the gap is more than sufficiently wide enough for pedestrians to pass through if they need access to the parking lot. This makes bollards a superior choice over fencing, which requires pedestrians to either walk around or go through a gate.

Collapsible Bollard Option

Now, if there are situations where you need a particular vehicle to get closer to your mechanical equipment screen, it would be convenient to have bollards that can be temporarily collapsed. (Say, you need a maintenance truck or a garbage truck to get closer to the gated entrance of your screening enclosure.) PalmSHIELD has a Collapsible Bollard option. These bollards are installed into the pavement using anchors inserted through holes in the corner of their base plates. The columns can be collapsed, allowing vehicles to pass over. And when the job is done, they can be set up and locked into place again, restoring the barrier protecting your screens.

Contact PalmSHIELD’s sales team to get started on your mechanical equipment screen project and/or purchase bollards for your property.