This post is brought to you by Reliance Foundry

Long before they began making the news as protection against vehicle attack, security bollards were an important part of the urban landscape. These useful little posts stand guard in front of storefronts, utility meters, playgrounds, and sidewalks.

Bollards are useful because they don’t impede traffic; they create a permeable perimeter for foot traffic. Bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs can also easily pass through a line of bollards. As an alternative to a
fence, wall, or berm, bollards create security for pedestrians without slowing them down.

As a security feature, bollards can provide a sense of safety—but they should not be an eyesore, nor create the feeling of living in a bunker. Decorative bollard sleeves, like Reliance Foundry’s newly introduced stainless steel bollard cover line, can provide aesthetic enhancements to a security perimeter. Not just guards, bollards are also guides. They direct traffic while protecting people and property.

Stainless steel is a durable, good looking material that keeps a luster even after years exposed to the elements. Reliance Foundry uses 316 stainless steel, a high-grade stainless steel. This grade of steel is made with molybdenum, which makes it corrosion resistant even in winter climates where it is subject to de-icing chemicals, or in marine environments where it is exposed to sea-salt spray. Modern stainless is machined into simple, sleek shapes. The resulting uncomplicated profile and understated shine complements many contemporary architectural styles.

Bollard covers are available in a variety of sizes, because concrete and steel security pipes come in different diameters and heights. Appropriate dimensions for bollards are chosen based on the volume,
speed, and variety of traffic near the protected area. Parking lots and utility meters often are protected with 4-1/2-in pipe, whereas bollards separating fast-moving traffic from pedestrians may be 8-5/8-in. A
variety of options are now available in stainless bollard covers, in three standard diameters and two heights.

Many bollard covers may be needed for a large site, so they must be easy to install. Reliance Foundry offers different installation options. The covers can be cemented into new poured concrete or affixed with adhesives to an existing one. Dome tops, mimicking the shape of concrete caps, have been a popular choice in stainless bollard covers. In the past few years, site designers have started to favor the flat-top look as an update on the classic profile. These can be chosen in any size for consistent look and feel.

The first impression of an organization or business is delivered through its curb appeal. Bollards are often part of that curb. When these little sentries are chosen to enhance their environment, they offer security without creating anxiety. If your site requires a look other than stainless steel, Reliance Foundry offers many types of bollard covers, from decorative cast-iron to high-visibility plastic. Custom designs are available for large sites developing a unique look. Contact us to learn more about any of our site furnishings or custom castings.