Bollard Installation — Blog Overview (UAE)
Manufacturers or suppliers typically perform a site survey and issue an installation guide tailored to project conditions. To protect safety and quality, an installation safety checklist and a project-specific Method Statement & Risk Assessment (MS/RA) are required—especially where HVM measures are deployed in developed urban areas (SIRA applies where the project falls within scope).

Key Factors to Confirm Before Installation

• Planning, procurement & permits (programme, material readiness, access windows, traffic/pedestrian management).
• Underground services (utility scans/NOCs; safe offsets and “no-dig” zones).
• Installation safety (HSE setup, toolbox talks, confined space/hot-work permits where relevant).
• Foundations (tested details for HVM; subgrade/water-table constraints; reinstatement strategy).
• Installation process (sequence, tolerances, curing, commissioning for powered units).
• Quality assurance (inspection/test records, as-builts, O&M, training, warranty).

Planning, Procurement & Work Permits

Good planning reduces delays, double-handling, and cost. After vulnerabilities are identified, stakeholders (e.g., malls, airports, hotels, petrol stations) may require rapid deployment of HVM or access-control bollards. Procurement should secure materials and coordinate delivery timing with permit windows (excavation, temporary traffic/pedestrian diversions, working hours). Keep excavation zones short-duration to maintain operations and ensure imported items are on site before works begin.

Underground Services

Except for surface-mounted/bolt-down units, bollard installation needs excavation. Crash-rated (HVM) systems require specific foundation depths per the tested detail; where excavation is constrained by critical utilities, shallow-mount systems may be used if they meet performance needs and site conditions.

Before excavating, assess nearby structures, overhead/underground utilities, traffic flows, and engineering constraints. Electrical cables are hazardous; use competent personnel and scanning to detect/locate services. Some utilities may need planned shutdowns with notice periods. Review local code/authority requirements and obtain approvals before works.

Installation Safety

After permits are in place, cordon the work area with approved barricades and signage. Prepare safety resources: warning lights, tapes/mesh, extinguishers, spill kits, fall-protection where needed. All personnel should complete safety induction and daily toolbox talks. Manage cables to prevent trip hazards and take electrical power only from approved sources. Remove spoil to approved areas and compact loose backfill per specification.

Bollard Foundations

Foundation performance often governs success more than the bollard post itself. Pavement type/thickness and soil conditions around the fulcrum are critical. HVM/crash-rated systems must use the manufacturer’s tested foundation detail; do not substitute geometry/reinforcement that could alter performance. For non-HVM applications, a structural engineer should size foundations to duty, subgrade, and adjacent conditions; water-table control and waterproofing may be required.

Installation Process

The exact process varies by type. Typical steps: mark-out & protect finishes; saw-cut and lift surface; excavate to depth; place rebar cages, conduits, and earthing; align sleeves/frames to laser/string line; pour/vibrate concrete and implement curing; reinstate surroundings. For powered/semi-automatic systems, pull and terminate power/control cabling, perform insulation resistance and earth tests, then commission safety (E-stop, loops/photocells) and program the controller. Allow adequate curing before loading; once cured, adjustments are limited.

Quality Control & Assurance

Post-install checks should include alignment/level tolerances, surface finish, and protection of coatings. Record IR/earth/RCD results for powered units, confirm obstruction detection/manual release, and document functional cycles. Provide as-built drawings, O&M manuals, warranty, and training. For stainless/coated finishes, clean as per the finish guide to maximize lifespan.