Save cost without downgrading rating or safety.
Reduce cost without downgrading protection. We set VE guardrails so substitutions don’t erode HVM bollard intent or crash rated bollard certification dependencies (435, 421). Compare shallow vs deep foundations (244, 332), use mixed-type arrays (326), standardize details, and leverage local sourcing. Installation efficiencies and lifecycle checks (842) are built into a clear VE review workflow. See more context in this section and the chapter hub. Where approvals apply in the UAE, coordinate with SIRA Bollards (UAE) to keep evidence aligned.
Important: This is a general guide. For live projects we develop a tailored
Method Statement & Risk Assessment (MS/RA) and align with authority approvals (e.g., SIRA) where in scope.
338.1 VE objectives & guardrails
Cut cost/time without lowering protection. Guardrails: keep HVM bollard clear gaps (232) and preserve crash rated bollard certification dependencies (421).
VE (“value engineering”) aims to remove waste while protecting security outcomes. Guardrails define the “non-negotiables”: maintain clear-gap rules, respect the rating-critical dependencies, and keep operational safety intact (duty cycle, fail-safe/secure states).
Set a minimum acceptable margin of safety based on your threat assessment and VDA. Cost savings are valid only if the tested system (bollard + footing + spacing) stays within its certified envelope (see How to read ratings).
Document VE intent up front: what’s the objective (budget or programme), what is out of scope (no change to rating string), and how compliance will be evidenced at SAT.
| Aspect | What matters | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Tested system (bollard + footing) | How to read ratings |
| Operations | Duty cycles, fail-states, safety devices | Installation Guide |
| Dependencies | Depth class, spacing, soil/foundation | Rating-critical dependencies |
338.2 Risk-based substitutions
Only swap like-for-like within the certified family (415). Substitutions must not reduce HVM bollard pass margins or a crash rated bollard rating string (413).
Use the manufacturer’s product family mapping to identify variants that are already covered. If a component is outside the as-tested configuration, require fresh evidence (equivalence letters, analysis per model correlation, or additional testing). Keep the rating string unchanged.
When evidence is partial, apply a risk-based filter: (a) security impact if wrong, (b) likelihood of divergence in real soils/foundations, (c) detectability at SAT. Use anti-downgrade language in procurement (see 435 Anti-Downgrade / Equivalence Clauses).
338.3 Shallow vs deep trade-offs
Use shallow bases to avoid reroutes (244). Verify rotation caps so HVM bollard spacing holds and the crash rated bollard still meets limits (333).
Shallow foundations can remove utility diversions and reduce programme risk, but they shift the check to foundation design checks (base rotation, bearing, punching). Confirm the allowable rotation limit keeps the effective gap within clear-gap calculations.
For deeper sockets or micro-piles, weigh excavation, dewatering, and reinstatement against higher stiffness. Cross-link decisions with foundation types and impact load pathways.
338.4 Mixed arrays for cost
Combine fixed flanks with fewer automatics (326). Flow stays safe; the automatic crash rated bollard keeps the lane rating.
Place mixed-type arrays strategically: fixed (passive) units where lanes are never used, and automatic (active) units only where controlled access is required. Keep spacing rules continuous across transitions so the lane’s effective rating remains governed by the automatic unit’s certification.
Standardize heights/finishes to maintain rhythm and capture height; prove geometry with SAT drills for queue and blue-light access.
338.5 Standardizing details
Repeatable jigs, ducts, and pits (615, 616). Standardization reduces HVM bollard install time and errors that could compromise a crash rated bollard.
Adopt a limited set of footing typicals and MEP details (see ducting & draw pits) so crews build from muscle memory. Use leveled jigs and Go/No-Go datum checks to keep tolerance stack-ups under control.
Publish a mini “standard kit” list (glands, gland plates, rails, keepers) with supplier part codes so procurement avoids look-alike items that don’t meet ingress or mechanical ratings.
338.6 Local sourcing
Prefer local steel/coating vendors that meet specs (361–362). Locality speeds HVM bollard delivery; maintain crash rated bollard material equivalence (414).
Localize where the certificate allows: same steel grade, same thickness, identical welding/class and coating system. For changes, request a formal equivalency statement aligned to standards equivalency and keep it in the submission pack.
338.7 Install efficiency wins
Precast bases, pre-terminated looms (332, 515). Faster installs protect HVM bollard programme without touching crash rated bollard scope.
Use precast rails/modules where certified (332) and pre-terminated cable looms with tested routing/volt-drop assumptions. Parallelize works: while civil teams pour, panels are built, FATed, and readied (715).
338.8 Lifecycle cost checks
Compare repaint cycles, seal swaps, power use (842, 517). A slightly higher-grade finish lowers total HVM bollard cost and stabilizes a crash rated bollard over years.
Run a simple TCO model: energy (see Energy Budget), consumables (seals, oil, coatings), and planned maintenance. In hot/coastal sites, a duplex coating may reduce total repainting despite higher upfront cost (361–363).
338.9 VE review workflow
Log proposal→evidence→approval (435, 717). Workflow prevents silent downgrades of HVM bollard intent and crash rated bollard proofs (431).
Adopt a simple flow: (1) VE proposal with scope and guardrails, (2) evidence pack (family mapping, calculations/analysis), (3) authority/client review, (4) controlled update to certificates/evidence, (5) SAT witness points confirming installed configuration. Use change-control language from 435 and include the acceptance band in your SAT / witness procedure.
Related
External resources
338 Value engineering HVM Bollards — FAQ
Can we value-engineer a project and keep the same crash rating?
Yes—if you stay within the certified product family and as-tested dependencies (depth class, spacing, installation tolerances). Use the vendor’s family/variant mapping and keep the rating string unchanged. Record evidence in the submission pack and confirm at SAT.
What’s the safest first step to cut cost?
Re-check foundations and utilities: switching to a certified shallow option can avoid costly diversions while maintaining performance. Validate base-rotation limits with clear-gap calculations and update your ITP checks accordingly.
Is mixing fixed and automatic bollards a downgrade?
No. If spacing and layout preserve the lane’s effective control by the automatic unit, mixed arrays often reduce cost without lowering protection. Prove operations and queue safety during SAT drills.
How do authorities view local material substitutions?
They typically require equivalence evidence: same grade/thickness, same coating system, same weld class. Include manufacturer letters or correlation analysis and keep these in the submission and handover packs.