Bollards vs Barriers: Choosing the Right Security Solution

As Australia’s urban areas continue to expand to accommodate a growing population, the need for adequate safety and access measures is greater than ever.

Security risks such as vehicle-ramming, vandalism, and theft have also increased, making protective infrastructure a critical consideration for property managers, councils, and business owners.

Bollards and barriers are used to safeguard pedestrians, vehicles, and assets by controlling traffic flow and restricting access within certain areas such as car parks, roads, and shared public spaces. Serving as permanent or temporary barricades, they help prevent accidental collisions, property damage, and intentional attacks.

In this article, we’ll break down the key differences, explore the various types available, and highlight relevant Australian Standards to help you make an informed, compliant decision for your next project.

What Are Bollards & Barriers?

Both bollards and barriers are installed to enhance the safety of pedestrians and vehicles. This may include protecting pedestrians from vehicle impact, preventing unauthorised vehicle access to restricted areas, and regulating traffic flow.

Bollards

Short and sturdy vertical posts
Typically made from steel or concrete for maximum impact resistance and durability
Strategically spaced to restrict access or guide vehicle flow
Available as removable, collapsible, and breakaway designs depending on the application

Barriers

Larger, continuous or modular structures
Made from materials such as concrete, steel, or plastic, depending on the purpose
Designed to block or redirect vehicles entirely

Understanding Compliance: Australian Standards for Bollards & Barriers

In Australia, the installation of bollards and barriers is guided by several Australian Standards and frameworks that ensure safety, accessibility, and long-term effectiveness.

While not all are mandatory, compliance helps reduce risk, prevent accidents, and minimise liability.

Key standards and frameworks to note:

AS 2890.1:2004 – Contains general guidelines for off-street parking facilities, including safety regulations, materials and design, spacing and layout, and accessibility measures.
AS 2890.6:2022 – Addresses accessibility requirements, including provisions for the installation of bollards to protect accessible parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
AS/NZS 3845.1:2015 – Covers road safety barrier systems, with specifications for materials, construction, testing, and certification.
AS 1742.3-2009 – Outlines maintenance and inspection requirements to ensure bollards and barriers remain effective over time.
AS 1428.1:2021 – Focuses on accessibility, including minimum spacing to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
Local council guidelines – Often require bollards and barriers to be highly visible, appropriately spaced, and integrated into urban design for public safety.

Even if not mandated, international crash-testing standards such as ASTM F2656 and PAS 68 are frequently referenced in Australian projects to assess the impact resistance of bollards and barriers.

Failing to meet these standards may result in safety risks, accessibility issues, and potential liability if a preventable incident occurs on-site. Ensuring compliance not only safeguards users and property but also protects site owners from legal consequences.

Download our Car Park Safety Compliance Guide for more helpful information, including Australian Standards for bollards.

Types of Bollards

Safety bollards are commonly installed in shared traffic zones to enhance safety and traffic control, including car parks, building fronts, main roads, and sidewalks.

**Fixed Bollard: In-ground, embedded in concrete**

**Removable Bollard: Key-locked, base-plate secured**

**Retractable / Collapsible Bollard: Manual or Automatic**

From traffic control to security and aesthetics, the most common types of bollards include:

Fixed bollards: Installed either in-ground or surface-mounted, as a permanent solution.
Removable bollards: Can be removed or replaced, typically surface-mounted, embedded, or secured with a key.
Collapsible/ retractable bollards: Temporary barriers that retract or lower into the ground when not in use.
Automatic bollards: Can be raised or lowered automatically and controlled remotely, often used to prevent unauthorised access to restricted or high-security areas
Crash-rated bollards: Security posts engineered to stop or reduce the force of a moving vehicle, tested under realistic impact conditions.
Architectural/decorative bollards: Designed to enhance outdoor aesthetics, commonly seen in city centres, councils, and retail precincts.

Types of Barriers

Unlike safety bollards, barriers are used to create continuous blockage, and often require more space.

Depending on the application, from traffic management to high-security protection, the most common types of barriers include:

Concrete jersey barriers: Commonly used on roads, highways, and temporary worksites to prevent vehicle access.
Steel guardrails: Installed along highways and roadsides to guide traffic and enhance safety.
Portable water-filled barriers: Temporary, portable barriers for security at construction sites, events, and festivals.
Crash-rated security barriers: Heavy-duty barriers designed to stop vehicles, often used at airports, government facilities, and other high-security areas.

A Quick Comparison: Bollards vs. Barriers

Factor	Bollards	Barriers
Pedestrian Access	✔ Allows movement between posts	✖ Blocks both pedestrian and vehicle access
Space Efficiency	✔ Compact—suitable for footpaths, shopfronts, building entrances	✖ Requires a larger area for placement
Visual Appeal	✔ Can be decorative or architecturally designed for aesthetic integration	✖ More bulky and industrial-looking
Flexibility	✔ Removable, retractable, or collapsible options available	✖ Portable options exist, but are bulkier and harder to move
Crash Protection	✔ Crash-rated bollards available	✔ Strong impact resistance by design
Australian Use Case	✔ Car parks, shopping centres, CBDs	✔ Roads, construction sites, events, high-security zones

Which Is Better: Bollards or Barriers for Your Site?

Bollards and barriers both have strengths suited to specific environments, safety needs, and aesthetic goals.

Assessing the site, expected traffic flow, security protocol, and pedestrian access is essential to determine the most effective solution.

The table below outlines common scenarios and whether bollards or barriers are better suited for each application.

Project	Recommended Product	Reasoning
Retail & Hospitality Precincts	Fixed In-Ground Bollards or Surface-Mounted Bollards	Limits vehicle access while maintaining pedestrian flow, and can be used to enhance surrounding aesthetics.
Construction & Roadworks	Barriers	Provides visible, continuous protection that can be quickly installed or repositioned.
Building Sites	Fixed In-Ground Bollards or Surface-Mounted Bollards	Offers site protection and traffic management
Car Parks & Driveways	Removable Bollards	Secures restricted areas after hours while allowing flexible access for authorised vehicles.
High-Security Infrastructure	Crash-rated bollards or barriers	Depends on perimeter security requirements and the level of hostile vehicle mitigation required.

Learn more about Australian Standards for car park bollards and our recommended products.