Are Bollards Legally Required?

Traffic bollards, typically made out of stainless steel, are short, vertical posts meant to obstruct the passing of traffic. They’re used today mainly to block vehicles from gaining access to certain areas, be it walkways, storefronts, or really anywhere else.  There are different types—permanent and removable bollards, for example—but how do you know if you need them? Of course, if you own property or are in charge of making an area safe from vehicle traffic, they’re helpful. But is it illegal NOT to have them?

While it’s not illegal to not have traffic delineators, the Occupational Safety and Hazards Association (OSHA) does have a set of standards in place to uphold safety. For example, there are color requirements—the bollards must be a shade of canary yellow commonly called “OSHA yellow,” and the height and weight resistance requirements are based on the bollards’ intended uses.

The U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense also have regulations and approved bollards for security use in public institutions and at embassies. These bollards used in these applications are usually disguised somewhat, painted, or covered in order to look aesthetically pleasing. The bollards at these locations are held to a standard that they must be able to resist 15,000 pounds hitting them at a 50 mph speed. In short, these bollards are pretty powerful against potential intruding traffic.

Sometimes OSHA requires the bollards to be permanent, but not always. If you have questions about the requirements your space may have in regards to traffic bollards being installed, it’s best to contact OSHA for more information that is specific to your location and intended use for the bollards.

That being said, though not all facilities are required to use bollards to control traffic flow, traffic bollards are generally good things to have. If someone owns a store, however, bollards placed in front of the doors or windows can prevent a lot of damage, particularly if someone tries to crash their car through the windows in order to burglarize the shop.