Bollard Access Control: Planning an Entrance That Works for Everyone

A well-planned bollard entrance should make a site safer without making everyday access difficult. It's not just about choosing the right equipment. You also need to think about who will be using the entrance, where vehicles should stop, how visitors request access and what happens when something doesn't go according to plan.

JBDS Power offers fixed, removable and automatic bollard solutions. This guide looks at the day-to-day access questions worth discussing before a final layout and operating method are agreed.

Start by Understanding Your Busiest Hours

Before selecting a bollard system, take some time to understand how your entrance is used during the busiest part of the day.

Think about the beginning of a typical shift. Employees are arriving in their cars, visitors are trying to find reception, and delivery drivers may be waiting for instructions. All of this happens around the same entrance, sometimes within a few minutes.

Take note of how many vehicles arrive during peak hours and where queues tend to form. Include cars, two-wheelers, delivery vans and larger vehicles in your assessment. It's also worth speaking with the security team to understand where delays usually happen.

A site visit during a quiet afternoon might not reveal these issues. Looking at actual traffic patterns will give you a much clearer idea of what the entrance needs to handle.

Make It Easy for Visitors to Request Access

Regular employees usually know the entry procedure, but first-time visitors may not. If the entrance isn't clearly marked, they might stop in the wrong place, approach the bollards or leave their vehicle to look for assistance.

A simple and clearly communicated entry process can prevent much of this confusion. Visitors should know where to stop, how to contact security and what to expect while their entry is being approved.

Discuss the available options with your supplier and security team. Depending on the site, this could involve a security guard, an intercom or another approved access control method.

Also consider what happens outside normal working hours. Who handles visitor requests when the main reception is closed? What should happen if a visitor arrives without an appointment or cannot get through to security?

These details are just as important as the bollard system itself. The equipment and the people operating it should work together.

Plan Delivery Access In Advance

Delivery vehicles can create a different set of challenges compared with regular staff traffic. A van waiting for paperwork or a large vehicle trying to manoeuvre through a restricted entrance can quickly cause congestion.

Before finalising the layout, identify the types of delivery vehicles expected at your site. Consider how frequently they arrive, whether they need additional turning space and where unloading will take place.

It's also worth deciding where delivery drivers should wait if their entry hasn't been approved. If space permits, discuss a designated waiting area with the design team.

Make sure drivers receive clear instructions about when to proceed and where they need to go once inside. A well-organised booking process and clear directions can make a significant difference to how smoothly the entrance operates.

Keep Pedestrian Access Clear and Safe

Vehicle security should never come at the expense of pedestrian movement.

Walk through the entrance from the perspective of someone arriving on foot. Is the pedestrian route easy to identify? Can visitors reach reception without walking through a vehicle lane? Is there enough space for wheelchair users, people carrying luggage and parents with children?

These questions are easier to address during the planning stage than after the bollards have been installed.

Ask the design team to show pedestrian walkways, vehicle movement and bollard positions on the same site drawing. Accessibility, clearances and applicable safety requirements should also be reviewed by the responsible designer.

Don't rely on photographs alone when deciding where bollards or pedestrian gaps should go. Lighting, signs and the route beyond the entrance all need to be considered as part of the overall layout.

Decide What Happens During an Emergency or Equipment Failure

An entrance should be planned for more than just normal working conditions. Power interruptions, equipment faults and unexpected emergency access requests can all affect how the system operates.

Ask your supplier how the proposed bollard installation is designed to respond to these situations. The answer will depend on the equipment selected, the site's security requirements and its approved emergency procedures.

It's important to establish who is authorised to respond, where operating instructions are available and how technical assistance can be contacted.

Emergency access arrangements should be discussed with the responsible site team and relevant authorities wherever necessary. Employees and security staff should understand the approved procedure rather than trying to operate or bypass faulty equipment themselves.

Include these situations in the installation handover so everyone knows what to do if normal operation is interrupted.

Make Sure the Security Team Gets a Proper Handover

Even a well-designed entrance can become difficult to manage if the people responsible for operating it haven't received proper instructions.

Once installation is complete, make sure the security and facilities teams receive the necessary operating manuals, service contact details and training. Everyone should understand their responsibilities, including who to contact when something goes wrong.

It's also a good idea to review the entrance after it has been used during normal working hours. Are visitors stopping in the right place? Are delivery drivers following the correct route? Is the security team finding the access procedure easy to manage?

Keep a record of any problems and discuss possible improvements with your supplier. Avoid changing equipment settings or physical arrangements without proper guidance.

Sometimes, a few days of actual use can reveal practical issues that weren't obvious during the initial planning stage.

What Information Should You Share When Enquiring About Bollards?

If you're planning a new bollard installation, having the right information ready can make the initial discussion much more productive.

Consider sharing:

• A marked site plan showing the proposed entrance.

• Recent photographs of the entrance and surrounding area.

• Details of the vehicles expected to use the entrance.

• Observations about peak-hour traffic and waiting areas.

• Information about visitor and delivery access procedures.

• Your security objectives and any known site restrictions.

This gives the supplier a better understanding of your requirements and helps identify suitable solutions.

The final equipment selection should always be based on a site-specific assessment. The appearance of a bollard alone doesn't establish its impact resistance, security performance or suitability for a particular application.

For more information about preparing the site, read our bollard installation planning guide.

When you're ready to discuss your requirements, get in touch with JBDS Power. Share your site layout and access requirements, and our team can help you explore suitable fixed, removable and automatic bollard solutions.

Images are AI-generated planning concepts with JBDS branding, not photographs of completed customer installations.