Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If bollards are not suitable to your company's specific needs, a good
compromise option may be the placement of heavy cement planters. This
option can be seen at many government installations all over the United
States.
Many government agencies and business facilities opt for permanently
placed heavy cement planters, which are both cost effective and aesthetically
pleasing. A heavy cement planter placed properly will accomplish much
the same thing as a bollard, wedge, or other physical impediment and can
actually serve to enhance the beauty of the building. Planters cemented
into the ground or sidewalk are preferable to those that are free-standing.
For companies that are not concerned with aesthetics and favor a heavily
fortified site, combinations of various methods may be used. Planters,
however, cannot be lowered and
raised to allow the passage of
authorized traffic.
Most of the time there also
must be provisions made to allow
vehicles to access the building.
Underground parking garages are
common and deliveries must be
made. Therefore, a secure guard
gate must be used. Keep in mind
that if you have a secure system
of bollards or barricades, the gate
will then become the weakest link
that an attacker will attempt to
exploit. The gate must therefore
have the same ability to prevent
a determined attack while allowing relatively smooth access for employ-
ees, visitors, and guests. Do not utilize a gate designed for parking con-
trol in a place that requires an effective impediment to a determined entry.
The guard gate needs to be sturdy and ideally backed up by a heavy steel
wedge that is hydraulically operated. The gates and wedges can be quickly
opened or retracted to allow access but will be every bit as effective as the
fixed bollards (see Exhibit 12.7).
The IP 500 portable barricade from Delta Scientific may be rapidly
deployed; set up time is under two hours. It will secure a roadway up to
15 feet wide and is certified to defeat a 15,000-pound vehicle at 30 miles
per hour. This system may be operated either manually or hydraulically
Exhibit 12.7
Crash Test of a Delta
IP 500 Portable Barricade
Photo courtesy of Delta Scientific.
