First Choice Bollard Caps Help Increase Bollards’ Lifespans
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Each year,
bollards prevent many millions of dollars worth of property damage and save a number of people from becoming injured or worse. Along with hand railing and guard rails,
bollards are among the most frequently used safety equipment, both indoors and outdoors.
Bollards most often resemble thick, wide-diameter poles. They frequently are set into concrete, and their main function is to physically block vehicles to keep them from striking people or property. Bollards are most often used at locales such as college campuses, public parks, schools and parking lots as well as indoors at industrial facilities to keep vehicles from being inadvertently driven into people, machinery, or structures. Although most models are virtually maintenance-free, bollards should be examined periodically to make sure that impacts have not reduced their effectiveness. Additionally, their caps and covers, both of which increase bollards’ longevity, also should be examined regularly and replaced if necessary.
Bollard caps are an essential component of protective bollards that should be replaced when damaged or missing. The
bollard cap, also sometimes referred to as a
safety pipe cap, is
material handling equipment that fits securely on top of a bollard. These safety
bollard caps are typically made of either steel or molded rubber. The main function of
bollard caps is to keep objects and substances from collecting in or being dropped into bollards, many models of which are hollow. Rainwater, clearly, is undesirable to have inside a bollard. When it freezes and thus expands, it can cause the bollard to bulge and warp over time, shortening its lifespan. Water also can cause rusting inside steel bollards, further reducing their longevity. Most bollard models come with caps, but, unless welded into place, many of these caps will need to be replaced at some point.
In addition to bollard caps,
bollard covers also are important protective equipment for these safety barriers. A
bollard cap, also known as a
safety pipe cover, is a sleeve that’s most often made of heavy-duty, durable plastic.
Safety pipe covers slip over bollards from top to bottom, protective them against scrapes and nicks. These covers enable the bollards to maintain a neat appearance over the years. Further, they eliminate the need for eventual bollard repainting, thus saving money on paint and labor costs. One additional piece of key protective equipment for bollards is dome covers. A dome cover fits permanently over a bollard’s base, preventing mishaps cause by people tripping over raised bollard bolts.
Bollards are highly durable protective and safety equipment; they absolutely have to be to perform their job of stopping errantly driven, heavy vehicles. Many bollard models are designed to be filled with concrete, which increases their strength and stability, enabling them to better absorb vehicle impacts. As is the case with virtually all industrial equipment, bollards’ longevity can be increased by the use of inexpensive, complementary equipment. The use of bollard caps and the replacement of these caps when necessary helps enable bollards to perform their vital function – protecting people and property – for many years. It is the customer’s responsibility to verify correctness of fit for applications.
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