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How to Choose the Right Protective Barrier for Your Facility
In busy industrial facilities where forklifts, vehicles and other mobile equipment operate regularly, keeping workers and assets protected is a top priority. While no protective system can completely eliminate risk, installing properly designed barriers can significantly reduce the potential for injury, vehicle damage and structural impact.
Beacon Industries protective barrier solutions, including Guard Rail products and Bollard products, are engineered for both indoor and outdoor applications to help protect personnel, equipment and facilities. Other safety products such as speed bumps, car stop curbs and column protectors can be part of a comprehensive safety strategy, but understanding the differences between guard rails and bollards is key to making the right choice.
What Are Guard Rails?
Guard rails are sturdy, continuous safety barriers used to protect equipment, building corners, walkways and work areas from vehicle impact. Designed for high, traffic industrial environments like warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing plants and parking garages, guard rails help prevent costly damage from out of control forklifts and other mobile equipment.
Key Features of Guard Rails
- Ideal for linear protection along long runways or boundaries
- Mounted with posts that can be bolted to concrete or poured in place
- Suitable for indoor or outdoor use
- Available in multiple configurations, including curved and straight styles
- Designed to safeguard building edges, machinery and high traffic zones
- Available finishes include powder coated safety yellow and galvanized steel for corrosion resistance.
When selecting a guard rail system, consider your facility’s rated impact speed and layout to ensure the right system strength and configuration for your traffic patterns.
Explore Beacon’s full range of Guard Rail products to protect your facility’s critical assets.
What Are Bollards?
Bollards are vertical protective posts designed for more localized impact protection and traffic control. Unlike guard rails, which provide continuous barrier coverage, bollards act as point specific protective posts that shield doorways, equipment, utilities and pedestrian areas from vehicle encroachment.
Key Features of Bollards
- Ideal for protecting columns, equipment, doorways and perimeter access points
- Highly visible and effective at directing vehicle traffic
- Can be installed in tighter spaces where guard rails may not fit
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
- Available in a variety of styles, from standard steel bollards to removable, collapsible and portable designs.
Beacon’s bollards are designed to safeguard workers and equipment while offering flexibility in installation and application, whether in a warehouse, parking area or pedestrian zone.
View Beacon’s full selection of Bollard products to find the right fit for your safety needs.
Guard Rails vs. Bollards: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Guard Rails | Bollards |
|---|---|---|
| Protection Scope | Continuous, linear barrier | Point-specific barrier |
| Typical Application | Perimeters, long walkways, equipment zones | Doorways, columns, access points |
| Impact Orientation | Lateral impact resistance | Direct point impact resistance |
| Installation Footprint | Requires run length | Small, individual posts |
| Visual Traffic Guidance | Moderate | High |
| Space Requirement | Larger | Compact |
Guard rails are best where continuous protection is needed along long boundaries or high-risk pathways. Bollards are ideal when protection is needed at specific points, especially near obstacles, entrances, or control zones.
Choosing the Right Barrier for Your Facility
Choose Guard Rails if:
- You need continuous protection along long runs
- Your facility has frequent forklift and vehicle traffic
- You want to protect fixed equipment and perimeter areas
Choose Bollards if:
- Protection is needed at specific points such as doors, columns, or utilities
- You need to visually guide and restrict vehicle access
- You require compact, flexible protective solutions
For many facilities, the most effective strategy is a combination of guard rails and bollards, creating layered protection throughout high traffic areas.
Beacon® Protective Barrier Solutions
Beacon Industries, Inc. offers a wide range of protective barriers engineered for industrial safety, including both guard rails and bollards. Whether your focus is preventing vehicle damage, improving pedestrian safety or controlling vehicle access, Beacon® has solutions tailored to your facility’s unique requirements.
Start protecting your facility today by exploring Beacon’s protective barriers and contact our team for help selecting the right system for your needs.
Table A — Recommended Guard Rail Product Types
| Recommended Guard Rail Type | Best For | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| BGR-PC-YEL Series (Industrial Safety Guard assemblies) | General forklift lanes, pedestrian separation, perimeter protection | Indoor/outdoor use; available in 36″, 48″, 72″, 96″, 120″, 123″ and 144″ lengths. Takes on better impact than drop in guard rail systems. |
| BST-GR Series (Guardrail Systems) | Warehouses, distribution centers, machine shops, factories | Indoor/outdoor use; 8″ high, available in 48″, 72″, 96″, 120″ and 144″ lengths; removable rail access; continuous or perpendicular rail mounting |
| BMPBR Series (Modular Safety Barriers) | Quick installs, flexible layouts, modular protection runs | 11-gauge steel, low profile tube barriers; rail lengths 2′ up to 12′ long |
| BARMG Series (Industrial Guardrail adjustable slide-in) | Variable-width openings or adjustable guard spans | Adjustable width 62″–108″, 24″ high, powder-coated yellow |
| BHDGR Series (Pipe Guard Rail) | High-duty applications where maximum strength is desired | Heavy-duty sleeved steel pipe with durable HDPE plastic; 48″ to 144″ long. |
Table B — Recommended Bollard Product Types
| Recommended Bollard Type | Best For | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| Steel / Galvanized Bollards | General impact protection + access restriction indoors/outdoors | Designed to protect workers/equipment; used for parking lots, sidewalks, building exterior/interiors; Bolt on or cast-in-place; usable heights 25″–72″ |
| Removable Bollards | Each unit is designed to be lifted out of that sleeve when access to the area is needed | Usable Heights; 36-3/4″ to 72-3/4″ |
| Folding Bollard | Controlled access (block/unblock lanes, reserved areas) | Heavy-duty steel; raised 35-1/2″, collapsed 5″; anchored to concrete; reflectors for visibility |
| Floor Horizontal Bollard | Low-profile protection where a vertical post isn’t ideal | Horizontal design for accident protection; wide variety of applications |
| Column Guards (BCGP Series) | Protect in-plant columns & vertical supports | Two-piece design for column shielding; available in multiple heights |
| Bollard Base (BBOL-EAP series) | Reduce impact damage + improve energy absorption | Rubber-bonded core between steel plates for energy absorption during equipment impact |
Call Beacon Industries today at 314-487-7600 to assist in your guard rail and or bollard purchase selection.