Installing Bollards in Concrete

Installing Bollards in Concrete: Complete Guide

Bollards protect property, guide traffic, and prevent vehicle damage. Installing them correctly ensures they actually work when needed. This guide covers two installation methods and the strongest bollard construction.

Method 1: Core Drill Installation (Existing Concrete)

For installing bollards in existing concrete, core drilling is required:

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Mark Location

1. Determine exact bollard placement
2. Mark center point
3. Check for utilities below (call 811)
4. Verify adequate concrete depth

Step 2: Core Drill Hole

1. Use core drill with diamond bit
2. Drill 6-8 inches deep (minimum)
3. Hole diameter: 2-4 inches larger than bollard diameter
4. For example: 6-inch bollard needs 8-10 inch hole

Step 3: Clean Hole

1. Remove all concrete debris
2. Vacuum or blow out dust
3. Hole must be clean for proper bonding

Step 4: Set Bollard

1. Place bollard in hole
2. Ensure it's plumb (use level)
3. Support temporarily if needed

Step 5: Pour Concrete

1. Fill around bollard with concrete
2. Use 4000 PSI concrete for strength
3. Consolidate to remove air bubbles
4. Level with surrounding surface

Step 6: Cure

1. Allow concrete to cure (7 days minimum)
2. Protect from traffic during cure
3. Don't use bollard until fully cured

Method 2: Set in Wet Concrete (New Construction)

For new concrete construction, bollards can be set during the pour:

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Position Bollard

1. Place bollard in exact location before pour
2. Ensure it's plumb (use level)
3. Support to prevent movement
4. Protect from concrete splatter

Step 2: Pour Concrete Around It

1. Pour concrete normally
2. Work carefully around bollard
3. Ensure concrete fills around base
4. Consolidate to remove air bubbles

Step 3: Finish and Cure

1. Finish concrete around bollard
2. Ensure proper embedment depth (6-8 inches minimum)
3. Cure normally

Advantages of Wet-Set Method

• Stronger bond (concrete cures around bollard)
• No drilling required
• Seamless installation
• Better for new construction

Strongest Construction: Steel Pipe Filled with Concrete

Steel pipe filled with concrete creates the strongest bollard.

Why This is Strongest

• Steel pipe: Provides structural strength and impact resistance
• Concrete fill: Adds mass and rigidity
• Combination: Steel handles impact, concrete adds weight and stability

Construction

1. Use steel pipe (schedule 40 or thicker)
2. Fill with concrete (4000 PSI mix)
3. Vibrate to remove air bubbles
4. Allow concrete to cure

Specifications

• Pipe thickness: Schedule 40 minimum (thicker is stronger)
• Diameter: 4-8 inches depending on required strength
• Concrete fill: 4000 PSI mix
• Embedment: 6-8 inches minimum in concrete base

Embedment Depth Requirements

6-8 inches minimum embedment is required for proper strength.

Why Depth Matters

• Provides leverage to resist impact
• Creates sufficient bond area
• Prevents bollard from being knocked over
• Industry standard for traffic bollards

Depth by Application

• Light protection: 6 inches minimum
• Traffic protection: 8 inches recommended
• High-security: 12+ inches for maximum strength

The Bottom Line

Install bollards by core drilling 6-8 inches deep in existing concrete, or set them in wet concrete during new construction. Steel pipe filled with concrete creates the strongest bollard—the steel provides impact resistance while the concrete fill adds mass and rigidity. Ensure 6-8 inches minimum embedment depth for proper strength and stability.

Proper installation ensures bollards actually protect your property when needed. Don't skimp on embedment depth or construction quality—weak bollards are worse than no bollards.

Need bollard installation? Contact Local Concrete Contractor. We install bollards correctly to ensure they provide the protection you need.