Bollards and Pipe Guards
in Vancouver, BC

Types of Steel Bollards for Commercial and Industrial Properties

Not every bollard performs the same function. The appropriate configuration depends on what needs to be protected, the surrounding traffic pattern, the supporting surface, required access, architectural requirements, and the approved project design.

Avangard Steel can fabricate custom steel bollard components for commercial, industrial, institutional, warehouse, parking, and infrastructure applications throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

Fixed Embedded Steel Bollards

Fixed embedded bollards are permanently installed into an approved concrete foundation or supporting structure. They are commonly used where continuous separation between vehicles and protected areas is required.

Typical locations can include:

• Commercial storefronts
• Building entrances
• Loading areas
• Parking facilities
• Warehouse entrances
• Utility equipment
• Service areas
• Pedestrian zones

The required pipe diameter, wall thickness, embedment, foundation, spacing, and connection details should be determined according to the intended application and approved project requirements.

Surface Mounted Steel Bollards

Some projects require bollards to be anchored to an existing concrete surface rather than embedded below grade. In these applications, the bollard may be fabricated with a structural base plate and anchor locations coordinated with the approved design.

Surface mounted bollards can be useful where excavation is impractical or where the project requires a different installation approach. The existing slab condition, thickness, anchorage, loads, and intended use must be considered before selecting this configuration.

Removable Bollards for Controlled Vehicle Access

Properties that occasionally require vehicle access may use removable bollard systems instead of permanently closing an access point.

Potential applications include:

• Service entrances
• Private driveways
• Commercial loading areas
• Event spaces
• Maintenance access routes
• Restricted parking areas

The locking or receiving system should be selected according to the project requirements and required level of access control.

Architectural and Decorative Steel Bollards

Bollards can also form part of the architectural design of a property. Commercial entrances, plazas, residential developments, retail properties, and public spaces may require a cleaner appearance than standard industrial protection posts.

Custom fabrication allows the dimensions, cap details, shapes, colours, finishes, and surrounding architectural elements to be coordinated with the property while maintaining the intended function of the bollard.

Embedded vs Surface Mounted Bollards

Feature	Embedded Bollard	Surface Mounted Bollard
Installation	Extends into an approved foundation or concrete installation	Uses a base plate and approved anchors
Typical Use	Permanent vehicle and equipment separation	Applications where surface mounting is appropriate
Existing Site	Requires coordination with excavation and underground conditions	Requires suitable existing concrete and anchorage conditions
Fabrication	Pipe or structural member fabricated for the required embedment	May include base plates, stiffeners, and anchor holes
Selection	Should be based on approved design, site conditions, and intended protection requirements

Not Every Steel Bollard Is Crash Rated

It is important to distinguish between a custom fabricated protective bollard and a certified crash rated vehicle barrier.

A steel post can provide useful protection against accidental vehicle contact, parking movements, forklifts, carts, and other site hazards, but that does not automatically make the bollard a tested or certified crash rated system.

Where a project requires a specific vehicle impact rating or certified security barrier, the required tested system, rating, foundation, spacing, and installation details should be identified in the project specifications before fabrication or installation.

For general commercial and industrial protection, Avangard Steel can fabricate custom bollards according to approved project drawings and specified dimensions.

Custom U Shaped Pipe Guards

U shaped steel pipe guards provide wider protection than an individual bollard and can be fabricated around exposed equipment, utility systems, wall mounted components, or infrastructure that requires protection across more than one side.

A custom U shaped guard may be used around:

• Gas meters
• Electrical equipment
• Exposed piping
• Fire protection equipment
• Valves
• Utility connections
• Mechanical equipment
• EV charging equipment
• Loading dock infrastructure

The width, height, pipe size, mounting configuration, and clearance around the protected equipment can be fabricated according to the available space and approved project requirements.

Individual Bollards vs U Shaped Pipe Guards

Application	Individual Bollards	U Shaped Pipe Guards
Vehicle Separation	Suitable for creating a line or defined boundary	Generally used around a specific piece of equipment
Equipment Protection	Can protect individual impact points	Provides wider coverage around equipment
Access	Spacing can allow pedestrian access between posts	Creates a more continuous protective boundary
Customization	Diameter, height, spacing, cap and finish can be customized	Width, height, depth, pipe size and mounting can be customized

Steel Pipe Guards for Gas Meters and Utility Equipment

Gas meters, valves, utility connections, exposed pipes, and similar infrastructure are often positioned near parking spaces, drive aisles, loading areas, or service zones where accidental vehicle contact may occur.

Custom steel pipe guards can be fabricated around the equipment while maintaining the clearances required by the project design and utility requirements.

Depending on the location, protection may consist of individual bollards, a U shaped guard, multiple connected guards, or another custom fabricated steel configuration.

Steel Guards for Electrical Equipment

Commercial and industrial properties often contain electrical equipment close to vehicle or equipment traffic. Protective steelwork can help create separation between these systems and surrounding operational areas.

Applications may include protection around:

• Electrical cabinets
• Transformers
• Switchgear areas
• Generator equipment
• Control panels
• Utility cabinets
• Electrical service equipment

The protective structure should maintain the equipment access and clearances required by the approved electrical and project design.

For projects requiring structural support rather than impact protection, see our

Transformer Support Steel Frame services
.

Bollards for EV Charging Stations

Commercial EV charging stations introduce valuable electrical equipment into parking environments where vehicles regularly manoeuvre close to chargers, cabinets, conduits, and associated infrastructure.

Custom steel bollards or equipment guards can be positioned around an EV charging area to create physical separation between vehicles and sensitive equipment.

The final layout should consider:

• Parking stall configuration
• Vehicle approach direction
• Charger location
• Equipment doors and service access
• Pedestrian movement
• Electrical clearances
• Concrete and foundation conditions

Warehouse Bollards and Forklift Protection

Warehouses and distribution facilities have different protection requirements than typical parking areas. Forklifts, pallet trucks, delivery vehicles, and material handling equipment can operate close to columns, pipes, doors, racks, mechanical equipment, and electrical infrastructure.

Custom steel protection can be fabricated for specific impact zones such as:

• Building columns
• Loading dock doors
• Exposed pipes
• Mechanical equipment
• Electrical panels
• Warehouse entrances
• Overhead door tracks
• Service equipment
• Storage areas

Unlike standard catalogue products, custom fabrication allows guard dimensions to be coordinated with the actual equipment and available floor space.

Loading Dock Bollards and Protective Steel

Loading docks experience frequent vehicle and equipment movement. Delivery trucks, forklifts, pallet equipment, and service vehicles can create impact risks around door openings, structural columns, mechanical equipment, and exposed infrastructure.

A loading dock protection package may include:

• Steel bollards
• U shaped pipe guards
• Column protection
• Equipment guards
• Custom steel barriers
• Protective posts

Fabricating these components according to the actual loading dock layout can help avoid interference with doors, vehicle paths, equipment access, and daily operations.

Custom Guards for Building Columns and Structural Elements

Structural columns located close to vehicle routes or warehouse operations may require additional protection from accidental contact.

Depending on the approved design and available space, custom protection may include individual bollards, steel pipe guards, corner protection, or fabricated frames positioned around vulnerable structural components.

This type of steelwork can be particularly useful in parkades, warehouses, loading facilities, service areas, and industrial buildings.

Pipe Guards for Building Corners and Wall Mounted Equipment

Not every protective guard needs to stand independently in an open area. Some equipment is installed directly beside a building wall or close to a corner where a conventional bollard layout may not be practical.

Custom fabrication can provide protective configurations for:

• Outside building corners
• Inside corners
• Wall mounted equipment
• Utility cabinets
• Exposed pipe risers
• Service connections
• Mechanical equipment

The guard can be fabricated around the actual site geometry instead of forcing the equipment into a standard size protective system.

Bollard Placement Requires More Than Choosing a Diameter

The effectiveness of a bollard installation depends on its location as well as its construction.

Before the final layout is approved, project teams may need to consider:

• Vehicle travel direction
• Parking stall geometry
• Pedestrian pathways
• Accessible routes
• Door swings
• Loading operations
• Fire and emergency access
• Equipment maintenance clearances
• Existing concrete conditions
• Underground utilities
• Drainage
• Snow clearing operations

For this reason, bollard spacing and placement should be based on the specific site and approved project requirements rather than applying one standard layout to every property.

Existing Bollard Replacement and Repair

Bollards and pipe guards can become damaged through repeated vehicle contact, forklift impacts, corrosion, construction activity, or changes to the surrounding site.

Depending on the condition and approved scope, an existing protection system may require:

• Removal of damaged bollards
• Replacement steel posts
• New base plates
• Replacement pipe guards
• Modified guard dimensions
• Welding repairs
• New protective coatings
• Relocation to suit a changed site layout

When replacing an existing guard, the surrounding concrete, anchors, equipment layout, and reason for the original damage should also be considered before the new component is fabricated.

Custom Fabricated Bollards vs Standard Catalogue Bollards

Standard bollards can work well when a project fits an existing product size and installation configuration. Other projects require custom fabrication because the protected equipment, site dimensions, architectural requirements, or connection conditions are unique.

Feature	Custom Fabricated Bollards	Standard Bollards
Dimensions	Can be fabricated around project requirements	Limited to available product sizes
Mounting	Can incorporate project specific plates and connection details	Uses manufacturer supplied mounting configuration
Equipment Protection	Can be designed around unusual equipment layouts	Best suited to common applications
Architectural Integration	Allows greater control of proportions and appearance	Limited to available finishes and designs
Project Coordination	Can follow approved drawings and site dimensions	Requires the site to accommodate the selected product

What Information Should You Send for a Bollard or Pipe Guard Quote?

Providing clear project information helps determine whether the required protection can be fabricated from drawings or whether additional site information is needed.

Useful information includes:

• Project address
• Site photos
• Number of bollards or guards required
• Approximate dimensions
• What needs to be protected
• Architectural or structural drawings
• Required pipe diameter if specified
• Embedded or surface mounted requirement
• Existing surface type
• Required finish
• Equipment clearances
• Installation schedule

For custom commercial fabrication, you can also explore our

Additional Questions About Bollards and Pipe Guards

What is the difference between a bollard and a pipe guard?

A bollard is generally an individual vertical post used to separate vehicles from people, buildings, equipment, or restricted areas. A pipe guard usually protects a wider piece of equipment or infrastructure and may use a U shaped or custom fabricated configuration.

Can you fabricate U shaped steel pipe guards?

Yes. Custom pipe guards can be fabricated to suit approved project dimensions and the equipment or infrastructure being protected.

Can bollards be surface mounted?

Yes, where appropriate for the approved project design and existing concrete conditions, bollards can be fabricated with base plates for anchored installation.

Are all steel bollards crash rated?

No. A fabricated steel bollard is not automatically a certified crash rated barrier. Projects requiring a tested vehicle impact rating should specify the appropriate certified system and installation requirements.

Can bollards protect EV charging equipment?

Yes. Bollards and custom steel guards can be used to create separation between vehicles and EV chargers, electrical cabinets, conduits, and related equipment when coordinated with the approved site layout.

Can you replace damaged warehouse pipe guards?

Yes. Depending on the condition and project requirements, damaged bollards, pipe guards, base plates, and related steel components can be replaced or newly fabricated.

Can you fabricate protection around gas meters and exposed pipes?

Yes. Custom bollards and U shaped pipe guards can be fabricated for utility equipment when dimensions, service clearances, site conditions, and applicable project requirements are known.

Do underground utilities matter when installing bollards?

Yes. Underground electrical, gas, water, drainage, communications, and other services may affect the location and installation method of an embedded bollard. Site conditions and utility information should be reviewed before excavation or installation begins.