Concrete-filled bollards are a familiar sight in parking lots, storefronts, and pedestrian areas. At first glance, they look solid and nearly indestructible, a thick steel pipe packed with concrete. But while they appear tough, their real-world performance often tells a different story.
What Are Concrete-Filled Bollards?
A concrete-filled bollard is a steel pipe embedded in a concrete footing, then filled internally with concrete. The concept seems straightforward: add concrete for more mass, stiffness, and maintain a solid look.
You’ll typically find them in:
- Parking lots and gas stations
- Storefronts and pedestrian walkways
- Drive-through lanes and loading zones
These installations, paired with their heavy, solid appearance, have led to one of the biggest misconceptions in perimeter security: that concrete-filled automatically means stronger.
The Truth About Strength
In reality, that’s not always the case. Without proper reinforcement or an engineered foundation, filling a steel pipe with concrete can actually make it less impact resistant.
Here’s why:
Concrete doesn’t absorb energy -it fractures. When a non–crash-rated steel pipe is filled with concrete, a strong vehicle impact can cause the concrete to crack and transfer the energy directly into the steel, making the bollard brittle instead of resilient.
In contrast, a hollow steel bollard can flex and bend on impact, dispersing the energy rather than breaking. This flexibility often results in better real-world protection against vehicle contact, especially when the bollard has the correct wall thickness and is properly installed.
The Exception: Crash-Tested Systems
There is one major exception: High Speed Crash-Rated systems.
In ASTM F2656 crash-rated bollards, concrete fill is part of a carefully designed energy management system that includes rebar cages, steel reinforcement sleeves, and engineered footings. In these cases, the concrete isn’t simply for weight , it works in concert with the structural design to stop or slow a vehicle under controlled conditions.
The Takeaway
For typical applications like storefront protection, parking lots, or pedestrian safety, a properly installed hollow steel bollard provides better performance and longevity than a basic concrete-filled pipe.
When a higher level of security is required, always use crash-rated bollards that has systems designed, tested, and proven to deliver predictable protection.
Learn more about our full line of fixed, removable, and crash-rated bollards at 1-800-BOLLARDS.com