Commercial Site Systems
Bollards, vehicle barriers, guard booth foundations, pedestrian control infrastructure, and site elements supporting comprehensive commercial security systems.
Commercial security extends beyond fences and gates to include site infrastructure that controls vehicle and pedestrian movement, protects buildings and gathering areas, and supports security operations. Bollards define boundaries and stop vehicles. Barriers control access at vehicle entries. Guard booths and shelters house security personnel. Pedestrian control systems manage foot traffic. We provide the civil and foundation work that supports these systems, coordinating with security equipment suppliers and other trades for integrated results.
What We Do
- Bollard installation and foundations
- Vehicle barrier systems
- Guard booth foundations
- Pedestrian control infrastructure
- Lighting pole foundations
- Signage and wayfinding supports
Best Fit For
- Commercial properties with comprehensive security needs
- Retail centers requiring vehicle barriers
- Facilities with guard stations
- Properties requiring integrated site infrastructure
- Projects with multiple civil elements
How We Deliver
- Scope development from site requirements
- Foundation design for each element
- Coordination with other trades
- Installation sequencing
- Documentation and as-builts
Standards & Compliance
- Crash-rating requirements where applicable
- ADA accessibility
- Local building codes
- Security industry standards
Bollards
Bollards are vertical posts that define boundaries and control vehicle access. They range from decorative markers to crash-rated barriers capable of stopping vehicles at speed.
- Decorative bollards: Define pedestrian areas, protect landscaping, and provide visual guidance. Not designed for vehicle impact but deter casual incursion. Available in various styles to match architectural settings.
- Protective bollards: Designed to stop vehicles at low speeds. Protect storefronts, building entries, utility equipment, and gathering areas from accidental vehicle impact. Deeper foundations than decorative bollards.
- Crash-rated bollards: Engineered and tested to stop vehicles at specified speeds and weights (K-ratings or ASTM designations). Used for anti-terrorism protection, critical infrastructure, and high-security applications. Require engineered foundations and documentation.
- Removable bollards: Can be removed for authorized vehicle access, then replaced. Useful where occasional vehicle entry is needed through normally protected areas. Locking mechanisms secure the bollard in place.
- Retractable bollards: Rise and lower mechanically or hydraulically. Provide flexible access control without manual handling. Require below-grade housing and mechanical/electrical infrastructure.
Bollard Foundations
Bollard foundations must resist the forces the bollard is designed to handle. Decorative bollards need minimal foundations; crash-rated bollards require substantial engineered foundations.
Surface-mounted bollards bolt to existing concrete slabs,quick installation but dependent on the slab's strength. Core-drilled and grouted bollards are set into holes drilled in existing concrete,stronger than surface mounting.
Embedded bollards are set in cast-in-place concrete foundations designed for the specific load. Crash-rated installations require foundations matching the tested configuration,deviation from the tested design voids the rating.
Foundation depth for crash-rated bollards is typically 3-4 feet, with concrete volume and reinforcement specified by the manufacturer or engineer. Proper installation is critical,a bollard is only as strong as its foundation.
Vehicle Barriers
Vehicle barriers control access at entry points, allowing authorized vehicles while blocking unauthorized entry. Types include barrier arms (gates), wedge barriers, and beam barriers.
Barrier arm systems (traffic arms) are the most common,a pivoting arm blocks the lane, rising to allow vehicles to pass. Foundations support the operator mechanism; the arm itself provides visual deterrence rather than physical stopping power.
Wedge barriers and beam barriers provide positive vehicle stopping capability. Wedges rise from the roadway to block vehicles; beams extend across the lane at bumper height. Both require substantial foundations and below-grade housing for the mechanism.
Crash-rated barriers are engineered to stop vehicles at specified speeds. K4 stops a 15,000-pound vehicle at 30 mph; K8 stops the same vehicle at 40 mph; K12 at 50 mph. Foundation requirements increase with rating level.
Guard Booths and Shelters
Guard booths provide shelter and workspace for security personnel at entry points. Foundations must support the booth structure and provide utilities (power, communication, HVAC) to the booth.
Foundation requirements depend on booth size and construction. Small prefabricated booths may sit on simple concrete pads. Larger built-in-place structures require foundations designed for the specific building loads.
Utility coordination is essential. Conduits for power, communication, and control wiring must be routed to the booth location during foundation work. HVAC systems may require exterior equipment with its own foundation. Planning utilities during foundation design prevents costly retrofits.
Booth placement affects traffic flow and sight lines. Foundations must be located precisely to align the booth with traffic lanes, barrier equipment, and pedestrian access. Coordination with the overall entry design is critical.
Pedestrian Control Systems
Pedestrian control manages foot traffic at building entries, event venues, and secure areas. Infrastructure includes turnstiles, optical barriers, gates, and queuing systems.
Turnstiles and optical barriers require foundations or floor preparation to mount the equipment securely and level. Some systems mount to existing floors; others require recessed housings or dedicated foundations.
Accessible routes must be maintained alongside controlled entries. ADA requires accessible alternatives to turnstiles and barriers. Planning accessible paths is part of the overall pedestrian control design.
Queuing systems (posts and ropes, retractable belts, fixed rails) organize waiting lines and direct pedestrian flow. Permanent systems may require foundation anchors or floor sleeves; temporary systems use weighted bases.
Lighting Pole Foundations
Security lighting requires poles, and poles require foundations. Foundation design depends on pole height, luminaire weight and area (wind load), soil conditions, and exposure.
Standard foundations are concrete cylinders with embedded anchor bolts. Pole base plates bolt to the anchors; the pole telescopes or sections together above the base. Foundation diameter and depth increase with pole height.
High-mast lighting (poles over 40-50 feet) requires engineered foundations. Wind loads on tall poles are substantial; foundations must resist both overturning and uplift forces. Soil conditions significantly affect foundation requirements.
Conduit for electrical supply must be routed to each pole location. Foundation work includes setting the conduit stub-up within the foundation so wiring can be pulled after poles are set.
Signage and Wayfinding
Signage supports security by directing traffic, communicating rules, and identifying access points. Sign supports range from simple posts to substantial monument structures.
Post-mounted signs require foundations similar to fence posts,size depends on sign area (wind load) and post height. Large signs or those in high-wind areas need more substantial foundations.
Monument signs (ground-level masonry or concrete structures) require foundations designed for the monument weight and wind load on the sign face. Footings may need to extend below frost depth.
Illuminated signs require electrical connections. Conduit routing should be planned during foundation work. Internally illuminated monument signs may need ventilation or access panels.
Integration and Coordination
Commercial site systems involve multiple elements that must work together. Bollards protect areas between vehicle barriers. Lighting illuminates entries and perimeters. Signage directs traffic to proper lanes. Guard booths oversee the entire operation.
Coordination starts at design. Each element has spatial requirements, utility needs, and relationships to other elements. Planning the complete system prevents conflicts and ensures all elements fit and function together.
Construction sequencing matters. Foundations for multiple elements may be poured together for efficiency, but only if all locations are finalized. Utility trenching serves multiple elements along common routes. Proper sequencing minimizes site disruption and rework.
We coordinate with equipment suppliers to ensure foundations match equipment requirements. Bollard manufacturers, barrier suppliers, booth fabricators, and lighting vendors all have specific foundation specifications. We build to their requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between decorative and crash-rated bollards?
- Decorative bollards provide visual guidance and deter casual vehicle incursion but are not designed to stop determined vehicle impact. Crash-rated bollards are engineered and tested to stop vehicles at specified speeds and weights (K4, K8, K12 ratings). The foundations are dramatically different,crash-rated bollards require deep, heavily reinforced foundations specified by engineering.
- Do bollards require permits?
- It depends on the installation. Bollards in public rights-of-way typically require permits. Crash-rated installations often require engineering and may require building permits. Simple decorative bollards on private property may not require permits in some jurisdictions. We verify requirements for each project.
- Can crash-rated barriers be installed in existing pavement?
- Some can, some cannot. Surface-mounted and shallow-foundation barriers can be added to existing sites. Wedge barriers and deep-foundation systems typically require removal and replacement of existing pavement. The specific barrier system determines what is possible. Retrofit installations may have different ratings than new construction installations.
- How long does it take to install commercial site systems?
- It varies widely depending on scope. A few decorative bollards can be installed in a day. Comprehensive site security with crash-rated barriers, guard booth, and integrated systems may take weeks. Foundation concrete requires curing time before equipment installation. We provide project-specific timelines during planning.
Related Services
Engineered concrete foundations for gate operators, support posts, slide gate tracks, and structural fence systems,designed for actual loads and soil conditions.
Grading, excavation, drainage management, and site preparation ensuring fence and gate systems install correctly and perform long-term.
High-security perimeter systems for industrial facilities, warehouses, and critical infrastructure.
Code compliance and permitting information.
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