Energy Absorbing & Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Bollards
Energy Absorbing Bollards
Engineered Vehicle Impact Protection
Australian Bollards' AB-EAB Energy Absorbing Bollard is an Australian-designed vehicle impact protection system developed to protect pedestrians, public spaces, infrastructure and assets from errant and hostile vehicle impacts.
Unlike a conventional rigid bollard that primarily resists vehicle impact, the AB-EAB is designed to absorb impact energy and progressively decelerate the vehicle, helping reduce the severity of a collision while maintaining protection for the area behind the bollard.
This makes the AB-EAB particularly suitable for locations where both pedestrian safety and vehicle impact protection need to be considered.
Originally developed for roadside, public transport and pedestrian environments, the AB-EAB platform can also be engineered to provide higher levels of vehicle impact performance, incorporating characteristics commonly associated with Hostile Vehicle Mitigation systems.
The result is a flexible Australian-made bollard solution capable of being engineered around the vehicle mass, impact speed, site conditions and protection requirements of each project.
Engineered to Suit Different Impact Requirements
Not every site presents the same vehicle risk.
A pedestrian crossing, tram stop or low-speed streetscape may require a different level of protection from a transport interchange, critical infrastructure site, stadium or high-risk public environment.
The AB-EAB platform can therefore be engineered around different combinations of vehicle weight and impact speed, allowing the bollard system to be matched more closely to the assessed risk of the site.
Indicative engineered performance requirements can include:
| Vehicle Mass | Impact Speed |
|---|---|
| 1.7 tonne | 65 km/h |
| 2.5 tonne | 64 km/h |
| 3.5 tonne | 48 km/h |
| 7.5 tonne | 64 km/h |
These configurations demonstrate the broader engineering capability of the EAB system, ranging from pedestrian and roadside protection through to applications requiring characteristics associated with Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM).
Final system selection and performance requirements should be determined according to the site's risk assessment, vehicle approach conditions, available foundation depth, required penetration performance and applicable engineering standards.
Energy Absorption Rather Than Simple Impact Resistance
The key feature of the AB-EAB is its ability to manage the energy generated during vehicle impact.
The system operates as a non-redirective energy-absorbing barrier, designed to dissipate impact energy and progressively slow the vehicle rather than relying solely on a rigid obstruction.
This approach can help:
- protect pedestrians and public areas from vehicle intrusion;
- reduce the severity of vehicle impact;
- provide protection for infrastructure and surrounding assets;
- reduce potential injury to vehicle occupants compared with an uncontrolled rigid impact;
- accommodate pedestrian movement around the bollard installation;
- provide engineered protection for both lower-speed and higher-energy vehicle environments;
- support fixed or removable bollard configurations depending on project requirements.
The AB-EAB can therefore provide a practical bridge between conventional pedestrian protection bollards and higher-performance engineered vehicle mitigation systems.
Designed for Public and Critical Environments
The AB-EAB is suitable for a broad range of environments where vehicles and pedestrians operate in proximity.
Typical applications include tram stops, transport interchanges, railway infrastructure, pedestrian areas, schools, universities, shopping precincts, sporting venues, places of worship, government facilities, critical infrastructure, construction areas, loading zones, commercial sites and asset protection applications.
The system can also be considered for locations requiring protection from ram-raiding, runaway vehicles or deliberate hostile vehicle entry.
Because the system can be engineered around different impact conditions, Australian Bollards can assess the protection requirement of the site rather than simply specifying the same bollard for every application.
Australian Engineered Impact Protection
The AB-EAB has been developed with reference to internationally recognised vehicle impact and hostile vehicle mitigation standards, including:
ISO 22343-1
PAS 68
IWA 14-1
The standard AB-EAB configuration includes documented vehicle impact performance at approximately 1.7 tonnes travelling at up to 65 km/h.
Example classifications include:
IWA 14-1:Fixed Bollard V/1700[N1]/65/90:0.0
PAS 68:Fixed Bollard V/1700(N1)/65/90:0.0/0.0
Where a project requires a higher level of protection, the system can be further engineered around the nominated vehicle mass, impact velocity, penetration requirement and site conditions.
This allows EAB technology to be considered not only for traditional roadside safety applications, but also for projects requiring HVM-style engineered vehicle protection.
From 1.7 Tonnes to Higher-Level Vehicle Protection
One of the major advantages of the AB-EAB concept is its adaptability.
Rather than treating energy-absorbing bollards and hostile vehicle mitigation bollards as completely unrelated systems, Australian Bollards can apply the same fundamental engineering principles across a broader range of protection requirements.
At the lower end of the range, the EAB can protect pedestrian environments against passenger vehicles travelling at significant speed.
For higher-risk sites, the engineering can be developed around heavier vehicles and different approach speeds, including configurations requiring substantially greater impact energy management.
This provides designers, consultants and asset owners with a more flexible approach to vehicle mitigation.
The objective is simple:
select and engineer the bollard system according to the actual vehicle threat and site requirement.
Built for Australian Conditions
The AB-EAB is designed, developed and manufactured in Australia.
The bollard is typically installed in a sub-surface mounted configuration and can be supplied in galvanised and powder-coated finishes to suit the surrounding environment.
The energy-absorbing system incorporates internal materials designed to contribute to controlled deformation and impact-energy management.
Depending on the project, the system can be supplied in fixed or removable configurations, allowing the protection strategy to be adapted to operational requirements.
The design also allows damaged components to be assessed and, where appropriate, repaired or replaced following an impact.
Proven Across Australian Infrastructure
Energy Absorbing Bollards have been used in transport and pedestrian environments where maintaining public access while providing vehicle protection is critical.
The AB-EAB has been deployed and evaluated in Australian conditions, including public transport and roadside environments.
Australian Bollards also has extensive experience delivering higher-performance engineered bollard systems for infrastructure and public facilities across Australia.
This broader experience in vehicle impact protection, shallow-mounted systems and hostile vehicle mitigation supports the engineering development of EAB solutions for projects requiring increased levels of vehicle resistance.
Protecting People Without Creating Unnecessary Barriers
Vehicle mitigation should not make a public space unusable.
One of the key design considerations of the AB-EAB is maintaining pedestrian movement while introducing effective vehicle protection.
Proper bollard positioning, spacing and system design can allow pedestrians, mobility devices and normal public movement to continue while restricting vehicle access to protected areas.
This makes the AB-EAB particularly suitable for transport environments, streetscapes and other pedestrian-dense locations where conventional vehicle barriers may be impractical.
Engineered for Your Site
Vehicle protection should be based on the actual risk presented by the location.
Australian Bollards can assist with determining an appropriate system based on factors including:
vehicle mass, vehicle approach speed, available foundation depth, site geometry, pedestrian requirements, asset location, penetration limits, operational access requirements and applicable impact standards.
From a 1.7 tonne passenger vehicle impact requirement through to heavier vehicle mitigation applications, the AB-EAB platform can be engineered to provide an appropriate level of protection.