Bollard Installation Guide: Depth, Anchors & Code (2026)

Bollard installation is a structural concrete operation governed by anchor design, embedment depth, and code compliance. Standard non-rated bollards embed 24 to 36 inches into 4,000-psi concrete, with anchor or embedment configuration depending on whether the install is surface-mount, fully embedded, or core-drilled retrofit. Cojo installed nine 6-inch pipe bollards at a Eugene retail center in March 2026 using a hybrid embed plan -- six bollards in new poured footings and three retrofitted into existing concrete by core-drill -- and the project reference matters because each method has its own structural and code path. This guide is the comprehensive install reference.

For step-by-step instructions, see How to Install Bollards. For pricing context, see Bollard Installation Cost. For the underlying foundation specs, see Bollard Foundation Depth.

What Are the Three Bollard Installation Methods?

Three install methods cover essentially every parking-lot, storefront, warehouse, and government facility bollard project.

Method	Best For	Typical Embedment	Cure Time
Embedded with new pour	New construction, parking-lot perimeter, warehouse	24 to 36 inches	24 to 72 hours
Surface-mount with anchors	Existing concrete, fast install	None (anchor only)	None for mechanical, 4 to 24 hr for adhesive
Core-drilled retrofit	Existing concrete, no slab break-up	18 to 24 inches	24 to 72 hours

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration Concrete Pavement Engineering documents reference 24 hour minimum cure for vehicle exposure on standard mixes and 28 days for full design strength.

What Tools Does Bollard Installation Require?

The tool set varies by method, but the core kit covers all three:

• Rotary hammer drill with SDS-Plus or SDS-Max chuck
• Drill bits in 1/2-inch and 5/8-inch for anchor holes
• Diamond core drill bit, 6 to 8 inches diameter (core-drill method only)
• Concrete mixer or pre-mixed bagged concrete
• Post-hole digger or skid-steer with auger (embedded method only)
• 4-foot bubble level or plumb laser
• Tape measure, marking chalk, painter's tape
• Anchor epoxy cartridges (Hilti HY-200, Simpson SET-XP, or equivalent)
• Non-shrink structural grout (Sika 212, Quikrete equivalent)
• Tamping rod or concrete vibrator
• Hand wrenches and torque wrench (40 to 80 ft-lb range)
• Personal protective equipment per OSHA 29 CFR 1926 including silica respiratory protection under 29 CFR 1926.1153

For deeper-than-residential excavation, OSHA's trenching rules under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P apply once cuts exceed 5 feet in depth.

How Deep Does a Bollard Embed Have to Be?

Embedment depth is the structural-engineering question on every bollard project. The depth requirement comes from three interacting factors:

1. Bollard above-grade height. Taller exposed bollards need more embedment to resist overturning.
2. Expected lateral load. Vehicle-impact rating drives the engineering, with K-rated specs requiring deeper foundations than non-rated.
3. Soil class. Rocky and well-drained soil works at the shallow end; clay or saturated soil requires deeper footings.

Standard Non-Rated Bollard

For a 36-inch above-grade non-rated steel pipe bollard:

• Footing depth: 24 to 36 inches
• Footing diameter or width: 12 to 18 inches
• Concrete: 4,000-psi minimum
• Reinforcement: Optional vertical rebar (#4 bars) for extra lateral capacity

K-Rated Bollard

For ASTM F2656 K12 / M50 P1:

• Footing depth: 48 to 60 inches per certified configuration
• Footing dimensions: 36 to 48 inches square or round
• Concrete: 4,000 to 5,000-psi
• Reinforcement: Engineered rebar mat per manufacturer spec
• Cable run: Underground steel cable connecting bollards in multi-bollard certified lines

The American Concrete Institute ACI 318 Building Code governs structural concrete for both ratings.

What Code Compliance Issues Should I Verify?

Three code references show up on essentially every Oregon bollard install:

ADA Section 307 and 403

Bollard placement that creates protruding-object or accessible-route conflicts violates ADA. Bollards must be detectable above 27 inch height, must not reduce accessible route width below 36 inches, and must not occupy curb-ramp landing areas. The U.S. Access Board ADA Standards are the federal reference.

IBC Structural Anchorage

The International Building Code adopted by Oregon mandates structural calculation for any bollard claiming impact resistance or supporting a structure. For non-rated decorative bollards, IBC may not apply, but for any bollard sized as protection, calculation is best practice.

Local Permit Requirements

Most Oregon jurisdictions require permits for permanent bollard installations on commercial property. Portland Title 24, Salem Chapter 17, Eugene's permit office, and Bend Title 11 all treat bollards as permitted structural items. Permit fees in 2026 run $200 to $1,200 depending on jurisdiction and number of bollards.

What Are the Common Install Mistakes?

The retrofit work that comes back to us shows the same mistakes repeatedly:

1. Insufficient embedment. Surface-mount bollards anchored into concrete thinner than 6 inches pull out under modest impact.
2. Wrong anchor type. Mechanical wedge anchors in cracked concrete fail; adhesive anchors work in cracked concrete with the right epoxy.
3. Skipping the rebar locator. Drilling through reinforcing steel weakens both the slab and the anchor.
4. No water shedding at the base. Bollard bases that pond water corrode at the concrete-to-steel interface.
5. Premature traffic exposure. Driving on a footing before 72-hour cure causes hairline cracks that propagate.

For the maintenance side after a clean install, see our bollard curb stop painting service guide.

How Do Anchor Systems Differ?

Three anchor families show up on bollard surface-mount installs:

• Mechanical wedge anchors. Set by torque expansion. Work in uncracked concrete. Failure mode: pull-through under tension.
• Adhesive epoxy anchors. Set with two-part epoxy. Work in cracked or uncracked concrete. Cure time 4 to 24 hours depending on temperature.
• Sleeve anchors. Set with internal expansion sleeve. Lower load capacity than wedge or adhesive. Use for light-duty applications only.

For storefront and pedestrian-protection bollards, adhesive epoxy anchors are increasingly the spec because most existing parking-lot concrete shows hairline cracking after 5 to 10 years of service. Hilti HIT-HY 200 and Simpson SET-XP are the two products we use most often.

When Should You Hire a Professional?

Three install conditions tip the equation toward hiring a contractor:

1. K-rated bollards. ASTM F2656 certification depends on a certified install procedure. DIY voids the rating.
2. Existing concrete with unknown rebar or post-tension cables. Cutting the wrong reinforcement weakens the structure.
3. More than 4 bollards. The labor economics tip in favor of a crew with the right tools.

For Eugene-area work where Cojo handles a lot of mid-size bollard projects, see Bollard Installation Eugene.

Get a Project-Specific Install Plan

Bollard installation involves structural concrete, code compliance, and anchor engineering. A poorly executed install can fail under impact, void a K-rating, or trigger ADA non-compliance findings. Cojo specs and installs bollards across Oregon using all three install methods, with engineered drawings and code-compliance verification on every project. Contact Cojo for a site-specific install plan.

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