How to Install a Removable Bollard (Sleeve Method)

A removable bollard installs by setting a permanent below-grade sleeve in concrete, then dropping the lift-out bollard post into the sleeve and locking it in place. The sleeve becomes the permanent infrastructure; the bollard itself can be removed in seconds for service-lane access, fire-truck entry, or special-event vehicle passage. Cojo set six removable bollards on a Bend resort delivery service-lane in February 2026 -- the property needed daily morning service-vehicle access plus 24/7 perimeter protection, and the lift-out design solved both. This guide walks the sleeve-method install step by step.

For the broader category, see our What Are Bollards hub. For comparison with fixed bollards, see Fixed vs Removable Bollards. For top product picks, see Best Removable Bollards.

What's the Sleeve-Installation Method?

The sleeve method splits the install into two parts:

1. Permanent below-grade sleeve. A steel tube embedded in concrete creates a socket flush with the surrounding pavement.
2. Removable bollard post. The lift-out bollard drops into the sleeve and locks with a key cylinder, padlock, or internal pin.

When the bollard is removed, the sleeve socket is covered with a hinged cap or threaded plug that sits flush with the pavement. Vehicles can pass over the sealed socket without obstruction.

What Tools and Materials Do You Need?

A removable bollard install requires:

• Removable bollard kit (sleeve + bollard post + lock + sleeve cap)
• Post-hole digger or skid-steer with auger
• 4,000-psi pre-mixed concrete
• Mixing bucket and paddle
• 4-foot bubble level
• Tape measure and chalk
• Rebar or tamping rod
• Hand wrenches
• Drainage gravel (3/4-inch crushed rock)
• Personal protective equipment per OSHA 29 CFR 1926

Most reputable manufacturers ship the sleeve, bollard, lock, and cap as a matched system. Mixing components from different manufacturers is rarely worth the savings -- the sleeve and bollard fits depend on each other.

Step 1: How Do You Locate the Install Position?

Removable bollards typically appear in groups of two to six along a service lane or fire access. Layout principles:

• Spacing. 6 to 10 feet on center for fire-lane channelization. 4 to 5 feet for vehicle protection at low speeds.
• Alignment. Align with adjacent fixed bollards or curbline so the lift-out posts read as part of a continuous barrier.
• Drainage. Avoid low-point installs where water collects. The sleeve drains down; standing water accelerates corrosion.
• Lock orientation. Verify the lock cylinder will be accessible from the side staff approaches.

For fire-lane spacing requirements, NFPA 1 Fire Code adopted by most Oregon jurisdictions requires fire-access lanes to remain unobstructed but allows controllable barriers like removable bollards.

Step 2: How to Excavate for the Sleeve

The sleeve install excavation is typically smaller than a fixed-bollard footing because the sleeve is shorter than a full embedded bollard.

Excavation Dimensions

For a typical 4 or 6 inch sleeve:

• Depth: 18 to 30 inches (per manufacturer spec)
• Diameter: 10 to 14 inches
• Bottom: 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel for drainage

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration drainage guidance applies because the sleeve interior must drain. Without bottom drainage, the sleeve fills with water and corrodes.

Verify Sleeve Top Elevation

The sleeve top must finish flush with the surrounding pavement -- both for vehicle pass-over and for proper bollard height. Mark the planned pavement grade with chalk on the side of the excavation. Verify the sleeve top will sit at that mark when set.

Step 3: How Do You Set the Sleeve in Concrete?

The sleeve install is a one-shot pour. Mistakes cannot be corrected once concrete cures.

Place the Drainage Gravel

Place 4 to 6 inches of compacted 3/4-inch crushed rock at the bottom of the excavation. The gravel allows water that enters the sleeve to drain through the bottom.

Position the Sleeve

Set the sleeve centered in the excavation with the top at the marked pavement grade. Verify plumb on two perpendicular faces. Most sleeves include integral fins or anchors that lock into the surrounding concrete.

Brace the Sleeve

The sleeve must not move during the pour. Wedge with shims or temporary lumber at the top edge. Some installers tape the sleeve top to prevent concrete from entering during the pour.

Pour and Tamp

Pour 4,000-psi concrete around the sleeve in 6 to 8 inch lifts. Tamp each lift to eliminate voids. Top off with concrete sloped to shed water away from the sleeve.

The American Concrete Institute ACI 318 covers structural concrete around embedded steel.

Step 4: How Long Does the Sleeve Concrete Have to Cure?

Cure timing for the sleeve install:

• 24 hours -- remove tape from sleeve top, install sleeve cap
• 72 hours -- light vehicle traffic acceptable
• 7 days -- normal vehicle traffic, full bollard use
• 28 days -- full design strength

The bollard post can drop into the sleeve at any point after concrete sets, but vehicle traffic over the sleeve cap should wait the full 72 hours minimum.

Step 5: How Does the Bollard Lock Mechanism Work?

Three lock styles dominate removable bollards:

1. Internal cylinder lock with key. The bollard post locks to the sleeve via a quarter-turn cylinder. Typical for retail and service-lane applications.
2. Padlock through external lug. The bollard has an external lug that aligns with a sleeve lug; a padlock secures them. Lower-cost but visible.
3. Internal pin with key. A pin extends from the bollard into a slot in the sleeve, locked with a key cylinder. Higher security.

For fire-lane use, the lock must be accessible to fire department personnel via Knox-Box key system or matched master key. Verify with the local fire marshal during permit review.

What Maintenance Does the Sleeve Need?

Long-term sleeve performance depends on routine maintenance:

• Drain check every 6 months. Lift the bollard, verify the sleeve drains. Clear debris if water stands.
• Lock lubrication every 12 months. Use graphite or silicone-based lock lubricant.
• Sleeve cap inspection. Replace cracked or damaged caps before the sleeve fills with debris.
• Bollard finish refresh. See bollard curb stop painting for paint and coat refresh schedule.

For Bend-area work where Cojo handles a lot of resort and service-access installs, see Bollard Installation Bend. For application-specific use, see Bollards for Fire Lane Protection.

Get a Removable Bollard Install Quote

Removable bollard sleeve installation is a precision concrete operation -- the sleeve must finish flush, drain properly, and align with adjacent bollards. Cojo specs and installs removable bollards across Oregon for fire-lane access, service-lane control, and event-perimeter applications. Contact Cojo for a site-specific install quote.