What's the difference between F3016 and F2656?

F3016 is a low-speed crash-test standard using a 5,000 lb passenger vehicle at 10, 20, or 30 mph. F2656 is a high-speed standard using a 15,000 lb medium-duty truck at 30, 40, or 50 mph. The two cover different threat profiles. F3016 fits drive-thru, ATM, school zone, and most commercial parking-lot applications. F2656 fits federal facility perimeters and high-security commercial work.

What does S10, S20, S30 mean in F3016?

S10, S20, and S30 are speed-based ratings under ASTM F3016. S10 means the bollard stopped a 5,000 lb vehicle at 10 mph; S20 at 20 mph; S30 at 30 mph. S20 is the most common rating we see specified for commercial bollards in Oregon parking-lot, drive-thru, and ATM applications.

When is F3016 sufficient instead of F2656?

F3016 is sufficient when the maximum credible vehicle speed is 30 mph or below and the threat profile is passenger-class vehicles rather than medium-duty trucks. Most commercial parking-lot, drive-thru, ATM, and school-zone applications fit that profile. Federal facility perimeters typically require F2656 regardless of speed analysis.

How much cheaper are F3016 bollards than F2656 bollards?

F3016 bollards run roughly 40 to 70% of equivalent F2656 bollards installed cost. Foundation requirements drive most of the savings -- F3016 certified configurations use shallower footings and less reinforcement because the test vehicle and speed are lower. For an ATM enclosure where F3016 S20 is appropriate, spec'ing F2656 K4 wastes about 50% of the project budget.

Can a single bollard be both F3016 and F2656 certified?

Some manufacturer products carry dual certifications -- the same bollard hardware passes both F3016 (at low speed) and F2656 (at higher speed) when installed in different certified configurations. The procurement spec determines which certification the project requires; dual certification doesn't change the project cost but provides flexibility for the manufacturer's product line.

ASTM F3016 Bollards: Low-Speed Crash-Rating Explained

ASTM F3016 is the low-speed crash-test standard for vehicle-access bollards in environments where the threat profile is 10, 20, or 30 mph -- meaningfully different from the high-speed F2656 standard's 30, 40, and 50 mph testing. F3016 uses a 5,000-lb vehicle (typical passenger SUV) versus F2656's 15,000-lb medium-duty truck, which makes the standard appropriate for ATM enclosures, drive-thru lanes, school pickup zones, and lower-risk commercial perimeters. Cojo specified F3016 S30 bollards on a Eugene credit-union ATM enclosure in February 2026 because the threat assessment was vehicle-into-ATM accidental contact at parking-lot speeds, not high-speed ramming. This guide explains how F3016 works and when to use it.

For category context, see our What Are Bollards hub. For the high-speed companion standard, see ASTM F2656 Bollards Guide. For drive-thru applications, see Bollards for Drive-Thru Lanes.

What Is ASTM F3016?

ASTM F3016 is the Standard Test Method for Surrogate Testing of Vehicle Impact Protective Devices at Low Speeds published by ASTM International. It was first published in 2014 and revised through 2020.

The standard defines:

Test vehicle: 5,000 lb passenger-class surrogate
Test speeds: 10 mph (S10), 20 mph (S20), or 30 mph (S30)
Penetration measurement (post-impact vehicle position)
Test conditions: surface, alignment, pre-impact stability

A bollard, planter, or barrier that survives the live-fire crash test at the specified speed earns an F3016 certification at that S-rating.

How Does F3016 Differ From F2656?

The two standards cover different threat profiles. The differences matter because spec'ing the wrong one wastes money or under-protects the site.

Element	F3016	F2656
Test vehicle weight	5,000 lb	15,000 lb
Test vehicle class	Passenger SUV/pickup	Medium-duty truck
Test speeds	10, 20, 30 mph	30, 40, 50 mph
Rating system	S10, S20, S30	K4/K8/K12, M30/M40/M50
Penetration classes	Single measurement	P1, P2, P3
Typical application	Drive-thru, ATM, parking-lot, school	Federal facility, embassy, high-security
Typical cost	Lower	Higher

The U.S. Department of State SD-STD-02.01 and the federal Interagency Security Committee standards reference F2656 for high-security applications. Most commercial parking-lot and ATM specs reference F3016.

What Are the F3016 Test Classes?

F3016 has three speed-based test classes:

S10: 10 mph

S10-rated bollards stop a 5,000 lb vehicle at 10 mph. Typical applications:

Indoor warehouse forklift protection
Pedestrian-zone perimeter where speeds are heavily controlled
Light-duty parking-lot delineation

S10 is the lowest crash rating available under F3016 and the entry point for any "crash-rated" specification.

S20: 20 mph

S20-rated bollards stop a 5,000 lb vehicle at 20 mph. Typical applications:

Drive-thru lane bollards at the menu order point or pickup window
ATM enclosures in retail parking lots
Storefront protection in strip malls with low approach speeds

S20 is the most common F3016 specification we see in Oregon commercial work.

S30: 30 mph

S30-rated bollards stop a 5,000 lb vehicle at 30 mph. Typical applications:

Drive-thru queue ends where vehicles approach the building at higher speed
School zone vehicle separation
Higher-risk parking-lot perimeters
Outdoor pedestrian plazas adjacent to parking aisles

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices references typical urban-arterial and parking-lot speeds that often fall in the S30 range.

When Should You Spec F3016 Instead of F2656?

The decision is threat-driven. Three questions guide the choice:

What's the maximum credible vehicle speed at the install location? If less than 30 mph, F3016 is sufficient. If above 30 mph, F2656 is required.
What's the maximum credible vehicle weight? If passenger-class only (5,000 lb or less), F3016. If medium-duty truck threat is credible (15,000 lb), F2656.
Does the procurement spec mandate F2656? Federal facility perimeters and high-occupancy venue specs often mandate F2656 even when the threat profile would allow F3016. The mandate governs.

For most commercial parking-lot, drive-thru, ATM, and school-zone applications, F3016 is the correct standard. F2656 is overspec'd for those threat profiles.

What Does an F3016 Certification Cover?

Like F2656, F3016 certifications are configuration-specific. The certificate covers the exact tested configuration:

Bollard model and physical dimensions
Foundation type and dimensions
Bollard-to-bollard spacing if tested as a line
Anchor system

Field installation must match the tested configuration. Modifications void the certification.

How Much Does F3016 Save Versus F2656?

F3016 bollard costs run roughly 40 to 70% of equivalent F2656 bollards for the same site protection.

F3016 S20 bollard: Material $700 to $1,800 each, installed $1,500 to $4,000 each.
F2656 K4 bollard: Material $1,500 to $3,000 each, installed $3,200 to $6,000 each.
F2656 K8 bollard: Material $2,500 to $4,000 each, installed $5,500 to $10,000 each.

Foundation requirements drive most of the savings. F3016 testing uses lower vehicle mass at lower speeds, so the certified foundations are shallower and require less reinforcement.

For maintenance after install, see our bollard curb stop painting service guide. For Eugene-area work where Cojo handles a lot of credit-union and ATM bollard installs, see Bollard Installation Eugene. For school-specific applications, see Bollards for Schools and Pedestrian Safety.

What Are the F3016 Limits?

F3016 ratings are not appropriate for:

Federal facility perimeters where threat profile includes medium-duty trucks
High-occupancy public venues with documented vehicle-as-weapon risk
Embassy, courthouse, or high-target government property
Any specification that mandates F2656 by reference

For those applications, the additional cost of F2656 certification is justified by the threat profile.

Get an F3016 Specification Review

ASTM F3016 is the right standard for most commercial bollard procurement -- ATM enclosures, drive-thru lanes, school zones, and standard parking-lot protection. Cojo specs and installs F3016 S20 and S30 bollards across Oregon, including ATM and drive-thru installations for credit unions, banks, and QSR chains. Contact Cojo for an F3016 specification review.