The Importance of Installing Bollards in Front of Propane Tank Cages

Almost everyone has seen those large steel propane tank cages in front of gas stations, convenience stores, and even grocery stores. Highly convenient, they allow you to buy a tank of propane or exchange an empty propane tank for a full one. By requirement, they must be positioned outside to reduce the risk of fire hazards inside the store. While these cages are an essential and efficient part of safely selling propane, they also require a secondary layer of protection: bollards.

 

Why Propane Cages Need Bollards

Propane is a widely used fuel and essential for everything from backyard BBQs to powering forklifts and heating RVs. Propane is also highly flammable, and any damage to the gas tanks or cages could lead to fires and / or an explosion. While propane cages are designed to keep the tanks secure and prevent theft, they need to be economical enough to be mass produced and affordable and therefore aren’t hardened to withstand a vehicle impact. This is where bollards come into the picture.

Bollards are sturdy impact resistant posts (usually steel) that should be installed around propane cages to serve as a barrier between vehicles and the cage (holding flammable propane tanks). By installing bollards, it creates a buffer zone that can keep propane tanks safe from accidental vehicle collisions.

If the gas station where the photo above of the gas cylinder cage didn’t have bollards installed, the impact that caused that bollard to bend could have been much worse for the driver, the store owner, and bystanders had there been no bollards there at all.

Luckily, Post Guard sells a wide variety of bollards and bollard covers for your propane tank cages and gas cylinder cages.

 

Choosing the Right Bollards To Protect Propane Tank Cages

Not all bollards were created equal and some may not be effective in protecting propane cages. Choosing the appropriate bollard involves a few factors such as material, size, and installation depth. For propane cage protection, steel-filled concrete bollards or high-impact-rated bollards are generally recommended. These types of bollards are designed to prevent most damage, thereby providing reliable protection. We also sell a line of crash rated bollards that have been designed to withstand even more powerful impacts. Contact us at POST GUARD® for all your bollard needs.

An important note: poorly installed bollards are less effective and may fail to protect the cage adequately in the event of an impact.