Commercial Property Services
Bollard spacing is a critical design decision — space them too far apart and vehicles drive through; too close and pedestrians and strollers can't pass. The right spacing depends on the protection objective and the users who need to move through.
For pedestrian access: the standard clear width for a single pedestrian passing through bollards is 900mm (35 inches). For wheelchair and mobility device access, 1,500mm (60 inches) of clear width is required under Ontario's AODA Accessibility Standards.
Industry Best Practices
For vehicle exclusion: standard passenger vehicles are approximately 1,700-2,000mm wide at the mirrors. To prevent a vehicle from passing between bollards, spacing should be no more than 1,400-1,500mm centre-to-centre. This allows pedestrians while stopping vehicles.
For emergency vehicle access: fire trucks and emergency apparatus require a minimum 3,000mm clear width to pass. Bollard configurations for emergency access points should use removable bollards that can be quickly removed when needed.
How D&D Commercial Services Can Help
Storefront protection: when protecting retail storefronts from vehicle intrusion, bollards are typically installed 600-900mm in front of the storefront face, spaced 1,000-1,500mm apart. Corner protection requires bollards extending past the building face on each side.
Visual lines and aesthetics: evenly spaced bollards with consistent setback from the curb or building face create a professional appearance. Irregular spacing signals a reactive installation rather than a designed one.
D&D Commercial Services designs bollard installations for proper spacing, access compliance, and security effectiveness at commercial properties across KW.