Reliance Foundry, Security Directors Act on Lessons from Vehicles Used as Bombs

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Apr 16, 2010

As North America marks the fifteenth anniversary of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, the worst incident of terrorism in United States history prior to the horrific events of September 11, 2001, Reliance Foundry aims to provide solutions for security directors who want to be sure their facilities provide optimum safety.

VANCOUVER, Canada April 16th, 2010 – As North America marks the fifteenth anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1994, in which Timothy McVeigh's truck full of explosives killed 168 people and injured more than 500, including children in a day care center in a United States federal building, security directors are looking for innovations in building perimeter security.

McVeigh didn't actually drive the truck into the building; he parked it in front of the building and used a remote detonator. The first World Trade Center bombing in 1993 was caused by a truck parked in the building's garage. Around the world, hundreds of suicide bombers have driven vehicles packed with explosives into buildings. Today, security directors choose a variety of methods to prevent building penetration and explosion by vehicles – setbacks, security gates, anti-ram walls, bollards, protective glazing, structural hardening, etc.

Recognizing these incidents, bollard manufacturer Reliance Foundry Co. Ltd. "continuously strives to maintain and upgrade the quality of our security bollard products," said Brad Done, vice president.

Bollards are those often-unnoticed posts people walk by every day going in and out of public buildings, designed and spaced to prevent vehicles from getting past a safe perimeter. Many are plain cement, which are "effective, but detract from the appearance of the building," Done said, "so more and more building owners, security directors, architects and specifiers are choosing to use security posts with decorative bollard covers that enhance the building's landscape while keeping those inside safe."

Engineered security bollards can effectively block even the largest trucks, up to 66,000 pounds or 30,000 kilograms when properly installed into new concrete foundations, according to Done.

However, these security bollards by themselves, generally concrete filled steel pipes, can create an architectural eyesore. Reliance foundry provides decorative covers for these permanent security bollards, creating an aesthetic feature out of the security necessity.

In addition, Reliance provides other safety and security bollard products to help prevent unwanted vehicle entry near or into buildings. By themselves, traffic & parking bollards provide safety and security by their mere presence – deterring traffic away from pedestrians and buildings. Retractable bollards retract into the ground, and are often used for driveways that must be open for deliveries, maintenance or emergency vehicles. Removable bollards function in much the same way - providing roadway and pathway definition, while diverting vehicle access when required.

Reliance Foundry offers more than 35 bollard styles, including several that double as bicycle parking racks. Bollards and post covers come in a variety of powder coated metal finishes and materials – including stainless steel. While all of Reliance Foundry’s bollards can be installed by themselves for aesthetic or traffic deterrence purposes only, the majority of these bollards can also be used as covers that can be installed effectively over steel security bollards.

"Bollards are the simplest, most secure and least expensive way to protect structures from security threats from break-ins to terrorism. They are becoming a routine architectural feature in the design of new buildings, and additions to existing structures. Many designs use standard bollards in utility areas, but add covers in public entry areas," Done said.

About Reliance Foundry Co. Ltd.:
Reliance Foundry has been a family-owned business since 1927. Bollards are one of its main product lines, along with industrial wheels, parts and castings. Reliance sources products globally and offers quick and convenient delivery in the United States and Canada from its Vancouver location.

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