The X-Last bollard:
a game-changer for urban safety and cost efficiency
Cities and urban spaces face a persistent challenge: balancing aesthetics, safety, and cost-efficiency when it comes to street furniture. Bollards — essential for traffic management and pedestrian protection — are frequently damaged by vehicle collisions.
Traditional metal and concrete bollards often fail to withstand repeated impact. In turn, this commonplace damage leads to expensive rework and potential safety hazards.
Asset owners know all too well this need for frequent (and costly) street furniture repair and replacement. Enter the NAL X-Last bollard — a virtually indestructible solution designed to tackle real-world challenges head-on.7
Solving the challenge of costly bollard replacements
Running the gamut from decorative to traffic control to pedestrian safety, bollards play an essential role in mitigating urban risk. Unfortunately, with over 900 traffic accidents per day in the UK, the commonplace damage they suffer leads to expensive rework and potential hazards.
Repeatedly repairing or replacing damaged bollards represents a significant resource strain. Not only does it lead to escalating maintenance costs, but it also disrupts urban aesthetics and compromises public safety.
A damaged or missing bollard creates a vulnerability, exposing pedestrian areas to unauthorised vehicle entry. In high-traffic areas, the need for durable, maintenance-free solutions has never been greater.
The X-Last bollard and its indestructability solve this problem. The product is engineered to withstand over 1,000 high-force impacts, far outperforming traditional bollards. Manufactured from a unique Elastomeric Polymer, it absorbs and dissipates energy upon impact. This allows the product to bend and return to its original shape within 30 minutes of even the most severe collision – all without sustaining permanent damage.
X-Last MIRA testing
Solving collision health and safety challenges
In the unfortunate – but not uncommon – event that a cyclist or motorcyclist crashes into a traditional bollard, they are likely to sustain irreversible injury. That’s because a crash with a rigid steel bollard has a Head Injury Criterion (HIC) value of over 3500. Such issues can pose complex challenges for urban planners – who must factor in the hazards of the products they’re including in their designs. (Particularly when those very products are intended as a risk-mitigation method.)
The X-Last Bollard has been designed for maximum passive safety. So, it minimises injury risks in the event of a collision. It is tested to HIC, with a rating below 600 – a full 50% below irreversible injury levels.
When tested at 40kph, it achieves an ever lower HIC value of 529.5 (compared to 3500 for rigid bollards). By absorbing energy and cushioning impact, the X-Last bollard can prevent serious injury. Calculations show that it is, in fact, safer to hit the X-Last bollard than the ground in the event of a collision.
In short, the X-Last bollard represents a safe, life-protecting choice for urban planners.
X-Last cycle routes
Solving common installation challenges
For a fairly routine piece of street furniture, traditional bollards are not without their installation challenges. Any contractor taking on projects including bollard installation will be familiar with issues like:
- Manual handling risks, with standard bollards weighing 25-55kg
- Deep installation depth requirements, often needing a 400-600mm root depth
- Large concrete foundations, leading to expensive and time-consuming installs
X-Last tackles these issues head-on to offer a quick, easy, and safe installation process. As a direct, bullet-by-bullet comparison:
- Lightweight design (weighing in at just 6kg) reduces handling risks with the X-Last
- Shallow root depth requirements of only 185mm – meaning a smaller foundation
- NAL composite socket and retention socket available – allowing for a faster, simplified installation with easy removal when necessary
So, the X-Last bollard is perfect for quick urban rollouts with minimal disruption, and maximum project efficiency.
X-Last installation methods
Solving the challenge of sustainability
As any local authority will know, environmental targets are a key concern for any new development. Increasingly, asset owners and urban planners must take steps to reduce the environmental impact of any works undertaken.
A known problem with traditional bollards is the extensive raw materials and energy intensity they require to manufacture. This is before considering the carbon-heavy nature of frequent bollard reworks and replacements post-collision. Then, once ruined, traditional bollards can be difficult to dispose of cleanly.
X-Last, however, is a sustainable choice. European ACV analysis has shown that X-Last has 50% less environmental impact than traditional alternatives. The material is also 100% recyclable, making it a future-proof investment for urban sustainability.
Solving aesthetic challenges
Asset owners and city planners may need bollards that blend seamlessly into the environment. They may need bollards that stand out through high-contrast colours. Or, they may need bollards to complement a specific building – such as a pencil-shaped bollard outside a school, for example.
Traditional bollards may not be able to meet this diverse mix of needs. Extreme weather conditions – from harsh winters to scorching summers – can cause colour deterioration and accelerate wear and tear. In turn, touch-ups and replacements become yet another maintenance cost.
These kinds of aesthetic problems are solved by the X-Last bollard. First, the product is available in a wide range of styles and colours. Second, its non-corrosive and maintenance-free composition ensures it can withstand the British weather – come rain or shine. And, with its colour impregnated into the material, the X-Last maintains its visual appeal for years to come.
Whether enhancing historic town centres, managing traffic in modern urban developments, or protecting pedestrians outside schools, the X-Last bollard offers a customisable solution that complements architectural surroundings.
X-Last applications
A smart investment for the future
The financial and operational benefits of the X-Last Bollard are undeniable. By eliminating the frequent costs of replacement and repair, cities and organisations can redirect funds toward other essential infrastructure improvements.
As a recap, the X-Last is:
- Rigid enough to protect pedestrian zones
- Flexible enough to absorb high-impact loads up to 490kg
- Impact tested to 1,500 repeated knockdowns in the same direction with no loss of strength
- Virtually indestructible while remaining maintenance-free
So, for asset owners and urban designers seeking a cost-effective, durable, and aesthetically pleasing solution, the NAL X-Last Bollard stands out as the ideal choice. It solves the persistent problem of bollard damage, reduces long-term expenditures, and enhances both safety and cityscapes.
For more information on how the X-Last bollard can transform urban spaces, please contact us to organise a CPD presentation or training session.