Building Protection: How to Choose the Best Column Protectors for Your Facility

Column protection is one of the top investments your business can make to safeguard the structural integrity of your building. If you’re a facility manager or warehouse operator in charge of purchasing building column protectors, use these expert tips to select the best column guards for your needs.

Column protector guards are used in many building types to minimize or even eliminate damage from collisions with moving vehicles and equipment, like forklifts, pallet jacks, Towmotors, and trucks.

You’ll commonly find them in:

• Warehouses
• Loading docks
• Manufacturing facilities
• Parking structures

They protect columns, poles, posts, pillars, I-beams, tubes, and pipes.

You’ll also see column protectors used outside, particularly around light poles and signage where they might be vulnerable to vehicular impact. This is especially important when vehicles frequently operate in reverse or in tight spaces.

While column protection isn’t required by OSHA, it is recommended and for good reason. A well-placed column guard can reduce the impact damage to a supporting column, pole, or beam when hit by moving equipment.

This in turn lowers the risk of long-term building damage that puts employees and your business in jeopardy. If a structural column is compromised due to forklift impact, for example, the column damage could result in the ceiling collapsing, causing serious injuries or loss of life. The building would have to be evacuated, and all business operations would cease — obviously something every company wants to avoid.

Using column protection also minimizes damage to your equipment should a fork truck or pallet jack come in contact with a structural support. This increases the longevity of your equipment and significantly reduces the risk of it becoming inoperable after accidental impact.

When buying column protectors for your facility, you want to begin by selecting the proper shape inside the column guard. Most column protector guards look the same on the outside, but inside they are designed to specifically house a round, square, or diamond-shaped (aka V-profile) column.

Choosing the right shape inside the column protector allows it to fit snugly and thereby perform best in absorbing shock if the column is hit. Think of it like buying protective gear for football or hockey. You don’t want something that leaves a lot of space between you and a force coming at you, as it will shift around on impact, resulting in less efficient protection.

To further ensure the best fit for your column guards, make certain that the opening in the center corresponds to the dimensions of your column. Column protectors come in a range of dimensions, so you can get the one you need for an ideal fit.

The column size and shape (i.e., a round column or square column) are indicated under the “Specifications” when selecting a product for more information.

Even better, Eagle column protectors are made with key-locks to prevent slippage and aid in alignment during installation. Nylon straps then wrap around the column guard for an additional layer of security. The result is a tight-fitting protector that won’t slip, move, or open when jarred, and yet these column protectors also offer easy installation with no tools required.

In most circumstances, you want to opt for a higher column guard for greater impact resistance at various heights. However, in some cases, such as under a fire extinguisher, you will need a shorter column wrap, like one of Eagle’s mini column protectors. These guard the base without interfering with whatever is mounted on the column above.

Once you address the three selection criteria discussed above, it’s time to look at other features in order to purchase the best column protection possible for your building.

Visibility

In a perfect world, you want to avoid forklifts, Towmotors, and the like from hitting a column in the first place, not just minimizing damage after the fact. Choosing column protector guards in bright colors such as safety yellow can help you meet this goal.

Our Eagle column protectors are offered in an array of four different shades: green, orange, red, and yellow, which stand out in any scenario. For even greater awareness, you’ll find high-visibility column protectors with reflective straps. These are ideal for low-light situations or use where headlamps are often on.

Durability

The heavy-duty column protectors we provide are able to withstand thousands of pounds when hit at normal speed.

To make Eagle column protectors ultra effective and durable, they’re fabricated from blow-molded 100 percent high-density polyethylene (HDPE). These plastic column protectors are resistant to many chemicals as well, and stand up to scratches and fading over time.

Ease of Use

You read above how easy Eagle column protectors are to install. Their relatively light weight compared to steel column protectors facilitates this. That makes them an attractive choice for facility managers or building maintenance professionals who want to get the job done quickly. 

If you have a column or post you need to protect from damage at a higher level, you can stack a second column protector on top of another. Just make sure the top of the lower protector sits flush against the one above it, with no space in between. 

Need to replace the straps on your column protection? No problem. Simply order new black nylon straps or reflective straps to fit your model of column guard.

Eagle makes buying column protectors for your facility easy. All measurements and specifications are provided in the product listings.  

And don’t forget that column protection is just one component of material handling workplace protection products. We also provide bollard posts and bollard covers, wall and corner guards, pallet rack guards, and more. If you’re not sure about potential risks at your facility, ask us about our complimentary STUD-E™ site assessment to help you determine where you might need column protectors and more to avoid fines and prevent costly workplace hazards.