Explainer

Bollard sleeve, socket and storage holder: what is the difference?

Short answer: The socket is the in-ground tube that comes with each removable bollard. The storage holder (also called a storage base) bolts to the floor and parks a bollard once it is removed. "Sleeve" is a trade word used for either, so ask which one is meant. SafeWise holders are the SW-SL90 ($25 ex GST) and SW-SL140 ($35), both in stock.

Figures: SafeWise product data. Standards are quoted as commonly cited guidance, so check the current edition. How we check.

If you are comparing quotes, the word "sleeve" can mean two different parts. This guide separates the in-ground socket from the bolt-down storage holder, shows what is included and what is extra, and works through how many you need.

Updated 28 October 2026

On this page: Side by side · The one to get right · How many · Where to mount · Worked example · What holders don't do · FAQs

90mm bollard storage holder bolted to a concrete path

Side by side

Socket vs storage holder at a glance

One goes in the ground and comes with the bollard. The other bolts on top of the floor and is optional.

What the in-ground socket and the SafeWise storage holders are, where they go, whether they are included, and their SKU and price
PartWhat it is and where it goesIncluded?SKU and price (ex GST, inc GST)
In-ground socketSteel tube set flush with the finished surface. The removable bollard drops in and locks. Ø102 × 4mm wall and about 225mm deep (90mm), Ø152 × 4mm wall (140mm).Yes, with every removable bollardIn the bollard price: SW-RB90 from $120 ($132), SW-RB140 from $140 ($154)
Storage holder 90mmBolt-down floor fitting that parks a removed 90mm bollard. Dimensions are on the storage holder page.No, optional. In stockSW-SL90, $25 ($27.50)
Storage holder 140mmBolt-down floor fitting that parks a removed 140mm bollard. Dimensions are on the storage holder page.No, optional. In stockSW-SL140, $35 ($38.50)

Prices are per-unit starting points as at October 2026, ex GST and ex freight. Anchors and fixings for the holder are not included.

Wording

Sleeve vs storage holder: the one to get right

The storage holder is not an in-ground sleeve. It bolts to the floor surface and only parks a bollard that has been removed. It does not hold a bollard in the ground and it does not replace the socket. If a quote lists a "sleeve", ask: does it go in the ground, or bolt to the floor?

What the words mean

  • Socket. The in-ground tube a removable bollard locks into. It stays in the concrete. It comes with each SafeWise removable bollard.
  • Storage holder or storage base. A bolt-down fitting for parking the removed bollard. This is what our bollard storage holders are. You may also see "storage sleeve", and our web address still says sleeves for that reason.
  • Sleeve. A trade word used for either part. Some suppliers use it for the in-ground tube, others for the floor holder. Do not assume.
  • Cover plate. A plate supplied with the socket. It is separate from both.

For how the socket, lock and lifting work together, read how removable bollards work. The bollard terms glossary defines the rest.

How many

How many storage holders do you need?

  • One per bollard that is out at the same time. If four bollards are lifted out for a delivery, you need four holders. If only one is ever out at a time, one holder is enough.
  • Count bollards removed together, not sockets on site. Ten sockets with one bollard out at a time need one holder.
  • Match the size. The 90mm bollard takes the SW-SL90 and the 140mm takes the SW-SL140. They are not interchangeable.
140mm bollard storage holder bolted to a concrete path
Empty bollard storage holder bolted to concrete

Where to mount

Where to mount a storage holder

  • A flat, sound slab. Fix the base plate to solid concrete. Choose anchors suited to your slab, as they are not included, and have an installer assess an old or thin slab.
  • Clear of the wheel path and walkways. A bolted steel fitting in a wheel path or walkway is a trip and impact hazard.
  • Close to the opening. A holder beside the bollard's position gets used every time. One across the yard means the bollard ends up leaning on a wall.
  • Somewhere supervised or locked, if loss is a worry, because a holder only gives the bollard somewhere to stand.

Surface fixing is simple, but services still matter before you drill: see the removable bollard installation guide.

Need holders to match your bollards? Send sizes, how many come out together and your postcode.

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Worked example

Worked example: two 140mm bollards at a loading access

Both bollards are lifted out together for deliveries, so two holders are needed. At SafeWise starting prices, ex GST and ex freight:

Worked cost of two 140mm removable bollards and two 140mm storage holders, ex GST
ItemQtyUnit (ex GST)Line (ex GST)
Removable Bollard 140mm (SW-RB140), with socket and keys2$140$280
Storage Holder 140mm (SW-SL140)2$35$70
Total ex GST$350.00
Total inc GST$385.00

For a single 90mm bollard and a holder (SW-RB90 plus SW-SL90), the product total is $145 ex GST ($159.50 inc GST). Freight is quoted per job. Installation, core drilling, grout and anchors are extra. The holders are in stock, and the bollards are pre-order with the landing date on your quote.

Be realistic

What a storage holder does not do

  • It is not in the ground. It bolts to the floor surface and is never a substitute for the socket.
  • It does not lock or secure the bollard. It gives the bollard somewhere to stand. Key control is a separate job: see removable bollard keys and key control.
  • It does not stop vehicles. Neither the holder nor the bollard is crash-rated or impact-tested to PAS 68 or IWA 14. See safety vs crash-rated bollards.
  • It does not protect anything on its own. A holder with no bollard in it is just a short steel tube on a plate.

FAQs

Sleeve, socket and storage holder: common questions

Is a storage base the same as a sleeve?

A storage base is another name for a storage holder: a bolt-down floor fitting that parks a removed bollard. "Sleeve" is a trade word used for either that or the in-ground socket, so ask which one a supplier means. SafeWise storage holders are bolt-down and are not in-ground.

Is a bollard sleeve the same as a socket?

Not always. A socket is the in-ground steel tube a removable bollard locks into, and it comes with each SafeWise removable bollard. Some suppliers call that a sleeve. A storage holder is a different part that sits on the floor, so check which one is being described.

Do I need a storage holder?

Not to use the bollard, because the socket and lock come with it. A holder is worth having if you want a fixed, tidy place to park the bollard when it is out, instead of leaning it on a wall or leaving it in the aisle. It is an optional extra at $25 or $35 ex GST.

Does a storage holder go in the ground?

No. It bolts to the floor through a base plate with four bolt holes. It does not replace the in-ground socket, which comes with the removable bollard. Fixings for the holder are not included.

How many storage holders do I need?

One for each bollard that will be out at the same time. If four bollards come out together for a delivery, you need four holders. If only one is ever out at a time, one holder of the right size does the job.

Related products

The bollard and its holder

Storage holders are in stock now. Bollards are pre-order on the next container: factory production typically takes 15–20 days, plus sea freight and customs. Prices as at October 2026.

Pricing holders for your bollards?

Tell us the sizes, how many come out at once and your postcode. We aim to reply within one business day with a written quote, and nothing is committed until you confirm it.

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