Key control guide
Removable bollard keys: lost keys and key control
Short answer: Each SafeWise removable bollard has an integral key lock and is supplied with keys. Treat the keys as the security: name one key holder, keep a register, collect keys when someone leaves and keep a spare somewhere separate. The lock is a deterrent, not a security rating. For spare keys or keyed-alike sets, ask us when you enquire.
Figures: SafeWise product data. Standards are quoted as commonly cited guidance, so check the current edition. How we check.
A removable bollard is only as controlled as its keys. This guide covers who should hold them, a register you can copy, what to do when a key is lost or a tenant leaves, and where the lock stops helping.
Updated 28 October 2026
On this page: Key lock or padlock · Who holds keys · Key register · Lost keys · Spares · Upkeep · What a lock won't do · FAQs
The lock
Integral key lock or a padlock on a tab?
Removable bollards are locked in one of two broad ways. Knowing which you are buying decides how you manage keys.
| Question | Integral key lock | Padlock on a tab |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the lock? | Built into the bollard. | A separate padlock fitted through a tab or eye. |
| What do you buy? | The lock and keys come with the bollard. No padlock to buy. | The bollard, plus a padlock and its keys. |
| Exposure | The lock body is part of the post. | An exposed padlock, which is easier to cut or lose. |
| Spares and keyed alike | SafeWise: ask when you enquire. | Depends on the padlock you choose. |
SafeWise removable bollards use the integral key lock. Either way, the lock is a deterrent rather than a security rating. For how the lock, socket and storage fit together, see how removable bollards work.
Key control
Who should hold the keys?
Fewer holders, written down, beats a handful of unrecorded copies.
Strata and owners corporations
- One point of control. The manager or a named committee member holds the master record and the spares.
- One key per bay holder. Each resident signs for the key to their own bollard, not a neighbour's.
- Exit step. Collect the key when a resident or tenant moves out. The car park safety checklist has a reserved-bay section on this.
Businesses and worksites
- Role, not person. Assign keys to a role such as site supervisor or facilities lead, then record the person in that role.
- Contractors. Issue a key for the job and record the return date. Do not leave a key in a gate box or a vehicle.
- Emergency access. Make sure someone can always open the space. Never block an emergency or accessible route.
Template
A key register you can copy
Paste this into a spreadsheet or print it. Use an ID for each bollard and write the same ID on its key tag.
| Bollard ID | Location | Key holder | Date issued | Date returned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example: RB-01 | Example: Bay 12, basement 1 | Example: name or role | Example: date | Blank until returned |
Add a line for each spare and note where the spares are kept. Check the register against the keys whenever someone leaves.
When it goes wrong
Lost key or tenant leaves: a checklist
1. Record it
Note the bollard ID, who held the key, the date and how it was lost. A tenant who leaves without returning a key is treated the same way.
2. Keep the space working
Use the spare key from the separate store so the owner or business can still open and close the bollard.
3. Decide if the risk needs action
A key lost at the bottom of a bag is different from a key not returned by a former tenant. For the second, assume someone else can open the lock.
4. Ask about replacement keys or re-keying
Ask us what can be done for that bollard. We do not publish spare key or re-keying terms, so we will answer for your order rather than promise here.
5. Update the register
Record the new key holder, the date and where the new spare is kept. If a key is unaccounted for, say so in the register.
Planning keys for several bollards? Tell us how many and who will hold them.
Request a quoteSpares
Where to keep spare keys
- Somewhere separate. Not on the same ring, in the same drawer or in the same vehicle as the working key.
- Somewhere that is always reachable. A lockable office cabinet or manager's key safe beats a bag that travels.
- Written down. The register says where the spares are, and at least two people know who can open the store.
- Not on site by the bollard. A key hidden near the bay defeats the lock.
How many keys come with an order, and whether extra sets can be supplied, is something to ask us when you enquire.
Upkeep
A simple check for the socket and lock
A key that turns easily is part of key control. Look at each bollard now and then, and after any works nearby.
- Keep grit out of the socket. Grit and debris can stop the bollard seating fully and the lock turning. Brush the socket clear with the bollard out.
- Try every key. Check the key turns, the bollard seats square and sits snug, and there is no side-to-side play once locked. If it rocks, the install may need a look: see how to install removable bollards.
- Check the finish and band. Keep the reflective band clean and touch up chips early.
- Check the register. Match the keys on hand to the entries, and note anything unaccounted for.
Be realistic
What a bollard lock does not do
A deterrent, not a security rating. The lock holds the bollard in its socket and stops casual removal. It has no security rating, a copied key will open it, and SafeWise bollards are not crash-rated or certified to PAS 68 or IWA 14, so they will not stop a vehicle driven at them. See safety vs crash-rated bollards.
- It does not settle who owns the space. Title and scheme rules do that. See lockable parking bollards.
- It does not replace approval. In a strata scheme, get written approval before anything is drilled.
- It does not keep itself. Without a register and a spare, a lost key turns into a locked bay.
FAQs
Removable bollard keys: common questions
Do removable bollards come with keys?
Yes. Each SafeWise removable bollard has an integral key lock and is supplied with keys. How many keys, and whether spares or keyed-alike sets are available, are things to ask us when you enquire, so we can answer for your order.
What do I do if I lose the key to a removable bollard?
Record the loss in your key register, check who last held the key, and use the spare to keep the space working. Then ask us about a replacement key or re-keying for that bollard. We do not set out terms on this page, so ask us and we will answer for your order.
Can all the bollards on a site use the same key?
That is called keyed alike. Ask when you enquire. We have not published key-alike availability, so we will not promise it here, but it is worth raising if you have several bollards and several key holders.
Is the lock on a removable bollard secure?
It is a deterrent, not a security rating. The lock holds the bollard in its socket and stops casual removal. Security then depends on who holds the keys. A copied key will open it, and the bollard is not crash-rated, so it will not stop a determined driver.
Who should keep the keys in a strata building?
Make the manager or one named person the single point for keys. Keep a written register of who holds each key, collect keys when a resident leaves, and keep a spare somewhere separate from the bollards.
Questions about keys for your order?
Tell us how many bollards and who will hold the keys. We aim to reply within one business day, and nothing is committed until you confirm a written quote.
Keep reading
Related guides
- Removable bollardsSpecs, sizes and pricing
- How removable bollards workSocket, key lock and parking the bollard
- Lockable parking bollardsReserve your own car space
- Car park safety checklistApprovals and key control for strata
- Bollards for strataApprovals, keys and the committee's view
- Removable vs fixed bollardsWhich type suits the job