The updated BSI Standards code of practice 6349-4:2026 makes one thing clear: verifying the Working Load Limit (WLL) of installed mooring equipment is essential, not optional.
The BSI calls for periodic pull testing of bollards to confirm their capacity, with loads applied to at least their rated WLL using calibrated equipment. Crucially, testing should replicate the most critical load direction to reflect real-world mooring forces.
This is a positive move for the industry. It shifts bollard assurance from assumption to evidence, ensuring mooring equipment remains safe and fit for purpose throughout the service life.
At Bollard Proof, this is exactly what we deliver.
Our in-situ pull testing method safely verifies bollard performance. We test up to working load limit, with an additional 10% added for further security. This keeps our testing well within safe limits and far below the maximum breaking load. The result is a non-destructive, fully controlled test that provides reliable proof of capacity.
Some testing methods can introduce unnecessary risk or unrealistic loading. Ours does the opposite. Our portable rigs replicate real mooring conditions, applying combined vertical and horizontal loads while calibrated systems measure force and monitor movement with precision.
Whilst not covered in the new British Standard, Bollard Proof also offers modal testing (induced resonance hammer testing) as a complementary tool. While this cannot verify WLL on its own, it helps identify internal defects and strengthens the overall assessment when corroborated alongside physical testing with our in-situ test rigs.
The direction from BSI is clear: prove, don’t assume your bollards can perform.
Bollard Proof provides a safe, accurate, and practical way to do exactly that.
For more information or to discuss your testing requirements, contact
