Automatic Barriers vs Gates: How to Choose the Right Vehicle Access Control for Your Site

If you’re looking to improve vehicle access control at your site, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether you should install an automatic barrier or a gate.

Generally, rising arm barriers are the best choice for sites where fast, regular traffic flow is the priority.

In comparison, gates are a better match for sites where the entrance needs to form part of a secure perimeter.

Then for some sites, installing both automatic barriers and gates provides significant security and access benefits.

The best solution will depend on several factors, including your site’s layout, your security requirements, and how often vehicles use your entrance.

In this article, Access Innovations’ expert team have shared a detailed breakdown of the differences between automatic barriers and gates. That way, you can confirm the best vehicle access control to suit your site.

What is the difference between barriers and gates?

Both systems are similar in that they control vehicle access.

But, they are each designed to serve slightly different purposes.

• Rising arm barriers – these are designed to manage which vehicles can pass through a lane. They can also be connected to access control systems, allowing authorised vehicles to enter, while blocking others. But, the barrier won’t fully physically close off the entrance. People on foot can walk around the arm, and a really determined vehicle can force its way through. For sites where high security is critical, this is important to note.
• Gates – these physically close the entrance, providing a much stronger deterrent against unauthorised access. They can also be designed to secure the site’s perimeter when closed. There are a number of automatic gate types available, including sliding, cantilever, swing and bi-folding gates. The best type of gate for a site will vary, based on site layout, the available run-back space and ground conditions. However, gates cycle more slowly, taking longer to open and close than rising arm barriers. So if your site frequently has high traffic, they may be less suitable.
• Manual barriers – these can be a good option for quiet or occasional-use entrances, but don’t offer the same security standards as the other two systems.

What to consider when choosing a system?

As you weigh up your options, you should consider a few key factors.

We recommend that you use the following points to decide which system is best for your site:

• Traffic volume – if your site regularly experiences high volumes of traffic, a rising arm barrier ensures vehicles can pass through the entrance quickly, and minimises unnecessary peak-time queuing.
• Security requirements – for sites where the main priority is managing vehicle entry (rather than maintaining high security), barriers provide the most efficient solution. Common examples include car parks and commercial premises. But, if high security standards are critical, and your top priority is preventing unauthorised vehicles from entering your site, a gate is the best solution.
• The space available – including the layout of your site. Generally, barriers require less space to operate. Gates need room to swing open or slide back. Gates will also require the right ground conditions for their installation (your supplier will be able to advise you here).
• How pedestrians move around the entrance – it’s also important to think about how pedestrians will move around your entrance, especially if your site regularly has visitors. Do you have separate footpaths? Is there a separate secure entrance point for pedestrians? How do you want to monitor who enters your site on foot?
• Other access control technologies – do you want your system to integrate with other access control technologies (either existing, or new)? Popular options include key fobs, keypads, intercoms and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR). These can all help to maximise the efficiency of your chosen system.

Why is professional installation important?

Whether you opt for automatic barriers or gates, both of these systems need to operate safely and reliably.

Powered gates and barriers are both treated as machinery. As such, they require advanced and compliant safety devices, in order to ensure you’re meeting the right operational standards and aligning with regulations. They must also be installed by competent engineers.

At Access Innovations, we are a fully trained, highly qualified team of suppliers, installers and engineers, with extensive experience under our belts.

We provide state of the art vehicle access control solutions to businesses across the country. Our team can assess a site, recommend the right solution and efficiently install it. Then, for our account holders, we keep it running dependably, through servicing, pre-planned maintenance and 24-hour support.

So, whichever option you’re debating, get in touch with the Access Innovations team, who are on hand to help.