Access Control
Bollards
Fixed, removable and automatic rising bollards for controlling vehicle access to entrances, plazas and restricted zones while pedestrians pass freely.
3 configurations
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Access Control & Vehicle Barriers/Vehicle Access Control
Boom Barriers
Metering vehicles at the gate line, one at a time.
Access ControlKey specifications
- Function
- Traffic metering, not physical security
- Closure
- Loop-confirmed behind each vehicle
- Manual release
- Yes
- Specification
- Configured per installation at survey
* Final specification depends on door dimensions, configuration, operating environment and project requirements.
01Overview
About Boom Barriers
A boom barrier meters vehicles: it holds the gate line closed, opens for one authorised vehicle, and closes again behind it. It is a control device rather than a security barrier — its job is to regulate flow and record movements, and it will not stop a determined vehicle. Where the line has to be enforced physically, a bollard is the correct product.
Operating method
03Variants
Available configurations
The same product, built for a different job. Where a specification depends on opening dimensions, selected profile, operating duty or site conditions, the final configuration is confirmed during technical assessment.
Straight boom
The standard arrangement for a normal-width lane with clear headroom above the barrier.
Folding boom
The boom articulates as it rises, for lanes with restricted headroom such as basement entries.
Fence boom
A skirted boom that deters pedestrians from ducking under the barrier at a mixed-traffic entry.
10Gallery
Boom Barriers in detail
04Technical specifications
Specification, features and ordering
Technical data is shown first; features, applications, compatibility, installation, safety, ordering and downloads are a click away.
Dimensions5 fields
- Boom length or barrier width
- Typically 2–9 m depending on model; booms over about 5 m are supplied in two sections
- Bollard diameter
- Not applicable
- Bollard height above ground
- Not applicable
- Foundation depth required
- Site dependent; set by the cabinet base plate and the supplied operator's foundation drawing
- Cabinet or body dimensions
- Depending on model; a typical cabinet is around 400 × 300 × 1,200 mm
Performance4 fields
- Opening time
- Typically 1.5–6 s for booms up to about 6 m, adjustable on the control unit; longer booms take up to 10–18 s depending on model
- Closing time
- As opening time; adjustable on the control unit
- Mean cycles between failure
- Manufacturer ratings range from about 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 cycles depending on model; continuous-duty models are common
- Impact resistance
- Not impact rated. A boom barrier is a traffic control device, not a vehicle security barrier
Only for products actually tested to an impact standard.
Construction4 fields
- Body material and finish
- Galvanized or painted steel cabinet; stainless steel option on some models
- Boom or barrier material
- Extruded aluminium boom, round or elliptical profile depending on model, painted white
- Drive mechanism
- Electromechanical or hydraulic operator with spring balancing; brushless DC motors and an encoder for position and obstacle detection on current models
- Reflective marking and lighting
- Reflective strips on the boom; LED boom lighting and a cover-mounted warning or traffic light available on most models
Power and environment5 fields
- Supply voltage
- 230 V AC 50/60 Hz single phase; wide-range 100–240 V AC on some models
- Power consumption
- Typically 40–270 W depending on model; standby around 2.5 W on current models
- Battery backup
- Optional battery backup on most models
- IP rating
- Typically IP54 depending on model; IP56 on some
- Operating temperature
- -20 °C to +55 °C typical
Control4 fields
- Activation devices
- Push button, remote control, key switch, reader, intercom or gatehouse control through open, close, step and stop inputs; radio receiver connector
- Loop detectors
- Two loop detector inputs, integrated on most models
- Access system interface
- Dry-contact inputs for any access control system; RS485 or Modbus on some models
- Manual release
- Key-operated manual release for hand operation on power failure
Safety3 fields
- Photocells
- Photocell input as standard; photocells fitted to the installation
- Ground loop safety
- Safety loop input holds the boom open while a vehicle is beneath it
- Behaviour on power failure
- Boom can be released and raised by hand; optional battery backup keeps the barrier operating
Compliance3 fields
- Product standard
- Powered vehicle barriers fall under EN 12453 and the Machinery Directive; the supplied operator's own declaration applies
- Conformity marking
- As applicable to the supplied operator and market
- Certificate reference
- Manufacturer's declaration for the supplied model; available on request
EN 12453 applies to powered vehicle barriers where they form part of a gate installation.
| Boom length or barrier width | Typically 2–9 m depending on model; booms over about 5 m are supplied in two sections |
|---|---|
| Bollard diameter | Not applicable |
| Bollard height above ground | Not applicable |
| Foundation depth required | Site dependent; set by the cabinet base plate and the supplied operator's foundation drawing |
| Cabinet or body dimensions | Depending on model; a typical cabinet is around 400 × 300 × 1,200 mm |
| Opening time | Typically 1.5–6 s for booms up to about 6 m, adjustable on the control unit; longer booms take up to 10–18 s depending on model |
|---|---|
| Closing time | As opening time; adjustable on the control unit |
| Mean cycles between failure | Manufacturer ratings range from about 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 cycles depending on model; continuous-duty models are common |
| Impact resistanceOnly for products actually tested to an impact standard. | Not impact rated. A boom barrier is a traffic control device, not a vehicle security barrier |
| Body material and finish | Galvanized or painted steel cabinet; stainless steel option on some models |
|---|---|
| Boom or barrier material | Extruded aluminium boom, round or elliptical profile depending on model, painted white |
| Drive mechanism | Electromechanical or hydraulic operator with spring balancing; brushless DC motors and an encoder for position and obstacle detection on current models |
| Reflective marking and lighting | Reflective strips on the boom; LED boom lighting and a cover-mounted warning or traffic light available on most models |
| Supply voltage | 230 V AC 50/60 Hz single phase; wide-range 100–240 V AC on some models |
|---|---|
| Power consumption | Typically 40–270 W depending on model; standby around 2.5 W on current models |
| Battery backup | Optional battery backup on most models |
| IP rating | Typically IP54 depending on model; IP56 on some |
| Operating temperature | -20 °C to +55 °C typical |
| Activation devices | Push button, remote control, key switch, reader, intercom or gatehouse control through open, close, step and stop inputs; radio receiver connector |
|---|---|
| Loop detectors | Two loop detector inputs, integrated on most models |
| Access system interface | Dry-contact inputs for any access control system; RS485 or Modbus on some models |
| Manual release | Key-operated manual release for hand operation on power failure |
| Photocells | Photocell input as standard; photocells fitted to the installation |
|---|---|
| Ground loop safety | Safety loop input holds the boom open while a vehicle is beneath it |
| Behaviour on power failure | Boom can be released and raised by hand; optional battery backup keeps the barrier operating |
| Product standardEN 12453 applies to powered vehicle barriers where they form part of a gate installation. | Powered vehicle barriers fall under EN 12453 and the Machinery Directive; the supplied operator's own declaration applies |
|---|---|
| Conformity marking | As applicable to the supplied operator and market |
| Certificate reference | Manufacturer's declaration for the supplied model; available on request |
Final specification depends on door dimensions, configuration, operating environment and project requirements.
FAQ
Questions we are actually asked
- Will a boom barrier stop an unauthorised vehicle?
- No, and it is not designed to. A boom meters traffic and records movements. Where the line must be physically held, bollards are the correct product.
- Can the barrier work with RFID or ANPR?
- Yes. Long-range RFID or UHF tags and number-plate recognition both release the barrier through standard interfaces, and are frequently deployed together — tags for fleet vehicles, ANPR for visitors.
- How does the barrier know the vehicle has passed?
- A ground loop under the lane confirms the vehicle has cleared before the boom descends, rather than closing on a timer.
- Do rising bollards carry a crash rating?
- Only where the specific product has been tested and certified to an impact standard. We publish an impact rating only against that evidence, and we will tell you plainly when a product does not carry one.
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