Access Control
Boom Barriers
Automatic boom barriers for car park entries, plant gate houses and toll points, driven from loop detectors, readers, remotes or a gatehouse control.
3 configurations
Explore product
Access Control & Vehicle Barriers/Vehicle Access Control
Retractable Barriers
A barrier line that exists only when you need it.
Access ControlKey specifications
- Line type
- Time-based, foldable
- When open
- Route completely clear
- Operation
- Powered or manual
- Specification
- Configured per installation at survey
* Final specification depends on door dimensions, configuration, operating environment and project requirements.
01Overview
About Retractable Barriers
A retractable barrier closes a line that only needs to exist some of the time. The barrier folds into a short stack against the boundary when open, so nothing obstructs the route, and extends across the full width when the line has to be held.
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.
Powered
Motorised extension and retraction with a manual release, where the line opens and closes several times a day.
Manual
Hand-operated, for lines that change state once or twice a day on a shift pattern.
10Gallery
Retractable 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
- Closed width typically 3.5–30 m depending on model; retracts to a short stack against the boundary
- Bollard diameter
- Not applicable
- Bollard height above ground
- Not applicable
- Foundation depth required
- Site dependent; a level running surface is needed, with a guide track set into it on tracked models
- Cabinet or body dimensions
- Barrier height typically 1.0–2.5 m depending on model, 1.6 m being common; the drive is housed in the leading post
Performance4 fields
- Opening time
- Set by the width and the running speed; powered models run at around 17–19 m/min
- Closing time
- As opening time
- Mean cycles between failure
- Not published as a cycle count; supplier ratings refer to the running gear rather than the barrier
- Impact resistance
- Not impact rated. A retractable barrier marks and holds a line; it is not a vehicle security barrier
Only for products actually tested to an impact standard.
Construction4 fields
- Body material and finish
- Stainless steel, brushed, or powder-coated aluminium alloy, depending on model
- Boom or barrier material
- Folding lattice in the same material as the posts
- Drive mechanism
- Powered models: motor in the leading post driving rubber-tyred wheels, trackless or on a single or double guide track; manual models are pushed by hand
- Reflective marking and lighting
- Warning lamp on the leading post; LED message display available on some models
Power and environment5 fields
- Supply voltage
- 220–230 V AC 50 Hz single phase on powered models
- Power consumption
- Motor typically 370–750 W depending on model and width
- Battery backup
- Not normally fitted; the barrier is released and moved by hand on power failure
- IP rating
- Model dependent
- Operating temperature
- Typically -25 °C to +75 °C, depending on model
Not stated in the supplier documentation reviewed; confirmed against the model quoted.
Control4 fields
- Activation devices
- Remote control as standard on powered models, typically 30–50 m range; push button or gatehouse control through the control unit
- Loop detectors
- Not normally fitted; the line is opened and closed on a time or shift basis
- Access system interface
- Dry-contact input on the control unit, depending on model
- Manual release
- Clutch key releases the drive so the barrier can be moved by hand
Safety3 fields
- Photocells
- Infrared anti-collision sensing on the leading post, stopping the barrier around 30–40 cm from an obstacle
- Ground loop safety
- Not applicable
- Behaviour on power failure
- Stops in place; released by the clutch key and moved by hand
Compliance3 fields
- Product standard
- Powered folding barriers fall under the powered-gate safety framework; the supplied unit's own documentation applies
- Conformity marking
- As applicable to the supplied unit and market
- Certificate reference
- Supplier documentation 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 | Closed width typically 3.5–30 m depending on model; retracts to a short stack against the boundary |
|---|---|
| Bollard diameter | Not applicable |
| Bollard height above ground | Not applicable |
| Foundation depth required | Site dependent; a level running surface is needed, with a guide track set into it on tracked models |
| Cabinet or body dimensions | Barrier height typically 1.0–2.5 m depending on model, 1.6 m being common; the drive is housed in the leading post |
| Opening time | Set by the width and the running speed; powered models run at around 17–19 m/min |
|---|---|
| Closing time | As opening time |
| Mean cycles between failure | Not published as a cycle count; supplier ratings refer to the running gear rather than the barrier |
| Impact resistanceOnly for products actually tested to an impact standard. | Not impact rated. A retractable barrier marks and holds a line; it is not a vehicle security barrier |
| Body material and finish | Stainless steel, brushed, or powder-coated aluminium alloy, depending on model |
|---|---|
| Boom or barrier material | Folding lattice in the same material as the posts |
| Drive mechanism | Powered models: motor in the leading post driving rubber-tyred wheels, trackless or on a single or double guide track; manual models are pushed by hand |
| Reflective marking and lighting | Warning lamp on the leading post; LED message display available on some models |
| Supply voltage | 220–230 V AC 50 Hz single phase on powered models |
|---|---|
| Power consumption | Motor typically 370–750 W depending on model and width |
| Battery backup | Not normally fitted; the barrier is released and moved by hand on power failure |
| IP ratingNot stated in the supplier documentation reviewed; confirmed against the model quoted. | Model dependent |
| Operating temperature | Typically -25 °C to +75 °C, depending on model |
| Activation devices | Remote control as standard on powered models, typically 30–50 m range; push button or gatehouse control through the control unit |
|---|---|
| Loop detectors | Not normally fitted; the line is opened and closed on a time or shift basis |
| Access system interface | Dry-contact input on the control unit, depending on model |
| Manual release | Clutch key releases the drive so the barrier can be moved by hand |
| Photocells | Infrared anti-collision sensing on the leading post, stopping the barrier around 30–40 cm from an obstacle |
|---|---|
| Ground loop safety | Not applicable |
| Behaviour on power failure | Stops in place; released by the clutch key and moved by hand |
| Product standardEN 12453 applies to powered vehicle barriers where they form part of a gate installation. | Powered folding barriers fall under the powered-gate safety framework; the supplied unit's own documentation applies |
|---|---|
| Conformity marking | As applicable to the supplied unit and market |
| Certificate reference | Supplier documentation 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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