Will a boom barrier stop an unauthorised vehicle?

No, and it is not designed to. A boom barrier meters traffic and records movements. Where the line must be physically held, bollards are the correct product.

Which turnstile type suits my entrance?

It follows supervision and throughput: flap barriers for high-flow supervised lobbies, tripod turnstiles for gate houses and staff entrances, full height turnstiles where the point is unsupervised and has to be unclimbable.

What happens to a turnstile on a fire alarm?

Arms drop or free-spin, or the wings retract, so the lane becomes clear escape width. The exact behaviour is specified against the building's escape strategy and tested at commissioning.

Do rising bollards carry a crash rating?

Only where the specific product has been tested and certified to an impact standard. An impact rating is published only against that evidence.

Will it work with our existing access control system?

In almost all cases, yes. Lanes accept a release signal and return passage events over standard dry contacts, and boom barriers can be released by RFID tags or number-plate recognition.

Boom Barrier vs Flap Barrier vs Turnstile

The short answer

Start by asking whether the point controls vehicles or pedestrians. At the vehicle line, a boom barrier meters traffic and records movements but will not stop a determined vehicle; bollards hold the line physically; a retractable barrier closes a wide line only when needed. At the pedestrian line, the choice follows supervision and throughput: tripod turnstiles for supervised staff entrances, flap barriers for busy lobbies, full height turnstiles for unsupervised perimeters.

At a glance

Boom Barriers: ControlsVehicles — metering; Best suited toCar park entries, plant gate houses, toll and weighbridge points; Key pointA control device, not a security barrier; a ground loop confirms the vehicle has cleared before the boom lowers
Bollards: ControlsVehicles — physical line; Best suited toBuilding entrances, plazas, restricted zones, campus perimeters; Key pointFixed, removable or automatic rising; pedestrians pass freely
Retractable Barriers: ControlsWide vehicle or pedestrian line; Best suited toYard and service entrances, shift-based closures; Key pointFolds into a stack when open, so the route is completely clear
Tripod Turnstiles: ControlsPedestrians — one per authorisation; Best suited toFactory gate houses, staff entrances, attendance points; Key pointWaist height; suits supervised points with moderate throughput
Flap Barriers: ControlsPedestrians — high throughput; Best suited toCorporate lobbies, receptions, transit concourses; Key pointHigher throughput than a tripod; reads as building fit-out
Full Height Turnstiles: ControlsPedestrians — unclimbable line; Best suited toUnsupervised perimeter points, restricted zones; Key pointFloor-to-head-height rotor in a cage: no over and no under

Product	Controls	Best suited to	Key point
Boom Barriers	Vehicles — metering	Car park entries, plant gate houses, toll and weighbridge points	A control device, not a security barrier; a ground loop confirms the vehicle has cleared before the boom lowers
Bollards	Vehicles — physical line	Building entrances, plazas, restricted zones, campus perimeters	Fixed, removable or automatic rising; pedestrians pass freely
Retractable Barriers	Wide vehicle or pedestrian line	Yard and service entrances, shift-based closures	Folds into a stack when open, so the route is completely clear
Tripod Turnstiles	Pedestrians — one per authorisation	Factory gate houses, staff entrances, attendance points	Waist height; suits supervised points with moderate throughput
Flap Barriers	Pedestrians — high throughput	Corporate lobbies, receptions, transit concourses	Higher throughput than a tripod; reads as building fit-out
Full Height Turnstiles	Pedestrians — unclimbable line	Unsupervised perimeter points, restricted zones	Floor-to-head-height rotor in a cage: no over and no under

Vehicle line: meter or enforce?

A boom barrier regulates flow: it holds the gate line closed, opens for one authorised vehicle and closes again behind it. It is not designed to stop a determined vehicle. Where the line has to be held physically, bollards are the correct product.

Bollards are chosen by how often the line opens: fixed for a line that never opens, removable for occasional service access, automatic rising for a line that opens many times a day. A retractable barrier suits an opening that is a free-flow route during working hours and a closed line outside them.

Where hostile vehicle mitigation is the requirement, a tested and certified product is needed. An impact rating is published only against that evidence.

Pedestrian line: supervision and throughput

Supervised point, moderate throughput — a tripod turnstile enforces single passage mechanically at the lowest cost and footprint.
Corporate lobby at peak flow — flap barriers move people faster and read as building fit-out rather than security equipment.
Unsupervised perimeter — a full height turnstile. A waist-height unit with nobody watching it is a formality.
Wheelchair users, trolleys or luggage — provide at least one wide accessible lane alongside the standard lanes.

Emergency behaviour and integration

On a fire alarm or power failure, turnstile arms drop or free-spin and flap barrier wings retract, so the lane becomes clear escape width. A full height turnstile free-spins, locks or is released according to the behaviour specified for the site. The exact behaviour is agreed against the building's escape strategy and tested at commissioning.

Lanes accept a release signal and return passage events over standard dry contacts, so the credential technology — card, biometric, QR or visitor system — is the site's choice. Boom barriers can be released by long-range RFID tags or number-plate recognition, often together: tags for fleet vehicles, ANPR for visitors.

Installation considerations

Vehicle lanes: lane geometry, approach and queuing space come first — a barrier in the wrong position creates a queue on the public road.
Foundations are sized for the unit and, for bollards, for the sleeve depth required below the carriageway.
Ground loops are cut and ducted before the surface is made good, and re-tested after any resurfacing.
Pedestrian lanes: units are fixed to a sound, level floor, and power and reader cable routes are coordinated before the floor is finished.
A local power supply and isolator are provided by the electrical contractor.

Questions to confirm before ordering

01
Does the point control vehicles, pedestrians or both?
02
For vehicles: does the line need to be metered and recorded, or physically held?
03
How often does the line open — rarely, several times a day, or continuously?
04
For pedestrians: is the point supervised, and what is the peak flow?
05
Is an accessible lane needed for wheelchair users, trolleys or luggage?
06
What should happen on a fire alarm or power failure?
07
Which access control, attendance, RFID or ANPR system must it work with?
08
What lane width, headroom, approach space and floor or foundation conditions apply on site?

Frequently asked questions

Will a boom barrier stop an unauthorised vehicle?: No, and it is not designed to. A boom barrier meters traffic and records movements. Where the line must be physically held, bollards are the correct product.
Which turnstile type suits my entrance?: It follows supervision and throughput: flap barriers for high-flow supervised lobbies, tripod turnstiles for gate houses and staff entrances, full height turnstiles where the point is unsupervised and has to be unclimbable.
What happens to a turnstile on a fire alarm?: Arms drop or free-spin, or the wings retract, so the lane becomes clear escape width. The exact behaviour is specified against the building's escape strategy and tested at commissioning.
Do rising bollards carry a crash rating?: Only where the specific product has been tested and certified to an impact standard. An impact rating is published only against that evidence.
Will it work with our existing access control system?: In almost all cases, yes. Lanes accept a release signal and return passage events over standard dry contacts, and boom barriers can be released by RFID tags or number-plate recognition.

Boom Barrier vs Flap Barrier vs Turnstile: How to Choose