Automatic barriers and gatescontrolling access acrossPeterborough & London

Rising arm barriers are the standard choice for controlling vehicle access at car parks, business parks and industrial sites, using a pivoting boom arm to block a single lane. They are fast-cycling, relatively low-cost to install and well suited to high-traffic sites where a full gate would be impractical.

Sliding gates run along a track parallel to the boundary line and suit sites with limited space in front of the opening, such as narrow yard entrances or sites close to a public footpath. Swing gates open outward or inward on hinges and suit wider openings with sufficient clear space, while bi-folding gates fold in sections to open quickly within a smaller footprint, often used where speed of operation matters, such as fire station or emergency vehicle access.

Automatic bollards provide an alternative or additional layer of vehicle control, particularly for pedestrianised areas that need occasional vehicle access, and can be integrated with the same access control systems used for gates and barriers.

A barrier or gate is only as good as the access control method operating it. We install and integrate intercoms, keypads, proximity card and fob readers, and automatic number plate recognition systems, matched to how a site actually needs to manage access, whether that is a single shared code, individual credentials for staff and visitors, or automated recognition for known vehicles.

For multi-tenant business parks and managed sites, access control often needs to distinguish between different user groups, provide audit trails, and integrate with existing security or building management systems. We specify and configure systems to meet those requirements rather than fitting a generic solution.

Remote monitoring and management is increasingly common for barriers and gates across multiple sites, allowing a site manager or security team to open, close or troubleshoot a barrier without attending in person, and we advise on this where it suits the client's operation.

Powered gates and barriers fall under Gate Safe guidance because of the genuine safety risks they present around pedestrians and vehicles if incorrectly installed or maintained. Correct force limiting, properly fitted and tested safety edges, photocells or other obstruction detection, and clear warning signage are not optional extras, they are fundamental to a compliant installation.

Our engineers carry out Gate Safe inspections as part of planned maintenance contracts, checking force settings, safety device function and structural condition of the gate or barrier and its fixings. Where an existing gate on site does not meet current safety expectations, we advise on the remedial work needed to bring it up to standard rather than simply signing it off.

We provide RAMS and method statements on request for installation and maintenance works, supporting sites that need to evidence compliance as part of their own health and safety management.

The faults we most commonly attend include motors labouring or failing under repeated cycling, control boards and electronics failing after power surges or water ingress, tracks and wheels on sliding gates wearing or becoming misaligned, and safety edges or photocells failing or being knocked out of alignment by vehicle impact or weather.

Planned maintenance visits allow us to grease and adjust moving parts, test safety devices, check control settings and identify components nearing the end of their working life before they fail during operation. For sites where the barrier or gate is the only access point, a scheduled maintenance contract materially reduces the risk of an unplanned closure.

Where repair is needed following damage, wear or a vehicle impact, we assess whether components can be repaired or need replacing, and carry out the work with a 12-month warranty, always aiming to restore full, safe operation rather than a temporary fix.

Our barrier and gate work is focused on commercial, industrial and public sites, which typically means higher cycle counts, multiple users, integration with wider access control or security systems, and a greater emphasis on managing pedestrian safety around vehicle movements than a single domestic gate installation would involve.

Ground conditions, power supply routing and traffic flow vary significantly from site to site, which is why every job starts with a proper survey rather than a standard specification. Commercial clients also typically require planned maintenance contracts, Gate Safe inspection records and RAMS documentation as part of their own compliance processes, all of which we provide as standard on request.