Swing Gates vs Height Restriction Barriers | Aremco Barriers

Which Is Right for Your Site?

When you need to control vehicle access to a car park, industrial estate, commercial premises or private site, two common options are manual swing gates and height restriction barriers.

Although both are used for vehicle access control, they perform very different jobs.

A swing gate can physically close an entrance and prevent vehicles from passing through, while a height restriction barrier is primarily designed to prevent vehicles above a specified height from entering.

Understanding that difference is the starting point when deciding which solution is right for your site.

At Aremco Barriers, we manufacture both manual swing gates and height restriction barriers in the UK. In this guide, we look at the differences, where each type works best and the practical points to consider before choosing.

What Is a Manual Swing Gate?

A manual swing gate is a physical gate installed across an entrance or access road.

When closed and secured, it prevents vehicles from passing through the entrance. When access is required, the gate is manually unlocked and swung open.

Manual swing gates are commonly used at:

• Industrial estates

• Commercial premises

• Car parks

• Service yards

• Access roads

• Business parks

• Construction and maintenance areas

• Private land

They provide a straightforward method of controlling whether vehicles can enter or leave a site.

What Is a Height Restriction Barrier?

A height restriction barrier controls access according to the height of the vehicle rather than simply closing the entrance.

A horizontal crossbeam is positioned at a specified height above ground level. Vehicles below the permitted height can pass underneath, while taller vehicles are prevented from entering.

Height restriction barriers are commonly found at:

• Car parks

• Retail parks

• Public open spaces

• Council sites

• Leisure facilities

• Commercial premises

• Service areas

• Sites where HGV or high-sided vehicle access needs to be restricted

They can be particularly useful where cars and smaller vehicles should have normal access but taller vehicles need to be excluded.

What Is the Main Difference?

The simplest way to think about it is:

A swing gate controls whether vehicles can enter.

A height restriction barrier controls which vehicles can enter based on their height.

If you want to completely close an entrance outside certain hours, a swing gate may be the more appropriate solution.

If the entrance needs to remain accessible to cars while preventing high-sided vehicles from entering, a height restriction barrier may be better suited.

When Should I Choose a Swing Gate?

A manual swing gate can be a good choice where the main objective is to secure the complete entrance.

For example, a business park may remain open during working hours but need the entrance secured overnight.

During the day, the gate can be locked in the open position where the installation allows. At the end of the day, it can be closed and secured across the entrance.

Swing gates are also useful where vehicle access is only occasionally required, such as maintenance roads, service entrances and restricted areas.

When Should I Choose a Height Restriction Barrier?

A height restriction barrier is usually considered where the entrance needs to remain open but certain taller vehicles need to be prevented from entering.

A typical example is a public car park.

Cars need unrestricted access throughout opening hours, but the site operator may want to prevent HGVs, large commercial vehicles or other high-sided vehicles from entering.

A correctly specified height barrier provides a visible physical restriction at the entrance.

What Height Should a Height Restriction Barrier Be?

The correct height depends on the vehicles the site operator wants to allow and those they want to restrict.

Aremco height restriction barriers are commonly manufactured at heights around 2.0m, 2.1m and 2.2m, although the appropriate height should always be selected according to the individual site requirements.

A clearly visible height restriction sign should also be provided so drivers are warned of the restriction before attempting to pass underneath.

What Width Swing Gate Do I Need?

For a swing gate, the width of the vehicle entrance is one of the most important measurements.

Aremco standard single-leaf manual swing gates are available for openings from approximately 3 metres to 6 metres.

For wider entrances, a double-leaf gate may be more appropriate.

You should also consider the types of vehicles using the entrance, their turning movements and the amount of space available for the gate leaf or leaves to open safely.

Do I Need Space for the Barrier or Gate to Open?

Yes, and this is particularly important with swing gates.

A swing gate needs sufficient clear space for the complete gate leaf to travel through its opening arc.

Buildings, fencing, parked vehicles, kerbs, vegetation and changes in ground level can all affect whether the gate can open fully.

Opening height restriction barriers also require sufficient space for their moving sections and associated posts.

The available space around the entrance should therefore be considered before either product is specified.

What If I Occasionally Need Access for Larger Vehicles?

This is an important consideration when choosing a height restriction barrier.

A site may normally only need access for cars but occasionally require entry for:

• Delivery vehicles

• Refuse vehicles

• Emergency vehicles

• Maintenance vehicles

• Contractors

• Plant or machinery

In these circumstances, an opening height restriction barrier can provide greater flexibility than a completely fixed arrangement.

The barrier can remain in its normal position for everyday vehicle control but be opened when authorised access is required for larger vehicles.

Depending on the arrangement, additional posts can also be provided to secure the barrier in its open position.

Can I Use a Swing Gate and Height Restriction Barrier Together?

Yes.

For some sites, the most suitable solution may be to use both.

For example, a height restriction barrier could control high-sided vehicles during normal operating hours, while a swing gate could be used to completely secure the entrance when the site is closed.

This provides two different levels of access control:

During opening hours: vehicle height is controlled.

When the site is closed: vehicle access can be prevented completely.

Whether this arrangement is appropriate depends on the layout of the site and how access needs to operate.

Which Option Requires More Day-to-Day Operation?

A height restriction barrier can require very little day-to-day intervention if vehicles below the permitted height are allowed to pass freely underneath it.

A swing gate, however, needs to be physically opened and closed whenever access arrangements change.

This is worth considering on busy sites.

If an entrance is opened every morning and closed every evening, manual operation may be perfectly practical. If the gate would need to be opened and closed dozens of times throughout the day, the operational requirements should be considered before choosing a manual system.

What About Maintenance?

Both swing gates and opening height restriction barriers contain moving components and should be inspected periodically.

Checks may include:

• Hinges and pivot points

• Fixings

• Locks

• Gate alignment

• Safety restrainers where fitted

• Posts and foundations

• Signs and reflective materials

• Evidence of impact damage

• Corrosion or deterioration

Any damage should be investigated promptly, particularly if a barrier has been struck by a vehicle.

Galvanised or Powder Coated?

The required finish will depend on the site, environment and preferred appearance.

Aremco can manufacture products with finishes including galvanised steel, powder coating, or galvanising followed by powder coating.

Powder-coated products can be supplied in a range of RAL colours to suit individual customer requirements.

For outdoor steelwork, the required level of corrosion protection should be considered alongside appearance.

Which Is Better for Security?

It depends on what you mean by security.

If the objective is to close an entrance completely to normal vehicle access, a swing gate is generally the more appropriate of the two.

If the objective is to prevent taller vehicles from entering while continuing to allow cars and smaller vehicles through, a height restriction barrier is designed specifically for that purpose.

Neither product should automatically be considered a crash-rated security system. Where a site requires protection against deliberate hostile vehicle attack, specialist security products designed and tested for that purpose should be specified.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing

Before deciding between a swing gate and height restriction barrier, consider:

• Do I need to completely close the entrance?

• Do cars need unrestricted access?

• Am I specifically trying to prevent high-sided vehicles?

• What is the largest authorised vehicle using the site?

• Do larger vehicles occasionally need access?

• How frequently will the barrier or gate be operated?

• Is there enough room for it to open?

• What are the ground conditions?

• Is the entrance used by pedestrians as well as vehicles?

• Does the site require additional access-control measures?

Answering these questions will usually make it much easier to determine which type of product is most suitable.

Need Help Choosing?

If you're unsure whether your site needs a manual swing gate, height restriction barrier or another form of vehicle access control, Aremco Barriers can help.

We manufacture manual vehicle access-control products in the UK for commercial, industrial, public-sector and private applications, with standard and bespoke options available.

Provide us with the approximate entrance dimensions, details of the vehicles using the site and what you are trying to prevent or control, and we can discuss the available options.

Photographs of the proposed installation area can also be extremely helpful.

Please note: Prices displayed on the Aremco Barriers website are guide prices only. Contact us for a quotation based on your specific requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a height restriction barrier the same as a swing gate?

No. A swing gate can close an entrance to vehicles, whereas a height restriction barrier primarily controls access according to vehicle height.

Can cars drive underneath a height restriction barrier?

Yes, provided the vehicle is below the stated maximum height and the barrier has been correctly specified and installed.

Can a height restriction barrier be opened for HGV access?

Opening height restriction barriers can be used where occasional access is required for taller authorised vehicles. The exact arrangement should be selected according to the site requirements.

Can I install a swing gate and height barrier at the same entrance?

Yes. Some sites use a height restriction barrier during normal opening hours and a swing gate to secure the entrance completely when the site is closed.

Which is better for a car park?

It depends on the objective. If the car park needs to remain accessible to cars while restricting taller vehicles, a height restriction barrier may be appropriate. If the entire entrance needs to be closed at certain times, a swing gate may be more suitable.

Does Aremco manufacture automatic barriers?

Aremco Barriers specialises in manual vehicle access-control products. If your site requires an automated access system, you should consult a specialist automatic barrier provider.