Parking Barrier Guide: How to Choose the Right Parking Barrier Gate in the UAE
In short: a parking barrier, or parking barrier gate, is a powered or manual arm that controls vehicles at a car park or parking lot entrance and exit. For most sites, an automatic parking barrier linked to your ticket, card or number plate system is the right choice. Choose a manual barrier where there is no power, and a crash rated barrier where the entrance also needs to stop a hostile vehicle.
This guide explains the types of parking barrier, how a parking barrier gate connects to access control, and what to check before you buy. It is written for facility managers, consultants and contractors planning parking entrances in the UAE.
What is a parking barrier?
A parking barrier, also called a parking barrier gate or car park barrier, is a cabinet with a boom arm that rises to let a vehicle through and lowers behind it. It controls who enters and leaves a car park, one vehicle at a time.
Two different products are sold under the name “parking barrier”:
| Product | What it does | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Entry barrier (boom barrier) | Controls the entrance or exit lane of a car park | Malls, offices, hospitals, residential towers, industrial sites |
| Parking space lock | Blocks a single parking bay | Private or reserved bays |
This guide covers entry barriers. For a single reserved bay, a removable bollard is a sturdier option than a fold-down lock.
Types of parking barrier
| Type | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic parking barrier | Motor raises and lowers the boom on a signal from access control | Busy car parks with frequent traffic |
| Manual parking barrier | Counterbalanced boom raised by hand | Sites with no power or very low traffic |
| Crash rated barrier | Structural beam tested to stop a vehicle at a set weight and speed | Entrances to sensitive sites where vehicle security matters |
Most car parks need an automatic boom barrier. A crash rated barrier is only needed where the entrance also protects people or assets from a hostile vehicle. Our guide on boom barrier vs crash rated barrier explains the difference in detail.
Manual or automatic parking barrier?
| Manual parking barrier | Automatic parking barrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | None needed | Mains supply |
| Staff | Someone must lift the boom | Opens from a card, ticket, ANPR camera or remote control |
| Speed | Depends on the operator | A few seconds per cycle |
| Traffic | Low | Low to very high |
| Records | None | Each entry can be logged by the access control system |
Choose automatic for any car park with regular traffic or no attendant. Choose manual for remote sites, temporary entrances or where there is no power supply.
How a parking barrier gate works with access control
An automatic barrier opens when it receives a signal. Common ways to give that signal are:
- Ticket machine for visitor parking
- Card or tag reader for staff and residents
- ANPR camera, which reads number plates and opens for registered vehicles
- Intercom or guard button for deliveries and visitors
Safety devices then stop the boom from closing on a vehicle or person:
- Vehicle detector loops in the road keep the barrier open while a vehicle is under the boom
- Photocells across the lane act as a second check
- Traffic lights and signs tell drivers when to proceed
Agree the reader type, the signal wiring and the safety devices before the foundation is poured, so ducts can be cast in.
What to check before you buy
1. Lane width and boom length. Measure the full clear width of each lane. Booms are made in fixed lengths, so the boom must cover the lane with the end rest in place.
2. Traffic volume. A busy parking lot needs a barrier rated for continuous use. Ask for the duty rating. A 100% duty rating means the motor is designed for constant, frequent use.
3. Opening speed. At peak times, every second at the barrier adds to the queue. Check the opening time for the boom length you need.
4. Safety devices. Loops and photocells should be standard on every automatic lane.
5. Power and controls. Confirm the supply at each lane and how the barrier behaves if power is lost.
6. Foundation and ducts. Each barrier needs a concrete base with power and control ducts cast in. Plan this with the civil works.
7. Branding and finish. Cabinets can usually be supplied in a chosen colour or wrap to match the building.
8. Maintenance. A busy car park barrier opens and closes many times a day. Agree a planned maintenance schedule from day one.
Our parking barriers
Automatic Barrier Model FBC6 is our automatic parking barrier:
| Feature | FBC6 |
|---|---|
| Drive | Rapid-action torque motor, instantly reversible |
| Duty rating | 100%, for continuous and frequent use |
| Boom lengths | 4000mm, 5000mm and 6000mm |
| Boom | Aluminium octagonal profile, white with red bands, special colours available |
| Operating speed | Typically 3.5 to 7 seconds, depending on boom length and options |
| Safety | Vehicle detector loops, photocells, light curtains, traffic lights, alarms |
| Options | Boom lights, maglocks, articulated booms, stainless steel cabinet, skirts, traffic lights, branded cabinet |
| Access control | Can be connected to any access control system |
| Power | 230V, 50Hz single phase, 6 amp |
| Foundation | 600 x 600mm, 450mm deep |
| Sign | Stop sign in Arabic and English as standard |
For sites that need vehicle security as well:
- Terra CEDAR Barrier: a manual barrier tested to PAS 68 at 7.5t at 48km/h and 3.5t at 80km/h, with a maximum boom length of 4500mm. It needs no power supply and sits on a 500mm deep foundation.
- PAS 68 Compact Terra Barrier: a hydraulic crash rated barrier tested to PAS 68 at 3.5t at 48km/h, for entrances up to 6000mm wide. It looks like a standard car park barrier, so it suits car parks at sensitive sites.
See the full range in security car park barriers.
Installation and support
Frontier Pitts Middle East supplies, installs and commissions parking barriers with its own teams, including civil and electrical works. Each installation is commissioned and tested before handover, and you receive the drawings, test records and operating manuals. Barriers come with a 12 month warranty, provided they receive periodic maintenance by a trained engineer, and our maintenance contracts cover that servicing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a parking barrier and a boom barrier?
In most cases they are the same product. “Boom barrier” describes how it works, with a rising arm. “Parking barrier” describes where it is used.
How long does a parking barrier take to open?
It depends on the boom length and options. The FBC6 typically opens in 3.5 to 7 seconds.
Can a parking barrier work with ANPR or card readers?
Yes. An automatic barrier opens on a signal from any access control system, including ANPR cameras, card readers, ticket machines and intercoms.
Do I need a crash rated barrier for my car park?
Only if the entrance also needs to stop a hostile vehicle, for example at a government building or critical site. Standard car parks use an automatic boom barrier.
Can a parking barrier work without power?
A manual barrier, such as the Terra CEDAR Barrier, needs no power. An automatic barrier needs a mains supply, and you should plan how it behaves if power is lost.
Related reading
Boom barrier vs crash rated barrier · Understanding crash rated barriers · Automatic gate safety requirements in the UAE
To discuss a parking barrier for your site, email sales@frontierpitts.ae or visit fpgulf.com.
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