Selecting a parking barrier gate is a balance of throughput, boom length, duty cycle, and integration. A mismatch shows up as queues at peak hours or premature motor failure.

1. Estimate peak traffic

Count vehicles per peak hour. High-throughput sites (shopping malls, hospitals, paid parking) need fast DC servo barriers with a 1.5 to 3 s opening. Low-traffic lots can use slower AC units.

2. Match boom length to lane width

Standard booms cover lanes up to about 4 to 6 m. Wider lanes need a longer arm or a fencing/skirt boom. See our notes on arm length and opening speed.

3. Confirm duty cycle

Continuous-use barriers must be rated for 100% duty cycle. Intermittent-use gates are cheaper but will overheat if run all day. Always size the motor for the worst-case day.

4. Plan integration

Most parking barriers pair with ticketing, ANPR, or RFID. A vehicle loop detector detects arrival and prevents the boom from closing on a car. Choose a controller with dry-contact and RS485/Wiegand inputs.

5. Safety and compliance

Specify photo-eye or pressure safety edges so the boom reverses on obstruction. For public lots, soft-start motion reduces accident risk.

Need help sizing a gate? Our B2B buying guide and engineering team can specify a unit for your site.

Frequently Asked Questions

What opening speed do I need for a busy car park?

For busy car parks, choose a barrier that opens in 1.5 to 3 seconds to keep queues short during peak hours.

How do I stop the boom from hitting a car?

Use a vehicle loop detector plus safety photo-eyes or pressure edges so the boom will not close on a vehicle or person.

What duty cycle rating should a commercial lot use?

Continuous-use commercial lots should specify a 100% duty-cycle barrier; intermittent-rated gates will overheat under all-day use.