Industrial sliding gates vs swinging gates: Which is better?

When securing your commercial site, industrial gates are your first line of defence. However, with different styles of gates on the market, it may be difficult to determine which industrial gate is best for you and keep everyone feeling safe. 

So which is better: industrial sliding gates or industrial swinging gates? Keep reading as we discuss everything you need to know about both, and how to choose the best gate for your premises. 

Why install gates on your commercial premises?

Industrial gates are found on many commercial premises and have a host of benefits. These include:

1. Deters crime 

Industrial gates on commercial premises are often your first step in deterring crime. Industrial gates act as a barrier, keeping unauthorised visitors, including potential criminals, from entering the premises and committing a crime - whether that be vandalising, breaking and entering, or a data security breach. 

2. Controls access

As industrial gates act as barriers to accessing the premises, they allow you to control who comes in and out. This means that you can choose who to let through the gates and onto the premises, as well as who you would like to restrict access to (such as unauthorised visitors). 

3. Privacy 

Industrial gates can provide both a visual and metaphorical privacy to what happens on the premises of your commercial site. Industrial gates, depending on the design, can block unauthorised visitors or passersby from visually looking onto the premises, as well as blocking their entry from accessing the site. 

4. Reduce insurance costs 

When installing industrial gates on your commercial premises, you will need to let your insurance provider know. Additional security onto the site will assure your insurance provider that you are taking steps to deter crime and protect the premises, which will in lieu reduce your insurance costs. 

Understanding industrial sliding gates

What are industrial sliding gates?

Industrial sliding gates are security gates which move horizontally to provide access to the premises, rather than opening inwards or outwards like traditional gates. These gates run on tracks and are motorised to provide access when granted. 

Advantages of industrial sliding gates

There are multiple advantages many commercial premise owners have found, as to why they use industrial sliding gates. These include: 

Space efficient

Industrial sliding gates take up minimal space, compared to traditional swinging gates. As they typically move along a fence or bricked line, they require far less room and are considered more compact. 

Perfect for wide entrances 

Industrial sliding gates are perfect for situations where the access point to your commercial site is particularly wide. Here, the sliding gate runs along a track, rather than holding its own weight and swinging more freely, meaning it won’t sag and you can more effectively secure a larger access point. 

Offers more enhanced security features 

As industrial sliding gates work on a motor to open and close the gate, they cannot be manually opened. Instead, they require more security features, such as an access control system, which will make the gate more secure and help you determine who to let onto the premises. 

Suitable for uneven ground

If your access point to the premises is on even or sloped ground, industrial sliding gates are the ideal solution. As the gates do not open like traditional swinging gates, they are safer for vehicles and pedestrians - removing the risk of the gate opening into a car or person. 

More contemporary look 

Industrial sliding gates look far more modern and contemporary, compared to traditional swinging gates - especially with the motorised entry, rather than manual. 

Limitations of industrial sliding gates 

Like with everything, however, there are limitations to industrial sliding gates too. These can include: 

Maintenance requirements 

As industrial sliding gates work with a motor to open and close the gate, you will be required to schedule professional maintenance regularly to ensure that the gate is working safely and correctly. You will also need to maintain the floor tracks of the sliding gate, as these can easily fill with debris - especially around grassland and hedges. 

Additional costs 

Industrial sliding gates contain more complex components, compared to traditional swinging gates. This can make them more expensive as a result, along with the additional maintenance they will require. 

Noise 

Some owners report that they find industrial sliding gates noisier than swinging gates. This is due to the number of moving parts within the gate. Whilst this may not be a problem for you, it may become a concern if the gates are installed close to offices, sleeping quarters or residential areas. 

Understanding industrial swinging gates 

What are industrial swinging gates?

Industrial swinging gates are security gates which open inwards or outwards to grant access to vehicles and/or pedestrians, in order to provide access to your commercial premises. These gates can work both electronically and manually, depending on what design you purchase and what additional security features you add. 

Advantages of industrial swinging gates

Commercial premise owners have found many benefits for industrial swinging gates. These can include:

Simplicity 

Industrial swinging gates are far more simple in use and design, compared to sliding gates. This is because they can be locked, opened and closed manually if preferred, but even electronically require far fewer parts and maintenance. 

Easy maintenance

Industrial swinging gates, even electronic ones, are far easier to maintain - compared to sliding gates. This is because they have fewer parts and much simpler design. 

Low cost 

Many commercial property owners find industrial swinging gates to be far cheaper to both purchase and maintain, compared to sliding gates. This again is due to them having fewer parts and components, and a much simpler design. 

Quieter 

Industrial swinging gates are found to be much quieter than sliding gates, as they do not run on a track or necessarily have to work with motorised mechanisms. This then makes the general movement and operation of swinging gates much quieter. 

Suitable for narrow openings 

Many commercial premise owners find industrial swinging gates far more suitable and effective for use in narrow openings. This is due to them not needing additional space at the sides of the gate for them to open. 

More safe 

Industrial gates can be considered to be the safer option, compared to other gate options, including sliding gates. This is because there are fewer moving parts, meaning less opportunity for hands or fingers to be caught in the mechanism. 

Limitations of industrial swinging gates

Whilst industrial swinging gates have a host of advantages, there are still however some limitations to them. These can include:

Require more opening space 

To operate an industrial swinging gate, you need to have ample room for the gate to open inwards or outwards. If the gate is built at an opening where there are multiple gates to move through, or on a bend, this style of industrial gate would not be effective. 

Heavier to open and close 

If you choose to install a manual industrial swinging gate (without electronic, motorised functions), then many people find that the gate can be incredibly heavy and often difficult to manually open and close. 

Not suitable for uneven ground

If the industrial swinging gate is built on uneven or sloped ground, it could swing with the weight of gravity - causing potential damage to vehicles or injure pedestrians. Therefore, it is not recommended to install this style of gate in these spaces. 

How to choose between industrial sliding and swinging gates 

Now that you know the difference between industrial sliding and swinging gates, alongside their advantages and limitations, it is time to make a choice. But how do you know which one would be right for you?

Security needs and level of access control

How secure do you need to make your commercial premises? 

With industrial sliding gates, you will be paying for a motorised gate, which allows you to decide who you allow access to. This is ideal if you own large premises, with many people passing through. However, you can only get this same level of security and access control if you decide to motorise and add additional security features to an industrial swinging gate. 

On the other hand, if you just need a simple gate that you can easily staff, or have few authorised personnel passing through, then a manual industrial swinging gate will do the job and keep your premises secure. 

Budget considerations 

How much can you afford to purchase and maintain your industrial gate?

With industrial swinging gates, manual gates are your cheapest option. These are both far cheaper to purchase and require far less maintenance. Electronic industrial swinging gates are also cheaper to purchase, compared to sliding gates, and have fewer motorised parts - meaning you’ll pay less to maintain it over the years. 

However, if budget isn’t a huge issue for you, then you may find the costs of purchasing and maintaining industrial sliding gates fit well within your restraints. 

Space availability 

How much space do you have to install an industrial gate?

If you have a wide opening to your commercial premises, you may find industrial sliding gates more effective in keeping your site secure. Sliding gates are also more effective if you don’t have much room to open a gate. 

However, if your entry point is much narrower and you have ample room to open and close the gate, then an industrial swinging gate will do the job perfectly. 

We understand the importance of securing your commercial premises. For more advice on what security measures your commercial site would benefit from, check out our blog or get in touch with our expert team - today!