Key Factors to consider when selecting Vehicle gates
Hampden 4m High Automated Steel Mesh Cantilever Gate - Hawkes Bay Regional Prison
Every site is unique and so are its access requirements. Selecting the right gate will determine impacts to security, safety, operational efficiency, environment and long-term performance. Factors like terrain, available space, wind exposure, traffic type, maintenance needs, and budget all influence which solution will work best.
With over 55 years of experience consulting, designing, fabricating, and installing high-security gates across New Zealand and the Pacific, we have compiled an overview to help specifiers, designers, and decision-makers quickly compare the strengths, limitations, and key considerations of swing, sliding, and cantilever gates. These 3 being the most commonly implemented designs on high-security sites.
The right decision now means fewer compromises, lower lifetime costs, and a safer, more secure perimeter.
Access Hampden’s Vehicle Gate Guide—designed for specifiers and design teams.
View online or download your copy now.
Hampden 3.6m High Automated 358 Anti-Climb Mesh Sliding Gate - Waikeria Prison
Why Gate Selection Matters for High-Security Sites
On high-security sites, gates are more than an access point - they are a critical part of the perimeter defense system. The gate chosen plays a critical role in supporting and upholding the overall security plan.
Planning for site gates should take into consideration:
Operational Reliability: High-security sites demand gates that perform flawlessly under heavy use and harsh conditions. Incorrect selection can lead to frequent breakdowns, downtime, and costly repairs. Not to mention frustration and operational disruption.
Space Constraints and Road Levels: Limited space or varying road levels can make certain gate types impractical or costly to implement.
Environmental Factors: Wind loading, uneven terrain, flooding, and debris can affect gate performance and automation reliability - issues that are magnified on critical sites.
Security Compliance: Most high-security environments set strict standards for performance expectations, anti-climb properties, and ground clearance maximums. The wrong gate design can have significant effects on obtaining and maintaining compliance.
HVM Crash-Rated Gate Criteria: If your site will require hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM), the surrounding area must be designed to replicate the conditions under which the gate was tested and certified. Any deviation from the manufacturers criteria generally warrants the need for an engineered solution, taking additional time, and incurring further costs.
Hampden 3m High Automated Double Swing ArmourFence - CDC, Auckland
Partnering with Hampden through ECI
With more than 5 decades of experience delivering high-security physical perimeter solutions, we welcome specifiers and designers to engage with us early in the design process, and we offer Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) service for those more complex projects and design/build contracts.
Our team will help you make informed decisions tailored to your site conditions, operational needs, budgets and security requirements - ensuring the right solution from the outset.
Through ECI we are able to share critical insights on material and product lead times, fabrication considerations and cost savings, automation and hardware considerations, and installation practicalities.
This proactive approach and collaboration offers the best chance of achieving a successful installation and a long-term, reliable solution.
Looking for more information on Hampden Gate solutions?
Beyond Swing, Sliding, and Cantilever gates, Hampden also offers a range of specialised designs to meet unique site requirements. Hampden provides flexibility and precision where standard options aren’t enough.
Alternative solutions include: Radius Corner Gates, Top Sliding Gates, Bi-Folding Gates, Bi-Parting Sliders, Telescopic Gates
