Security gates are often the first line of defence when it comes to site protection, and for many organisations, they are also a factor that is most overlooked.

From the outside, most gates look the same. But when a vehicle attempts a forced entry, or an intruder tests a weak point in your perimeter, the difference between a standard installation and a security-rated system could mean the protection, or the damage or theft of your business assets.

In this guide, we’ll explore what security-rated gates are, how they differ from non-certified systems, and how to choose a solution that stands up to more than just everyday use.

See our range of Security Rated Gates →

What Is a Security-Rated Gate?

A security-rated gate is a gate system that has been independently tested to withstand physical attack for a defined period of time. In the UK, the most widely recognised standard is LPS 1175, which assesses resistance against tools and forced entry methods. Gates are graded according to security rating levels, often referred to as SR levels, which indicate how long they can resist attack and the type of tools used during testing.

This is particularly important for high risk environments such as government sites, utilities infrastructure, data centres, distribution hubs and education settings, where intruder delay time and proven performance are critical.

Security Gates VS Standard Gates

It is important not to assume that all automatic security gate systems are security-rated. Many automated gates provide effective access control but are not designed or certified to resist sustained attack.

A sliding or bi-folding gate may appear robust, but unless it has been tested to LPS 1175, it cannot be classed as a certified security gate. For lower risk environments, this may be appropriate. For higher risk sites, certification is often a requirement of insurers, specifiers or public sector procurement frameworks.

At Parking Facilities, our TYTAN SR range is manufactured and tested to LPS 1175 standards, ensuring verified resistance rather than assumed strength.

Sliding Security Gates

A sliding security gate operates along a track or cantilever system. It is one of the most common choices for commercial and industrial sites, particularly where wide access openings are required.

Sliding systems are well suited to heavy duty security gates where strength, structural integrity and durability are priorities. Because the gate moves sideways rather than swinging inwards, they are often specified where there is space but limited depth behind the opening.

An automatic security gate can be integrated with access control systems such as intercoms, card readers or ANPR to provide controlled entry. Where higher levels of protection are required, sliding gates can be manufactured as LPS 1175 certified security-rated systems.

For many logistics centres, manufacturing facilities and high-value storage environments, a sliding security gate provides the ideal balance between efficiency and physical protection.

Single Bi-Fold Gates

Single bi-fold gates, sometimes described as single-leaf bi-folding gates, are designed to open quickly while taking up a relatively small space. The gate leaf folds back on itself as it opens, reducing the run back space needed in comparison to a full sliding system.

This type of security gate is often selected for sites where access speed is important but structural width is limited. Schools, business parks and healthcare facilities frequently specify single folding security gates because they combine controlled access with efficient traffic flow.

Depending on the risk profile of the site, these systems can be supplied as standard automatic security gate solutions or manufactured as security-rated gates where certification is required.

Bi-Folding Security Gates

Bi-folding security gates, also known as double-leaf speed gates, consist of two gate leaves that fold back symmetrically. They are particularly effective where fast opening and closing cycles are essential.

Because of their speed and compact movement, bi-folding security gates are often used in high-traffic environments where vehicle flow needs to remain steady and efficient. Industrial estates, emergency service facilities and secure commercial premises often benefit from this design. 

LPS 1175 Security Rating Levels Explained

What’s the Difference Between SR1 – SR8?

An LPS 1175 rating describes the tools an attacker is assumed to use and how long the gate resists them before it is breached. 

The standard is run by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) at BRE, and any business that wants their products rated must have them physically tested.

SR ratings are, in short, a scale of how long it takes an attacker to gain access. The “delay” is measured as working time, AKA the minutes an attacker spends actively cutting or levering rather than the total time spent at the gate.

At the lower SR levels, the assumed attacker is an opportunist with hand tools; higher levels are designed to resist professional power tools and, at the very top, multiple attackers. 

Our own TYTAN SR range spans SR1 to SR3 (A1 to C5), which covers the realistic threat facing most commercial and industrial perimeters. 

What is the Difference Between LPS 1175 Issue 8 and Issue 7?

Issue 7 is the older version of security ratings, which was replaced by Issue 8 in 2019. Both are still used, depending on who you talk to. 

Issue 7, the outdated version, gave a product a number ranging from SR1 to SR8. 

Issue 8 uses a letter and number combination. The letter represents how powerful an attacker’s tools would be, and the number is how many minutes a product will resist them for. 

So C5 (SR3) means it will resist category C tools for at least 5 minutes. As both are still used, you’ll often see them side by side. 

How Much Do Security-Rated Gates Cost?

No two security gates cost the same, especially if they’re custom-made to your specifications. 

The price depends on how the gate is built, how it operates and where it’s being installed. The main factors that affect the cost are:

The SR rating

A higher rating means more steel, stronger locking and more reinforcement, plus the cost of the independent testing, so an SR3 gate will cost more than an SR1 gate of the same size. 

Size

A wider opening needs a larger, heavier gate, a stronger frame, and, if it’s automated, a more powerful motor to operate it. 

How the gate operates

A manual gate is, naturally, a cheaper option, but most commercial sites opt for an automated gate for convenience. 

Automation adds a motor, a control system and the safety devices required for any powered gate. If you decide to install ANPR or an intercom system, the cost increases. 

The site itself

Ground conditions can affect the foundations and any necessary groundwork. You may need to consider running a new mains power supply to the gate, and the layout of the entrance can change what you need (especially if space is limited). 

This is why we always quote for a gate after we visit the site, and why we don’t have listed prices. 

Which Security Gate Best Suits Your Sector?

The right rating and gate type depend on the kind of site you are protecting. What suits a school entrance is rarely the same as what suits a data centre; it’s important to understand this when considering your options.  

Data centres and utilities

These are among the highest-risk sites of all. Data centres are now treated as critical national infrastructure in the UK, making independently certified physical security, such as LPS 1175-rated products, widely specified. They call for the upper end of the scale, with sliding gates on vehicle entrances and turnstiles controlling staff access. Utilities and other sites facing a vehicle-borne threat also move into hostile vehicle mitigation territory. You can read more on our data centre access management page.

Distribution and logistics

These sites depend on traffic flow, so speed matters as much as security. A bifolding gate opens and closes fast enough to keep vehicles moving without holding up the yard, and an SR2 or SR3 rating covers the intrusion and theft risk at most sites.

Schools and colleges

The priority here is controlling access while keeping pedestrians and vehicles safely apart. SR2 and SR3 are the usual choice, with sliding or bifolding gates on the vehicle entrance and pedestrian gates or turnstiles for foot traffic.

Government and public sector

These sites carry a higher threat and tend to specify at the top of the scale, SR3 and above, often as part of a wider security standard. Sliding gates paired with turnstiles suit most of them. This takes in everything from council and local authority sites to wider public sector buildings such as hospitals and government offices.

Construction sites

These are temporary, but they hold a lot of valuable plant and materials, which makes them a frequent target for theft. SR1 and SR2 usually strike the right balance between security and cost, with sliding gates securing the site entrance and turnstiles managing worker access. See our construction site solutions for more.

We’ve Talked A Lot About LPS 1175, But What About Other Compliance Standards?

Security is only one of the things a gate is judged on. A well-specified gate needs to pass separate tests for how safely it runs, and, on higher-risk sites, whether it can stop a vehicle.

This raises two key questions:

Is it safe to operate?

A powered gate is heavy machinery, so the first concern is that it cannot hurt anyone as it moves. 

That is the job of BS EN 12453, the safety standard for powered gates. It calls for force limits so the gate stops the moment it encounters an obstruction. Gates should include safety edges and sensors to detect people and vehicles, and you must be provided with clear handover documentation upon installation. 

This applies to every powered gate, whatever its security rating, because it is there to protect people rather than property. A gate must also carry a conformity mark to be sold legally in Great Britain, either the UK’s UKCA mark or the European CE mark.

Will it stop a vehicle?

Forced entry by hand is not the only physical threat. Where the risk is a vehicle driven at the gate, whether a ram-raid or a deliberate attack, the relevant standards are PAS 68 and its international equivalent, IWA 14. 

These test the gate against vehicle impact rather than hand tools, and they are the basis for hostile vehicle mitigation. Again, this is a different test from the others: an LPS 1175 gate is not automatically PAS 68 rated, and the highest-risk sites often need both.

What’s the Lifespan of a Security Rated Gate, and How Do I Maintain It?

A security-rated gate is a working machine that lives outdoors and, on a busy site, opens and closes hundreds of times a day. Like anything mechanical, it wears down over time. Although certification does not expire, poor maintenance can significantly reduce the level of protection the gate delivers in service.

Maintenance should look at:

• The mechanics: The motor, drive and moving parts such as rollers, tracks and hinges, which take the brunt of daily use.

• The safety systems: The force settings and sensors required by BS EN 12453, which can lose accuracy over time and need recalibrating.

• The security elements: The locking, fixings and the gate structure itself, where wear, corrosion or damage from an attempted break-in can quietly weaken the resistance the gate was rated for.

LPS 1175 doesn’t expire over time; it’s a rating that’s assigned at the time a gate is built. However, if poorly maintained, you cannot expect your gates to perform as well as the day they were installed. 

As a rule, servicing should be matched to how hard the gate works, with busy sites needing more frequent visits and at least one service a year a sensible baseline for any powered gate. Looked after properly, a steel security gate will protect a site for many years. Neglected, it can lose both its safety and its security long before the end of its life, which is why it pays to keep an existing installation under review. 

Security-rated gates should never be selected on rating alone. The appropriate classification should always be based on the site’s Operational Requirement, considering the threat, consequences of attack and the wider security measures protecting the site.

Our guide on how to assess commercial security gates before failure is a good place to start if you’re concerned about maintaining your access management solutions. 

How to Choose the Right Security Gate

Choosing the correct security gate begins with understanding your site’s risk level and operational demands. A low risk commercial site may only require an automatic security gate for access control. In comparison, a higher risk facility storing valuable assets or sensitive data may require heavy duty security gates with independent certification.

Available space also plays a significant factor. If there is ample room, a sliding security gate may be appropriate. Where run back space is limited, single folding security gates or bi-folding security gates often provide a more practical solution.

Traffic frequency must also be considered. High throughput sites typically benefit from the faster cycle times of bi-folding systems, while lower frequency industrial entrances may prefer the structural strength of a sliding design.

At sites such as these, compliance cannot be overlooked. All automatic gate systems must meet relevant safety requirements, including BS EN 12453 and applicable UKCA or CE marking. Where a gate is described as security rated, certification such as LPS 1175 needs to be clearly documented.

At Parking Facilities, each project begins with a site-specific assessment. Rather than recommending a standard product, we evaluate operational flow, security risk and regulatory requirements before designing a tailored solution. Every system is engineered and fabricated in the UK, delivered assembled and ready to install and supported through installation and aftercare.

Building a Long Term Access Strategy

Whether you need a sliding security gate for an industrial estate, single folding security gates for a school entrance or certified heavy duty security gates for a high risk facility, the key is correct specification and verified performance.

If you are planning a new project or reviewing an existing installation, we can advise on the most appropriate security gate solution for your site. For more information about our products, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert team.