Boom Gates

A boom barrier, also known as a boom gate, is a bar, or pole pivoted to allow the boom to block vehicular access through a controlled point. Typically the tip of a boom gate rises in a vertical arc to a near vertical position.

Boom gates are often counterweighted, so the pole is easily tipped. Boom gates have often paired either end to end, or offset appropriately to block traffic in both directions.

Some boom gates also have a second arm that hangs 300 to 400 mm below the upper arm when lowered, to increase approach visibility, and which hangs on links so it lies flat with the main boom as the barrier is raised. Some barriers also feature a pivot roughly halfway, where the barrier is raised, and the outermost half remains horizontal, with the barrier resembling an upside-down L when raised.

An RFID reader tag is installed on the boom barrier, which is placed at the entrance of the community. When a car is about to enter the community, the RFID tag on the vehicle is read by the reader tag on the boom barrier and the boom barrier opens, letting the vehicle in. In the case of a vehicle that is not registered with the community, the boom barrier will not open.