Temporary fencing gates provide controlled access through a temporary site perimeter without leaving unnecessary openings in the fence line. The right gate depends on who needs to enter the site, the vehicles or plant using the entrance, how frequently it will be used and the level of security required.
Gate planning also forms part of the wider responsibility to manage site access safely and prevent unauthorised entry. If you are establishing what is required around a construction site, our guide to temporary fencing regulations in the UK explains the broader legal and HSE context.
What types of temporary fencing gates are available?
Temporary gates range from simple pedestrian access points through to wide vehicle entrances and heavier-duty gate systems. The most appropriate option depends on how the entrance will actually operate rather than simply the overall length of the fence.
Pedestrian gate
A dedicated gate for people entering or leaving a temporary fenced area. Wade's standard pedestrian mesh gate has a 1,000mm width, sliding latch, slam post and castor wheel.
Useful for: general worker and visitor access
Panel with built-in gate
A pedestrian opening incorporated within a standard-size anti-climb fencing panel, allowing an access point to be introduced without creating a separate gate section.
Useful for: straightforward access within an existing panel run
Vehicle gate
A wider temporary mesh gate designed to provide an entrance for vehicles, deliveries and plant. Wade supplies standard mesh vehicle gates in 4m and 7m options.
Useful for: construction traffic and delivery access
Heavy-duty gate
More substantial mesh and reinforced steel gate systems are available for sites requiring a heavier-duty vehicle entrance or greater security.
Useful for: larger and more demanding site entrances
You can compare Wade's available temporary fencing gates alongside the wider temporary fencing range.
Choosing a pedestrian gate
A pedestrian gate provides a defined point for workers, contractors and authorised visitors to pass through the perimeter. Where a site has regular vehicle movements, providing a separate pedestrian entrance also helps prevent people routinely walking through an entrance intended for construction traffic.
For straightforward access, Wade offers both a separate pedestrian mesh gate and an anti-climb panel with a pedestrian gate incorporated into it. The integrated version occupies the footprint of a standard 3,500mm-wide fencing panel, making it a useful option where a simple pedestrian access point needs to be added to a conventional fence run.
Panel with built-in gate
- Fits within a standard temporary fencing run.
- Useful where a straightforward pedestrian opening is required.
- Can simplify the layout where space is limited.
Separate pedestrian gate
- Creates a more distinct pedestrian entrance.
- Suitable where pedestrian access is a more significant part of the site layout.
- Allows the entrance to be planned separately from the standard panel sequence.
When is a more controlled pedestrian gate useful?
Some entrances need more than a basic physical access point. Sites alongside public footways, busy pedestrian areas or other publicly accessible spaces may benefit from tighter control over who can enter the working area.
Wade's Premium Pedestrian Gate provides a more controlled option, including a Digi-lock and self-closing operation. Features of this type can be particularly useful where the entrance is regularly used or where it is important that a pedestrian gate does not simply remain open after somebody passes through it.
However, the gate is only one part of site security. HSE guidance requires construction sites to manage their boundaries and take steps to prevent unauthorised access. Particular attention may be required where children or other members of the public could readily approach the site.
How wide should a temporary vehicle gate be?
The required gate width should be based on the vehicles and plant expected to use the entrance, rather than choosing the widest gate automatically. Wade's standard temporary mesh vehicle gates are available in 4m and 7m widths, with heavier-duty 5m and 6m mesh gate options also available for more substantial applications.
When planning an entrance, consider:
- the width and length of delivery vehicles;
- the turning angle required to enter and leave the site;
- construction plant that may need to pass through;
- whether vehicles can wait without obstructing a road or footway;
- visibility for drivers approaching and leaving the entrance;
- how frequently the gate will be opened during the working day; and
- how pedestrians will move around the entrance.
A wider opening may make access easier, but width alone does not create a safe entrance. The approach, turning space, visibility and interaction between vehicles and pedestrians all need to be considered as part of the site traffic arrangement.
Planning pedestrian and vehicle access safely
Construction-site traffic management is a significant health and safety consideration. HSE guidance on construction-site traffic management states that sites must be organised so that vehicles and pedestrians can move around safely and recommends separate entrance and exit gateways for pedestrians and vehicles.
Where separate access can reasonably be provided, a dedicated pedestrian gate therefore has a practical safety role rather than simply being a convenience. Pedestrian routes should also be considered beyond the gate itself, particularly where people would otherwise have to cross or walk alongside vehicle routes.
At entrances adjoining public areas, visibility becomes particularly important. A driver leaving the site may need to cross a pavement or other pedestrian route before entering the road. The gate position, sight lines and arrangements for controlling vehicle movements should therefore be considered as part of the overall traffic-management plan.
How do gates affect a temporary fencing layout?
Gates should be included when the fence line is first planned rather than added after the required number of panels has been calculated. A pedestrian or vehicle opening interrupts the normal sequence of panels and can change the quantities and arrangement required around it.
Our guide to calculating how many temporary fence panels you need explains how gates, separate fencing runs, corners and end points affect overall quantities.
The area immediately around a gate also deserves particular attention. Gates are opened, closed and moved repeatedly and should not simply be treated as another static fencing panel. The adjoining fencing, gate support and any required stabilisation should be appropriate for the gate type, ground conditions, exposure and site-specific arrangement.
For the wider system, see our guide to temporary fencing components and accessories, including feet, clamps, braces, ballast and other stabilising products.
Security and access control at temporary gates
Because gates are intentional openings in the perimeter, they should be considered as part of the site's overall security arrangements. Appropriate latches or locking arrangements, secure adjoining panels and regular inspections can all help prevent an otherwise secure fence line being undermined at an entrance.
On larger, busier or higher-security projects, physical gates may also form part of a wider access-control system. Depending on the site, this could include CCTV covering entrances, PIN or card-controlled access and systems that record people entering or leaving the site. These can support security monitoring, access management and investigation of incidents.
Biometric systems such as fingerprint or facial-recognition access are also available in the wider construction-security market, but they introduce additional data-protection considerations. Where biometric data is used to identify individuals, the Information Commissioner's Office treats it as special-category personal data and organisations need to consider whether its use is necessary and proportionate. Less intrusive alternatives such as cards or PINs may be more appropriate.
For more detail on strengthening the physical perimeter itself, see how to secure temporary fencing against unauthorised access.
Which temporary fencing gate should you choose?
| Access requirement | Gate type to consider |
|---|---|
| General personnel access | Pedestrian mesh gate |
| Simple pedestrian access within a standard fence run | Anti-climb panel with built-in gate |
| More controlled pedestrian access | Premium pedestrian gate |
| Vehicle and delivery access | 4m or 7m temporary mesh vehicle gate, subject to site requirements |
| More substantial vehicle entrance | Heavy-duty mesh or reinforced vehicle gate |
| Solid or privacy-focused perimeter | Hoarding pedestrian or vehicle gate |
These are starting points rather than universal specifications. Site layout, traffic, security requirements, ground conditions, exposure and the surrounding environment should all influence the final arrangement.
Plan the gate as part of the complete fencing system
A good temporary fencing layout starts by identifying where people and vehicles actually need to move. Establish the perimeter, position pedestrian and vehicle entrances, calculate the required panels and then consider the feet, clamps, supports, security measures and other accessories needed for the complete arrangement.
Planning a site entrance?
Match the gate to the site, traffic and security requirement
Wade supplies pedestrian, integrated, vehicle, hoarding and heavy-duty gate options alongside temporary fencing and stabilising accessories. For larger or more complex construction sites, send Wade your requirements and the team can help with quantities and layout planning.
For a broader overview of selecting, installing and securing a complete system, see our temporary fencing guide.
