By FencingWise Editorial Team · Updated 3 November 2026.
Draw the movement before choosing the leaf
In plan view, show a swing leaf's full swept area, including its open position. Parking a vehicle inside that area can prevent the gate from opening even when the entrance itself is clear.
For a sliding gate, show the whole moving leaf and its supporting arrangement beside the opening. A clear entrance with a storage container immediately behind the adjacent fence may have nowhere for the gate to retract.
| Site condition | Selection direction |
|---|---|
| Clear space behind the entrance, little space along the boundary | Evaluate a swing arrangement |
| Entrance must remain free of a swing arc, with clear side space available | Evaluate a sliding arrangement |
| Ground rises through the proposed swing area | Review the movement and levels before selecting swing hardware |
| Debris or surface conditions make a ground track difficult | Compare tracked and cantilever sliding arrangements |
| Neither swept area nor side space is adequate | Revisit the entrance layout rather than force either option |
Separate width from movement space
The required clear opening comes from the passage needed through the entrance. It is not the same as leaf width or the width between the outer faces of the posts.
A sliding leaf may extend beyond the opening to accommodate overlap and support. A swing leaf may project into the passage when open, depending on the hinge geometry and opening angle. The clear-opening guide shows how to keep those dimensions distinct.
Think through an ordinary working day
Describe the normal users and operating pattern, including whether one leaf serves daily access or pedestrians use another gate. Put locking, retention and relevant exposure into the accepted brief. These choices affect the fabricated leaf and hardware scope, so a later change to solid infill or usage should not be treated as a purely cosmetic amendment.
The locking arrangement, open-position retention and ground conditions belong in the operating brief. Wind exposure and solid infill can also affect the required design; changing infill later is not merely a cosmetic change.
Manual choice and powered operation are separate decisions
State at enquiry whether the mechanical gate will be manually operated or integrated into a powered installation. Identify which party supplies drive interfaces, protective measures and commissioning. A factory can quote the agreed metalwork and hardware without implying that those supplied components alone establish acceptance of the completed automated system.
Either movement type can form part of a powered system, but adding a motor introduces a separate safety assessment. HSE's powered-gate guidance addresses hazards around gate movement and protection. A metal gate supply quotation should not be mistaken for approval of an automated installation.
FencingWise's current enquiry range includes swing gate families and tracked sliding gates. Once movement and passage are settled, use the drawing checklist to define posts, infill and hardware.