Concertina Barriers: A UK Buyer's Guide to the Securasite Spanguard

A concertina barrier, also called an expanding or scissor barrier, is a portable wheeled frame that stretches out like a trellis gate to block an area and folds back into a compact unit for storage. It is used for temporary access control in stations, hospitals, facilities, events and work sites where one person needs to close and reopen a zone quickly.

This guide explains how concertina barriers work, which size to choose, where they are and are not appropriate under UK street works guidance, and how they compare with standard pedestrian barriers. Throughout, we use the Securasite Spanguard Expanding Barrier as the worked example.

What is a concertina barrier?

A concertina barrier is a single self-contained unit rather than a set of separate panels. Its uprights are connected by criss-crossing link arms, so the whole frame expands and contracts in one movement. Most designs sit on castors, which means the barrier can be rolled into place, opened to length, braked and then moved again without being dismantled.

That makes concertina barriers different from the two barrier types most UK buyers already know:

• Metal pedestrian (crowd control) barriers are individual fixed-leg panels that you lift into position and hook together. They are low cost per metre and ideal for long perimeter runs, but each panel has to be carried and connected.
• Street works pedestrian barriers are plastic or metal panels designed to meet the UK Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice, with a handrail and tapping rail for visually impaired pedestrians.

A concertina barrier trades cost per metre for speed. It is the right tool when the zone you need to close is short, changes often, and has to be managed by one operative.

Securasite Spanguard Expanding Barrier

Product code: SCCCG

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How the Spanguard works

Deploying the Spanguard is a four-stage process that one person can carry out without tools:

1. Roll it into position. In its collapsed state the barrier is a compact upright block on wheels, easy to move through doorways and along hard surfaces.
2. Pull it open. Drawing one end outwards opens the scissor frame to its full length of 2.1m or 4.0m, depending on the model.
3. Brake and lock. The integrated wheel brakes hold the barrier in place without ground fixings, and both ends lock so the frame cannot be casually pushed open or closed.
4. Collapse and move on. Release the brakes, fold the frame back and roll it to the next location.

The frame is formed from continuous bent aluminium tube, which reduces the number of joints and exposed connectors compared with barriers built from many assembled parts. Aluminium does not rust, and the powder coating adds further protection for outdoor and wet conditions.

Specification

Which size do you need?

Height and length are two separate decisions. Choose height by how strong a deterrent you need, and length by the width of the opening you are closing.

1.3m height suits indoor spaces such as hospitals, retail, offices and transport concourses, where a clear visual boundary is enough and a lower profile fits the space. 1.8m height suits outdoor sites and busy public areas, where the barrier needs to rise above head height and discourage people from stepping over or reaching through.

2.1m length covers a standard doorway, corridor or footpath. 4.0m length covers wider openings such as a loading bay entrance, a station gateline section or a vehicle lane within private land, without having to link two shorter units.

For openings wider than 4.0m, link units end to end. If you are unsure which combination fits your site, call our team on 0330 056 4420.

Concertina barriers vs other barrier types

On smaller screens, swipe the table sideways to compare all four barrier types.

Can you use a concertina barrier for street works?

This is the most important question to answer before buying, because street works on public highways in England are governed by the Department for Transport's Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice, often called the Red Book.

Under the Code, pedestrian barriers used to guard works should have:

• a smooth, rigid handrail between 1.0m and 1.2m above ground level
• a visibility panel at least 150mm deep, with its upper edge at least 0.9m above ground
• a tapping rail at least 150mm deep, with its lower edge at ground level or no more than 200mm above it, so long-cane users can detect the barrier
• the ability to join into a continuous barrier and resist being blown over by the wind

A concertina frame is made of open diagonal arms rather than solid horizontal rails, so it does not give a continuous handrail or tapping rail in the way the Code describes. For guarding excavations and footway diversions on the public highway, use barriers designed to the Code. A concertina barrier can still play a role on these jobs, for example closing a site vehicle entrance or a welfare area away from the public route, but it should not be the pedestrian guarding itself unless the manufacturer confirms compliance.

Off the public highway, the rules are different. In stations, hospitals, shopping centres, warehouses, private car parks and inside construction compounds, the barrier choice is set by your own risk assessment, and this is where the Spanguard is strongest.

A note on CE marking: a CE mark shows the manufacturer declares conformity with the relevant product legislation. It is not an approval for any specific use, and it does not replace a site risk assessment or the street works Code.

Where the Spanguard works best

When to choose something else

• Guarding street works on public roads: use Red Book compliant pedestrian barriers.
• Long perimeters or high crowd pressure: metal pedestrian barriers are far more cost-effective per metre and form a more stable line under sustained pressure.
• A controlled pedestrian gate within a barrier line: choose a walkthrough barrier.
• Security against forced entry or theft: use security fencing or hoarding. The Spanguard is an access-control barrier, not a security barrier.
• Permanent boundaries or active carriageway separation: neither is a temporary concertina barrier's job.

Is a concertina barrier worth the cost?

At Securasite, the Spanguard starts at £452.00 ex VAT (£542.40 inc VAT), while a standard 2.3m galvanised pedestrian barrier starts at £18.50 ex VAT (£22.20 inc VAT). On a straight comparison of cost per metre, the pedestrian barrier wins easily. The comparison that matters is labour.

A run of separate panels has to be carried, connected, disconnected and carried again every time the zone moves. If your team closes the same entrance daily, or moves an exclusion zone several times a shift, those minutes and extra hands add up across a year. A concertina barrier turns each move into a one-person job with nothing to assemble. The more often the barrier moves, the faster it pays for itself. If it will stand in one place for weeks, standard barriers are the better buy.

Multi-unit orders reduce the cost further. Bulk discounts apply automatically in the basket: 10% on 50 to 199 units, 15% on 200 to 499 and 20% on 500 or more. Delivery is free on orders over £1,500 ex VAT to England and Wales. For larger volumes, request a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the questions buyers ask most. Select a question to see the answer.