How to Choose a Parking Barrier for Compounds and Towers
How to choose a parking barrier starts with five questions: how wide is the lane, how many cars pass per hour, how will you stop the boom coming down on a car, how will the barrier open, and what happens in a power cut. The answers decide the barrier, the boom and the accessories together, because in most cases the barrier is sold as the body only. This guide answers them with figures from the Italian BFT barriers Misbar stocks, and gives you 3 ready setups for a residential compound, a tower and a warehouse.
Quick pick: which barrier for which entrance?
| Barrier | Lane width | Opening time | Motor | Best for |
| MOOVI 30 | 3 m | Depends on boom | 230 V | Residential compounds, villas and warehouses with moderate traffic |
| MOOVI 60 | 6 m | 8 s | 230 V | Wide entrances with moderate traffic, such as truck gates |
| GIOTTO ULTRA 36 | 2 to 6 m | 2.2 to 4 s | 24 V | Towers, malls and hospitals with heavy traffic |
In short: a normal 3 m entrance with moderate traffic needs only the MOOVI 30. A wide entrance up to 6 m takes the MOOVI 60. An entrance where cars queue at peak times calls for the GIOTTO ULTRA 36, which is faster and runs on a 24 V motor.
Step 1: Measure the lane and choose the boom
Lane width sets the boom length, and boom length sets the barrier. The boom and its mounting kit are ordered separately from the barrier body:
| Barrier | Compatible boom | Mounting kit |
| MOOVI 30 | AQ3 rectangular 3 m | OMEGA AQ |
| MOOVI 60 | ASTA 6MT round 6 m, or AQ5 rectangular 5 m | OMEGA AT for round, OMEGA AQ for rectangular |
| GIOTTO ULTRA 36 | BFT BOOM PS or BOOM ES booms | OMEGA PS for PS booms |
Measure the actual width between the lane edges, not the whole road. If the lane falls between 3 and 5 m, choose a barrier that takes a boom longer than you need, never shorter.
Step 2: Estimate traffic and opening speed
At a residential compound, cars come and go at a steady pace through the day. At an office tower, mall or hospital, cars queue at the barrier during peak hours, and every second of opening time lengthens the line.
- MOOVI: a 230 V motor that BFT rates for semi-intensive use. The MOOVI 60 raises its long boom in 8 seconds, with adjustable slowdown at the end of travel.
- GIOTTO ULTRA 36: a 24 V motor that opens in 2.2 seconds with a boom up to 4 m, and 4 seconds with a boom up to 6 m on the XL version. An encoder tracks boom movement and reverses it on impact, and the built-in control board supports U-Link.
The rule of thumb: if the entrance sees daily queues, pay the difference for the GIOTTO. If traffic is moderate, the MOOVI is enough and saves you money.
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Step 3: Mind the heat and the install spot
BFT rates the MOOVI for -20 to +50°C with IP24 protection. In a Saudi summer, metal in direct sun can run hotter than the air, so if the entrance is fully exposed, consider a canopy over the barrier. Fix the body on a level concrete base and leave space around it to open the cover for service.
Before pouring the base, lay cable conduits from the barrier to the power source and to the photocell position on the far side of the lane. Skip this and you will be cutting asphalt later. If you plan to add a loop detector or a plate recognition camera in the future, lay a spare conduit now.
Step 4: Safety: photocells, flashers and boom lights
The most dangerous moment is the boom coming down on a car that is still passing. An installation isn't complete without protection:
- Photocell: the COMPACTA A20-180 is an infrared transmitter and receiver pair with a 20 m range. If a car breaks the beam, the boom won't lower. The head swivels 90° each way and fits MOOVI and GIOTTO barriers with the P903031 bracket, ordered separately.
- Loop detector: a wire loop buried in the asphalt under the boom senses the metal car above it, keeping the boom raised until the car clears. It complements the photocell rather than replacing it.
- Flasher: the RADIUS LED AC A R1 is a 230 V LED light with IP44 protection that warns drivers and pedestrians the boom is moving. It has a built-in 433.92 MHz receiver antenna.
- Boom lights: the MOOVI LIGHT 1 kit for 5 to 6 m booms, so drivers see the boom in dark car parks.
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Step 5: How will the barrier open?
Who uses the entrance decides how it opens. Residents and regular staff suit a remote or a card, subscribers at a tower or mall car park suit plate recognition, and visitors need a guard or an intercom. Most entrances combine two methods or more.
- Remote: the MITTO COOL C2 has two buttons, 433 MHz and rolling code that is hard to clone, with 50 to 100 m range. Suits residents and the guard.
- Card reader or intercom: sends an open command to the barrier board. Check before buying that the device output matches the control board input.
- Plate recognition camera: the Uniview PKC2640@Z28-P is a 4MP camera with a 2.8 to 12 mm lens built for car park entrances. It detects vehicles by video and reads plates at up to 30 km/h, so the barrier opens for registered cars without stopping. Confirm with us that it supports the Saudi plate format before ordering.
Step 6: What happens in a power cut?
The MOOVI has a mechanical lock and a personal release key, so the guard can lift the boom by hand during an outage and lock it again afterwards. For entrances that can't afford downtime, ask us about a backup battery kit compatible with the barrier you choose.
3 ready setups
| Residential compound | Tower or mall | Warehouse with a wide gate | |
| Barrier | MOOVI 30 | GIOTTO ULTRA 36 | MOOVI 60 |
| Boom and mount | AQ3 + OMEGA AQ | BOOM PS + OMEGA PS | ASTA 6MT + OMEGA AT |
| Safety | COMPACTA + RADIUS LED | COMPACTA + loop + RADIUS LED | COMPACTA + MOOVI LIGHT 1 |
| Opening | MITTO COOL C2 remote | PKC2640 camera for subscribers | Remote for the guard and drivers |
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For bigger entrances: MAXIMA ULTRA
Misbar also stocks the MAXIMA ULTRA 36, 36XL and 68 SM barriers with their accessories, such as the 4 m BOOM PS40 and its LIGHT PS/ES 40-IP67 lighting for the MAXIMA ULTRA 36. If your entrance doesn't suit the MOOVI or GIOTTO, send us the lane width and daily car count and we will recommend the right version.
4 common mistakes when buying a parking barrier
- Buying the barrier body alone: the boom, mounting kit and photocell are ordered separately. Plan for them from the start so installation isn't delayed.
- A boom shorter than the lane: it leaves a gap for a car or motorbike to slip through. Measure the real width.
- A slow barrier at a busy entrance: 8 seconds to open is fine at a warehouse but builds a queue at a mall exit.
- Installing without a photocell: the first car the boom hits will cost more than the photocell.
Buy your parking barrier from Misbar Alhasibat
Misbar stocks BFT parking barriers in the MOOVI, GIOTTO and MAXIMA ULTRA series, along with booms, mounting kits, photocells, flashers, remotes and boom lights, plus Uniview plate recognition cameras. Browse every BFT product on the brand page.
Prices on the store are final and include VAT, and you can split the payment with Tabby. Send us the lane width, a photo of the entrance and your daily car count on WhatsApp, and we will put together the full list of barrier and accessories.
Browse all parking barriers at Misbar →
FAQ
How do I choose a parking barrier?
Measure the lane to set the boom length, estimate traffic to choose between the MOOVI for moderate use and the GIOTTO for heavy use, then add a photocell, a flasher and the opening method that suits you.
Does the boom come with the barrier?
No. BFT barriers are sold as the body only, and the boom and mounting kit are ordered by lane width, such as the AQ3 with OMEGA AQ for the MOOVI 30.
What is the difference between MOOVI and GIOTTO?
The MOOVI uses a 230 V motor for moderate traffic and covers up to 3 m (MOOVI 30) or 6 m (MOOVI 60). The GIOTTO ULTRA 36 uses a faster 24 V motor, opening in 2.2 seconds with a boom up to 4 m, and its encoder reverses the boom on impact.
How do I open the barrier in a power cut?
On the MOOVI, release the mechanical lock with the personal key and lift the boom by hand.
Can the barrier open by reading number plates?
Yes, with a plate recognition camera such as the PKC2640@Z28-P that reads the plate and opens for registered cars. Confirm with us that it works with the barrier's control board and the Saudi plate format.
Which barrier should you choose?
- Residential compound or villa with a 3 m entrance: the MOOVI 30 with an AQ3 boom.
- Wide entrance up to 6 m with moderate traffic: the MOOVI 60 with an ASTA 6MT boom.
- Tower, mall or hospital with heavy traffic: the GIOTTO ULTRA 36.
- For every barrier: a COMPACTA A20-180 photocell and a RADIUS LED flasher.