There are two quite different products sitting behind the phrase “crowd control barrier”, and buying the wrong one is the most common mistake made on this category. Steel interlocking barricades are for holding a line: they hook together, resist being pushed, and are what you see at a marathon route or a stadium entrance. Expanding barricades are for closing a gap quickly: they concertina open, roll on locking wheels, and one person can deploy or store them in seconds.
Retractable belt barriers — posts with a pull-out belt — are a third category entirely, and are for guiding queues indoors rather than restraining crowds. If people will lean on it or push against it, you need steel. If it is guiding an orderly queue, you want a belt barrier.
Barricade types compared
| Type | Size | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel interlocking barricade | 1.8m panel | Events, routes, stadiums, security lines — runs of any length | £43.19 |
| Small barricade gate | 0.9m swing | Pedestrian access point in a barricade run | £41.99 |
| Large barricade gate | 1.8m swing | Pedestrian or vehicle access through a barricade line | £53.99 |
| Wide barricade gate | 2.5m swing | Vehicle and plant access on site | £53.99 |
| FlexMaster 110 accordion | Expands to 3.5m | Fast temporary closure, indoor or sheltered | £94.80 |
| FlexPro 110 expanding | Expands to 3.4m | Mobile closure with locking wheels and hook ends | £118.80 |
| FlexPro 160 expanding | Expands to 4.8m | Wider gaps — car parks, loading bays, aisles | £174.00 |
Entry prices, correct at the time of writing. For current pricing on every option, see crowd control barricades.
Other names for crowd control barricades
Steel interlocking barricades are sold as crowd barriers, event barriers, pedestrian barriers, metal safety barriers and portable or mobile safety barriers — all describing the same 1.8m interlocking panel. Free standing barrier and metal free standing fence usually mean it too, though they occasionally refer to a single unconnected panel, which is a considerably weaker arrangement and worth avoiding on a crowd line.
Expanding barricades attract a different vocabulary: concertina barrier, accordion barricade, scissor barrier, trellis barrier, expandable metal barrier, collapsible safety barrier and pull across barrier. A crowd control gate or barricade gate is the swing panel that forms an access point within a barricade run, rather than a barrier type in its own right.
Steel interlocking barricades
The standard steel barricade is a 1.8m panel with hook-and-eye ends that link into the next panel without tools or fixings. Because every panel is identical and interlocks both ways, a run of any length is built from one repeated part, and the line can be curved around a corner or closed into a pen.
They are used where a crowd may press against the barrier: marathon and parade routes, festival entrances, stadium concourses, roadworks and construction perimeters. Interlocking is what gives the run its strength — a linked line spreads load across several panels, whereas an unconnected panel simply tips.
- Finish — galvanised silver for general use; powder-coated red or yellow where high visibility matters.
- Gates — matching swing gates at 0.9m, 1.8m and 2.5m drop into the run to create a controlled access point rather than leaving a gap.
- Storage — panels stack flat, and barricade carts are available for moving and storing a full set.
Expanding and concertina barricades
Expanding barricades — also searched as concertina, accordion, scissor or trellis barriers — use a lattice frame that pulls open and folds shut. Closed, they take almost no floor space. Open, the FlexPro 110 spans 3.4m and the FlexPro 160 spans 4.8m.
Their advantage is speed and single-person handling. Locking wheels mean the barrier rolls into position and stays there; hook ends let two units link to close a wider gap. They are the right choice for a closure that changes daily — a supermarket aisle, a car park entrance, a loading bay, a lift lobby under maintenance, an escalator taken out of service.
They are not a substitute for steel interlocking barricades where a crowd will push. Expanding barricades signal and delineate; they do not restrain a mass of people.
Choosing between them
- Will people press against it? Steel interlocking barricade.
- Does it need to move several times a day? Expanding barricade on locking wheels.
- Is it a permanent route or perimeter? Steel, with gates at access points.
- Is storage space tight? Expanding — it folds to a fraction of its open width.
- Is it an orderly indoor queue? Neither. Use a retractable belt barrier post.
Outdoor use and weather
Steel barricades and FlexPro expanding barricades are built for outdoor use, which is what separates them from indoor queue equipment. Galvanised and powder-coated finishes resist corrosion, but barricades left permanently outdoors in a coastal or maritime environment will weather faster, and that is excluded from the warranty. For long-term outdoor installation, specify the powder-coated finishes and store panels under cover between events where you can.
How to order
- Decide which job the barrier is doing — restraining a crowd, or closing a gap.
- For steel: measure the run, divide by 1.8m, round up, and double it for a two-sided route.
- Add a gate for every point staff or vehicles need to pass through.
- For expanding: measure the widest gap you need to close and choose the 3.4m or 4.8m unit.
- Choose the finish — galvanised, red or yellow — then order online, or call 0208 629 2410 for a quantity quote.
Free delivery to mainland UK (Northern Ireland, the Highlands and Islands quoted separately), 30-day returns and a three-year limited warranty apply to every order. For large event orders, call for pallet pricing rather than ordering panel by panel.
Browse the range
Every product named on this page is stocked and priced at crowd control barricades. Free delivery to mainland UK, 30-day returns and a three-year limited warranty apply throughout. For quantity pricing, a bespoke specification or trade terms, call 0208 629 2410.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a crowd control barricade and a retractable belt barrier?
A crowd control barricade is a steel or expanding metal barrier used outdoors to hold back or route a crowd at events, roadworks and stadiums. A retractable belt barrier is a post with a pull-out belt, used indoors to guide an orderly queue. The test is simple: if people will lean or push against it, you need a steel barricade. If it is guiding a queue that is already orderly, a belt barrier post is the right product and considerably cheaper.
What size is a standard crowd control barricade?
The standard steel crowd control barricade panel is 1.8m long. Panels interlock end to end with hook-and-eye fittings, so a run of any length is built from one repeated part and can be curved around corners or closed into a pen. Matching swing gates come in 0.9m, 1.8m and 2.5m widths to create controlled access points within the run.
How many crowd barricades do I need?
Divide the length of the run by 1.8m and round up, then add a gate for every access point staff or vehicles must pass through. A 90m route needs 50 panels per side, so a two-sided route needs 100. Order the gates at the same time, because a gap left in a barricade line is exactly where crowd pressure concentrates.
What is an expanding or concertina barricade?
An expanding barricade uses a lattice frame that pulls open like a concertina and folds shut for storage. Also searched as accordion, scissor or trellis barriers, they roll on locking wheels and are deployed by one person in seconds. The FlexPro 110 opens to 3.4m and the FlexPro 160 to 4.8m. They suit closures that change daily, such as car park entrances, loading bays, supermarket aisles and escalators taken out of service.
Can crowd control barricades be used outdoors?
Yes. Steel interlocking barricades and FlexPro expanding barricades are built for outdoor use, with galvanised or powder-coated finishes that resist corrosion. That is what separates them from indoor queue equipment. Barriers left permanently outdoors in coastal or maritime environments will weather faster, and that is excluded from the warranty, so store panels under cover between events where possible.
Do crowd control barricades come with gates?
Gates are sold separately and drop into a barricade run to create a controlled access point. There are three sizes: a 0.9m small swing gate for pedestrian access, a 1.8m large swing gate for pedestrians or vehicles, and a 2.5m swing gate for vehicle and plant access on site. Fitting a gate is always better than leaving an unmanaged gap in the line.
Are expanding barricades strong enough to hold back a crowd?
No. Expanding barricades signal and delineate a closure but do not restrain a mass of people. Where a crowd may press against the barrier, use steel interlocking barricades, because a linked line spreads the load across several panels while an unconnected or lightweight barrier simply tips over. Expanding barricades are the right choice for controlling access, not for crowd restraint.
What colours do steel crowd control barricades come in?
Galvanised silver is the standard finish for general use. Powder-coated red and yellow are available where high visibility matters, which is typical on construction sites, roadworks and events where the barrier line itself needs to be seen at distance. Barricade gates are supplied in matching silver, red and yellow so an access point does not break the look of the run.
Crowd Control Company | 7 Bell Yard, London WC2A 2JR | VAT 385 4045 84 | 0208 629 2410 | crowdcontrolcompany.co.uk
