Gatehouse and security containers
Gatehouse and security containers are small room containers, usually between 8 and 20 feet, with large glazed areas for all-round visibility. They stand at factory gates, at site and car park entrances, at event entrances, or serve as ticket booths.
Because someone often works in one all day, a gatehouse container is legally a workplace. That makes room temperature the key issue: a lot of glass on a small footprint heats up quickly in the sun and cools rapidly in winter. Air conditioning, sun shading and good glazing are therefore not extras but prerequisites.
Typical uses
- Factory gate with visitor registration and barrier control
- Entry control on large construction sites
- Car park pay booth and parking enforcement
- Admission control and ticket sales at events
- Security post at storage and logistics yards
- Weighbridge office
Sizes and dimensions
| Size | External approx. L × W | Floor area approx. | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 2.44 × 2.20 m | 4.5 m² | single workplace, pay booth |
| 10 ft | 3.00 × 2.44 m | 6.2 m² | gatehouse with storage |
| 16 ft | 4.88 × 2.44 m | 10.4 m² | two workplaces, waiting area |
| 20 ft | 6.06 × 2.44 m | 13.0 m² | gatehouse with rest area or WC cubicle |
Approximate values based on standard room container dimensions, manufacturer-dependent.
✓ Advantages
- Compact footprint, fits any entrance
- All-round view through panoramic glazing
- Quickly moved if the entrance changes
- Serving hatch or sliding window for public contact
! Points to consider
- Strong heat gain in summer through large glazed areas
- No WC of its own – sanitary provision must be planned separately
- Exposed location calls for protection against break-ins and vandalism
- As a permanent workplace, workplace rules apply
Equipment and options
- Panoramic or corner windows, often on three or four sides
- Sliding window or serving hatch with shelf
- Counter workplace along the window front
- Air conditioner with heating mode
- External sun shading or solar control glazing
- Optional: attack-resistant security glass, intercom, camera
Price guide
- 8–10 ft new, basic spec
- approx. €6,000 – 12,000
- Security glazing premium
- substantial, depending on resistance class
- Hire
- similar to a small office container
Rough orientation values without guarantee; prices vary by region, condition and market.
What to look out for
- Mind the orientation: large glazed areas facing south or west only with effective shading.
- Plan an air conditioner with heating mode. Under German workplace rules, measures are required at high indoor temperatures.
- Think about sanitation: anyone sitting in the container all day needs a reachable WC.
- For public contact, match the hatch to the seated or standing height of the staff.
- For exposed sites, provide shutters or grilles for the night.
Frequently asked questions
How warm may it get in a gatehouse container?
ASR A3.5 provides orientation: for light seated work the room temperature should be at least 20 °C, and above 26 °C measures should be taken, becoming more binding as the temperature rises. With a lot of glass this is hard to achieve in summer without air conditioning.
Which glass protects against break-ins?
Security glazing has standardised resistance classes, for example for attack-resistant glass under DIN EN 356. Which class makes sense depends on the risk at the site and the insurer's requirements.
Related guides
Planning with gatehouse and security containers?
Compare sizes, costs and buying vs. renting in our guides.
