Perimeter guards for logistics and warehouses: how to organise the safety of areas, machinery and flows
In warehouses and logistics centres, perimeter guards do more than protect machinery: they also bring order to flows and define areas. Knowing where a standards-compliant guard is needed and where a partition will do is essential for designing a safe layout in a warehouse.
Perimeter guards for logistics: what they are and what they are used for
Perimeter guards for logistics are industrial modular systems used to define the areas of a warehouse or intralogistics facility. They can serve a range of purposes, generally related to safety or the organisation of space, such as:
- defining storage and picking areas;
- separating pedestrian walkways from handling areas;
- segregating industrial robots and automated cells;
- protecting conveyor belts and automatic goods transport systems;
- creating controlled areas for loading, unloading or battery charging;
- organising the layout of departments and operational zones.
With the growth of industrial automation, the same logistics space can host forklift trucks, AGVs and AMRs, conveyor belts, sorters, stacker cranes and robotic palletising cells, as well as operators, of course. A high number of vehicles and people in the same operational environment means more points of contact to manage: a correctly designed perimeter guard helps to define these boundaries.
Guard or partition? The distinction that shapes the choice
Not all industrial fencing in logistics warehouses serves the same function, and the applicable standards and requirements depend on this:
- a fixed perimeter guard protects people from the hazards of a machine, such as a conveyor belt, a conveyor system or an automatic line. In this case, the standards on industrial guards and risk assessment apply, and access must be managed with suitable doors and locking systems (access control);
- a partition is used to physically separate departments, corridors and storage areas. It does not act as a guard under EN ISO 14120, but is a physical segregation element. Where the risk of impact from machinery is nil, the required impact resistance is low.
The distinction is important: the function of the system and its requirements must be defined in relation to the risk assessment in the warehouse, including any impact risks generated by handling equipment.
The standards to know when designing industrial perimeter guards
To design and size perimeter guards in industrial settings, you need to refer to the regulatory framework in force, which also applies to logistics and warehouses:
- EN ISO 12100, which defines the design principles for industrial machinery and the risk assessment and reduction process;
- EN ISO 14120, which sets out the requirements for the design, construction and installation of fixed and movable guards;
- EN ISO 13857, which concerns safety distances from machinery to prevent hazardous zones being reached with the upper and lower limbs, on which the height of guards and the size of openings depend;
- EN ISO 10218-2:2025, which specifies safety requirements for industrial robot applications and cells, such as palletising islands;
- Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, which from 20 January 2027 will replace the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and which machinery placed on the market after that date will have to comply with.
FastGuard 20: the modular dividing wall for warehouses and logistics areas
To separate warehouse areas where there is no risk of impact from machinery, Satech offers FastGuard 20. It is a system of mesh dividing panels for industrial buildings and warehouses, with welded mesh panels and a 20 mm frame mounted on fork bases and without traditional posts, designed to achieve different sizes and configurations by combining standard elements.
The main features of FastGuard 20
- Modularity, with 7 standard widths (from 200 to 1500 mm) that can be combined to cover every intermediate size in 100 mm steps, plus protection heights of 1620 and 2220 mm.
- Fast assembly, which only requires one person thanks to ground-level bases, a panel inserted from above and tamper-proof fixings to tighten, saving up to 70% of assembly time compared with traditional systems.
- Visibility, thanks to the open mesh (20 x 100 x 3 mm), which lets light and air through and allows visual inspection of the segregated areas, useful for audits and stocktaking.
- Minimum impact resistance of 390 J, tested to EN ISO 14120.
- A post-free structure, with stable bases (140 x 140 x 5 mm), three anchoring points and adjustable tilt, even on uneven floors.
- Powder-coated finish, panels only, in RAL 9005, 1021 and 7035 (other colours available with CustomGuard), for indoor use.
Where to use FastGuard 20: warehouse applications
Dividing walls in warehouse areas mark out boundaries, limit unauthorised access and fit in with the layout and HSE procedures. The most common applications of FastGuard 20 in logistics facilities include:
- tool and equipment areas: FastGuard 20 marks out a clear perimeter that prevents unauthorised access and picking errors, and simplifies cycle counting;
- departments and storage zones: FastGuard 20 makes it possible to draw clear boundaries between picking, storage, returns and incoming goods, with fewer critical crossing points between flows;
- separation between logistics and production, using FastGuard 20 to mark out controlled exchange corridors, with dedicated gateways and buffer zones;
- pedestrian walkways and supervised crossings: in areas with heavy forklift traffic, FastGuard 20 separates pedestrians from vehicles and concentrates crossings at dedicated points;
- forklift battery charging areas: FastGuard 20 isolates the charging bay from vehicle and pedestrian traffic;
- docks and tunnel bays: FastGuard 20 defines the perimeter of loading and unloading areas, marking out staging zones around the doors.
Bear in mind that when FastGuard is used to partition an area in a warehouse, it does not act as a perimeter guard under EN ISO 14120: the correct application must always be determined by the risk assessment.
Conveyor belt and conveyor protection: AdaptaGuard, the frameless fixed guard
For the protection of conveyor belts, conveyors and automatic transport systems in industrial logistics facilities, Satech offers AdaptaGuard, the frameless fixed guard designed to adapt even to complex layouts, making hazardous zones inaccessible during normal machinery operation.
The welded mesh can in fact be cut and shaped directly on site, to create custom notches, angles and adaptations around columns, pipework or other obstacles, without having to replace the panel. This feature is particularly useful in logistics facilities where the safety perimeter must follow the conveyor's path precisely and leave clear the space needed for handling and maintenance.
Thus, AdaptaGuard combines installation flexibility, visibility and protection of hazardous areas, with 4 mm mesh panels and a configuration developed in accordance with EN ISO 14120.
Frequently asked questions about perimeter guards for logistics
When is it a good idea to use FastGuard 20 in a warehouse?
FastGuard 20 is suitable when a modular solution is needed for partitioning areas, or for applications where the impact level required by the risk assessment is limited. The minimum resistance for FastGuard 20 is 390 J.
Does FastGuard 20 protect against forklift impact?
FastGuard is not designed to withstand forklift impact. Where there is a significant risk of vehicles impacting racking, corners, bays or other structures, suitably sized protection must be assessed according to the impact scenario.
How can a conveyor belt be protected?
When a conveyor or automatic system has an accessible hazardous zone, the solution may require a perimeter guard with access points and safety devices consistent with the risk assessment and the applicable standards.
How can pedestrians and forklift trucks be separated in a warehouse?
Separation can be achieved through physical barriers, dedicated walkways, controlled crossings and active safety systems. The configuration depends on the layout, the flows and the interaction scenarios between people and vehicles.
Can perimeter guards in a warehouse be reconfigured?
Modular systems can be designed to allow layout reconfiguration, a feature that is particularly useful in warehouses and logistics facilities subject to frequent changes. FastGuard 20 is designed with modular components that can be reused when reconfiguring the system.
Can Satech support the design of the solution?
Yes. Design can start from an analysis of the layout and lead to the definition of the solution, the access points and the components required. Satech also provides 3D models of its systems and technical support services.
A safe warehouse starts with its boundaries
Where one area ends and another begins is where much of a warehouse's safety is decided. A well-designed partition keeps flows clear and the right guard protects machinery and conveyors. FastGuard 20 is the starting point for perimeter guards in the logistics sector: the quickest safety fence to install and the easiest to reconfigure.
