Essentials For Installing Automatic Security Gates

By Robert Brown


The use of automatic gates is common in high profile offices such as government offices, military bases, airports and border controls. These types of entrances are also common in private residential and commercial facilities. There are quite a lot of aspects that one should take note when planning to install such entries. This article provides considerations to make when installing automatic security gates.

Learn about different gates that you can choose. The difference in automatic entrances depends on the way that they open and close. There are six different kinds that one can choose. They include the slide gate, cantilever, swing gate, vertical gate, pivot lift, barrier arm, and bi-folding types. You should acquaint with how each of these types functions to choose one which matches your budget and expectations.

Acquaint with various accessories needed to control the gates. Automatic entrances cannot work effectively unless there are some accessories used to control them. Most of these accessories improve their security and effectiveness as well. These accessories include the control system, emergency system, intercoms, and sensors. You have to be careful when choosing these accessories since they have quite a substantial financial impact.

Take note of the space that is available. You should choose a sort of entrance that can fit in the space you have. The slide and cantilever types use quite a lot of space and are suitable for facilities in rural areas. The bi-folding and the pivot types are ideal for limited spaces such as downtown facilities.

Beware of the speed used to close and open it. You have to decide on a reasonable speed depending on the kind of operations within the facility that require the gate. Private residences can stick to a remarkably slow speed, but commercial places with high traffic should hold to an electric gate. All the same, you can rely on a speed control which maintains the right speed needed by the users.

Beware of its weight. The larger the gate, the more weight you expect. The weight used to make the gate can as well affect its weight. Some of the materials that can add up to the weight include steel, aluminum, and wood. Heavy gates require a lot of energy to operate. Therefore, stick to a weight that you can put up with depending on your capacity.

Take note of codes and regulation supposed to consider. Most authorities expect their residence to consider a few codes when installing automated entrances. Some of these codes highlight aspects such as fire control, the speed of operation and electrical codes. It is crucial that you take these codes into account to avoid incurring fines or have the project redone to meet their expectations.

Make sure that the gate is safe. The fact that an entrance is automatic does not guarantee that it is safe enough. You need to install various security accessories to make it safe for its users. The best accessories include the safety cage, screening, warning signs and photoelectric sensors. You should also regularly maintain the entrance.




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