Automatic Gates 101: Your Guide to Access Control

Automation is a beautiful thing, especially when it enables better safety, security, and efficiency. But choosing the right automatic gates requires a comprehensive understanding of site specifications, traffic demand, and safety compliance. This guide will highlight the many factors that determine the best automatic gates for your customers.

Types of automatic gates

Let’s begin with the most common types of automatic gates for residential and commercial properties:

Sliding gates

Homes and businesses with limited driveway depth may benefit from a sliding gate that opens horizontally along the fence. This type of electric gate is great for high-traffic areas, but may be more expensive and maintenance-heavy than alternative options. 

Swing gates

Opening and closing like a hinged door, single- and dual-entry swing systems are classic driveway gates. They’re cost-effective, easy to automate, and less prone to mechanical issues than sliding gates. 

Bi-folding gates

Bi-fold gates consist of two or more panels that fold in on themselves like an accordion, combining elements of both swing and sliding styles. While they’re a bit more complex than simple swing gates, they’re visually compact when open and faster than conventional systems. 

Vertical lift gates

High-security facilities, construction sites, and industrial areas often require heavy-duty vertical lift gates, which use a counterweight or motor to open and close vertically. These designs occupy a very small footprint, so they can also be used in tight spaces like parking garages.

Supply your customers with barrier gate operators from ADC

Selecting automatic gates, equipment, and products

Choosing the right access control system is all about selecting the best equipment for a site’s operating conditions. 

Traffic and space

To design an efficient gate system, it’s essential to work with the property’s physical layout and traffic volume, which will play an important role in distance control, clearance, and motor strength. High-traffic areas require faster motors and robust components to handle heavy, long-term use.

Power supplies

Access to electricity is another determining factor in gate type, motor power, and overall costs. A remote entrance may require a solar gate opener and backup battery to ensure reliability. In other locations, you may need to run new electrical lines and add dedicated circuits. 

Gate materials

Many customers approach material selection from an aesthetic perspective, but gate installation specialists, suppliers, and service providers understand that gate materials affect the weight, force requirements, and maintenance needs of the finished product.

Explore slide gate openers at Access Distribution Centre

Safety considerations for automatic gates

Most automated access control systems include a wide range of safety and security features to protect nearby vehicles and pedestrians. Here are some of those safety components, as well as a few precautions that installers and end users should be aware of:

Safety sensors and photo eyes

Infrared and laser sensors can detect objects and people in the gate’s path, preventing damage and injury. When an obstruction is detected, the gate will stop or reverse. 

Safety edges

Essential for heavy-duty gates and areas with heavy foot traffic, safety edges are pressure-sensitive strips that manufacturers install on the edges of swing, sliding, or rolling gates to detect contact and stop or reverse operation. 

Covering pinch points

Hinges, rollers, and gear mechanisms can cause serious injury. While signage should alert users and passers-by to these zones, you must also block physical access to moving parts using covers, guards, and barriers.

Emergency release

Any automatic gate opener should include a manual override mechanism to open or close the gate during power failures or emergencies. This is essential for fire, ambulance, and evacuation scenarios, and may be solar-powered or rely on keyed access.

Warning signs

Visual and audible indicators can alert users and pedestrians that an automatic gate opener is in motion. Additional signage should warn people of pinch points that pose a safety hazard. 

Distance control

A safety buffer should be included in every installation plan to reduce the risk of crushing or collision injuries. Gates must have ample clearance from walls, fences, and vehicles. 

Force limitation

Most modern automatic gates feature motors with built-in torque limits or  current sensing mechanisms. During and after installation, motors should be tested regularly and adjusted as needed. 

Swing gate hazards

Swing gates contain pinch points at the hinges and may hit vehicles, pedestrians, or walls if the swing radius isn’t properly calibrated. However, safety edges, photocells, and regular positioning checks can minimize the risks. 

Sliding gate protection

The track is the most dangerous part of a sliding gate. Fingers can be crushed or trapped, and debris can accumulate, causing sudden stops or derailment. Strategically installed safety features and regular inspection and lubrication can mitigate these threats.

Pedestrian access

Most motorized gates are designed for vehicular access only, but that doesn’t mean pedestrians won’t try to use them. Each entrance should also include a separate path for people on foot.

Browse pedestrian access operators

Installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting

Let’s explore a few key elements of the installation process and ongoing maintenance requirements for automatic gates.

Site inspection

Installation specialists must make careful assessments before breaking ground to ensure a site is suitable for safe and reliable gate operation. This inspection includes:

• Taking precise measurements
• Checking for obstacles
• Assessing existing or potential traffic patterns
• Evaluating soil or surface stability
• Considering environmental factors like drainage, wind, and snow 

Equipment positioning

Gate operators must be installed in accordance with manufacturer recommendations, which factor in weight, length, and gate type. Installers should also ensure sufficient clearance and proper alignment of sensors, photocells, and other components. 

Gate programming

Installation techs typically program basic access control and automation settings, which include:

• Programming access codes, remotes, and card readers
• Configuring auto-close timers
• Setting speed and force limits
• Enabling safety locks
• Testing all settings to ensure optimal performance

Regular maintenance needs

In order to keep an automatic gate in great shape, end users should regularly do the following:

• Visual debris inspection
• Lubricate moving parts
• Check alignment and hardware
• Sensor testing
• Manual release inspection
• Electrical inspection
• Test auto-close and operating force
• Inspect access control devices
• Listen for unusual noises

Troubleshooting

When an automatic gate stops working as it should, your clients expect fast, reliable service to minimize disruptions. Access Distribution Centre offers post-installation technical support to help you repair equipment and resolve problems quickly and efficiently. 

Explore replacement parts at Access Distribution Centre

Provide the best in automatic gates and equipment by partnering with Access Distribution Centre

The best access control systems are crafted with high-quality equipment, and your chosen distributors will ultimately impact the end result and overall customer satisfaction.

Access Distribution Centre offers automatic gate operators and supplies from industry-leading manufacturers including brands like LiftMaster, Viking Access and Doorking, along with system design services, same-day shipping, and wholesale prices. Contact our team today!