Before you decide what type of gate you need, consider the following questions: What level of security is required for your site? What kinds of gates can easily fit where you need them installed? Do you wish for your gate to be visually appealing, or is it meant to dissuade intruders from attempting to pass through?
What Are The Different Kinds Of Automatic Gate Openers?
There are multiple automatic gate openers–five basic types, to be exact–each serving different purposes and functions. Listed below are every kind of automatic gate opener and what they are typically used for:
- Slide Gates: Slide gates move horizontally on a fixed track and are often found in commercial and industrial sites. They provide a high level of security and can be implemented in many different gate styles. Often in commercial locations, sliding gates work in tandem with traffic-controlling gate types such as barrier arms or HVM barriers. The dual use of both serves as an initial layer of security, with the traffic controller being the final layer one must pass through to enter.
- Swing Gates: Swing gates move horizontally as well, but in a wide arc along their face rather than from side to side like slide gates. One will commonly find these protecting residential sites and HOAs. They are easy to operate and have the potential to be displayed attractively. Still, they must be designed with up to 50% open space to allow proper airflow to lessen the effects of wind loading, as they are often susceptible to high winds.
- Vertical Lift Gates: When there is no room for a slide or swing gate, a vertical lift gate can be a convenient alternative. As its name suggests, this gate can move up and down along a fixed track, most often used to close off or open up multiple lanes of traffic at a time. They are most effective in areas that experience heavy snowfalls often.
- Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) Barriers: This traffic control barrier protects sites against hostile vehicle threats. There are different HVMs, including wedge barriers, active bollards, barrier arms, and crash-rated slide or swing gates. HVMs can cycle for every vehicle entering or exiting–or they can be programmed to only deploy under threatening conditions. The latter is otherwise known as final denial barriers.
- Barrier Arms: Barrier arms are typically used for traffic control and can be used with slide or swing gates. Other common uses are for anti-tailgating or to reduce vehicle strikes to the slide or swing gate it supports. They can be crash rated and provide final denial against hostile vehicular threats, much like HVMs.
What Level Of Security Do I Need?
The level of security needed on your site also influences which type of automatic gate operator to use. Consider whether its operation should be a convenience open or if the location is meant to be a secured/hardened access point. Convenience opens are primarily utilized on residential sites, light commercial and industrial facilities, and generally anywhere else that may have frequent traffic coming from both sides of the barrier. If this accurately describes your site, you may want a slide or swing gate.
However, if your site is used for more sensitive matters such as government facilities, airports, or prisons, then a hardened access point to enter or exit through would be more suitable. Utilizing HVMs or crash-tested barrier arms, these sensitive locations can be well and quickly protected against hostile vehicular threats.
Why Does The Open/Close Speed Of Automatic Gate Openers Matter?
The speed at which your gate opens and closes is critical and a crucial element that affects the level of security the operator provides. As an example, when looking at a slide gate, the size of the opening, the intended means of passing through said opening, and how often it is meant to be opened and closed again all determine how long the gate will be open and how much extra space there may be for an unauthorized party to breach the barrier potentially.
Consider how fast access for approved parties should be and how often vehicles pass through. Different operators accommodate different speeds, so it is vital to determine what speed the model you choose is rated for. HySecurity slide gate openers operate at speeds as fast as 3ft./sec. The UL 325 also specifies the maximum speed limit of slide gates for UL Class I and II, so consider this.
How Do Gate Panel Sizes and Weights Effect Performance?
Another factor that can help narrow your search for the perfect operator can be identifying the size and weight of the gate panel needed. For example, HySecurity SlideDriver models have weight capacities ranging from 1,500 to 20,000 lbs. If you are considering a swing gate, wind load should also be considered, as it will affect its overall weight and performance. As previously mentioned, an easy way to lessen wind load would be to consider a gate panel that provides at least 50% of open space. The HySecurity swing gate model, HydraSwing, offers a unique solution to swing gates with a lot of wind loading.
What Happens To Automatic Gate Openers During Power Outages?
Power outages can and will affect the operation of your gate if you are not thoroughly prepared for the possibility. Consider models that offer UPS battery backup, which allows continuous operation for 24 to 48 hours during a blackout. This is typical for most installations and can remain effective until standard AC power is restored. HySecurity offers various gate operators UPS battery backups in DC and AC inverter options.
UL 325 Safety Standards: The Basics
UL 325 Safety Standards are rules and regulations that must be followed to properly address the safety concerns and requirements needed for the automatic operation of all garage doors, vehicular gates, draperies, exterior awnings, louvers, windows and other opening and closing appliances rated 600 V or less. This standard was created by industry leaders working alongside Underwriters Laboratories (UL) with a primary goal of evaluating products in the interest of public safety, including the prevention of fire and electrical hazards.
Automatic gate openers, while convenient in some cases and necessary in others, are dangerous. When choosing your preferred gate style, you must consider how much of a threat it may provide and who the threat may affect. These elements must be applied to the UL 325 Standards, which determine what safety features should be present in the design of your operator and classify each level of safety into four usage classes which depend upon the site where your gate is meant to be operated in. The four classes are as follows:
- Class I-Residential Vehicular Gate Operator: "A vehicular gate operator or system intended for use in garages or parking areas associated with a residence of one to four single families."
- Class II-Commercial/General Access Vehicular Gate Operator: A vehicular gate operator or system intended for use in a commercial location or building such as a multi-family housing unit (five or more single-family units), hotels, garages, retail store, or other buildings accessible by or servicing the general public."
- Class III-Industrial /Limited Access Vehicular Gate Operator: "A vehicular gate operator or system intended for use in an industrial location or building such as a factory or loading dock area or other locations not accessible by or intended to service the general public."
- Class IV-Restricted Access Vehicular Gate Operator: "A vehicular gate operator or system intended for use in a guarded industrial location or building such as an airport security area or other restricted access locations not servicing the general public, in which authorized access is prevented via supervision by security personnel."