Electric Gates For Schools & Commercial Properties
Automated gates are no longer purely a feature of high-end residential properties. Schools, businesses, industrial sites and public sector organisations across the UK have increasingly turned to electric gate systems as a practical and effective way to manage access, improve security and meet their duty of care obligations.
If you are considering automated gates for a commercial or educational setting, here is what you need to know before going ahead.
Why Commercial & Educational Properties Choose Automated Gates
Controlling Access
One of the primary reasons organisations choose automated gate systems is to control who enters and exits the site. Unlike a manually operated gate, which relies on someone being present to open and close it, an automated system can be integrated with intercoms, keypads, proximity card readers and video entry systems to allow authorised personnel to enter freely whilst keeping unauthorised visitors out.
For schools in particular, controlling site access during the school day is a safeguarding priority. An automated gate that remains closed during teaching hours, with a clearly managed entry and exit procedure, significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised access to the site and gives staff and parents greater confidence in the security of the environment.
Reducing Liability
Commercial and public sector organisations have a legal duty to manage the health and safety risks on their premises, including the risk posed by uncontrolled vehicle and pedestrian access.
A well-designed automated gate system that separates vehicles from pedestrians, controls the flow of traffic and restricts access to authorised users helps to reduce the risk of accidents and demonstrates that appropriate measures are in place to manage site access safely.
Deterring Unauthorised Entry
A closed, automated gate is a visible and effective deterrent to opportunistic trespass, vandalism and theft. For sites that hold valuable equipment, vehicles or stock, or that need to be secured outside of operating hours, an automated gate system provides a reliable physical barrier that is far more effective than an unmanned open entrance.
Key Considerations For Commercial & Educational Installations
Gate Safety & Compliance
Commercial and educational gate installations are subject to specific health and safety requirements that go beyond those applicable to domestic installations.
The Machinery Directive and associated UK regulations set out the safety requirements for powered gate systems, including the need for comprehensive risk assessments, appropriate safety devices such as pressure-sensitive edges and photocell beams, emergency release mechanisms and clear signage.
All commercial gate installations must be accompanied by a full safety file and Declaration of Conformity, confirming that the system has been designed, installed and tested in accordance with the relevant standards.
Choosing an installer with specific experience in commercial installations is essential, as the consequences of non-compliance can be severe, both in terms of legal liability and the risk of serious injury.
Access Control Integration
Commercial and educational sites typically require more sophisticated access control than a domestic property. The gate system will need to integrate with the wider access control infrastructure of the site, which may include intercom systems, fob or proximity card readers, number plate recognition technology or a site management system that logs entries and exits.
Planning this integration at the design stage, rather than attempting to retrofit access control to an existing installation, produces a far more reliable and manageable result.
Traffic Management
On sites with significant vehicle movements, the gate system must be designed to manage traffic efficiently without creating bottlenecks or backing up vehicles onto the public highway.
The choice between sliding and swing gates, the width of the gate opening, the speed of operation and the traffic flow pattern on the site all need to be considered as part of the design process.
Ongoing Maintenance & Servicing
Commercial gate systems operate far more frequently than domestic ones and are subject to greater wear as a result. A planned maintenance programme, with regular servicing by a qualified engineer, is essential to keep the system operating reliably and to maintain compliance with the relevant safety requirements.
Many organisations choose to put a service contract in place at the point of installation, so that maintenance responsibilities are clearly defined and managed from the outset.
