A guide to swing gates

Gates are one of the most traditional and popular forms of perimeter security and remain one of the most effective. Here is a quick guide to choosing the perfect swing gate that will suit your business needs.

Swing gate vs sliding gate
There are many reasons why choosing a swing gate may be the perfect option for you compared to a sliding gate. Swing gates are quieter which makes them perfect for sites that need to open and close the gates at unsociable hours. They also open and close in a very discrete and smooth manner, making them a simple yet effective option. You also can change which direction it needs to open depending on your requirements. As long as you have sufficient space for the gates to fully open and “arc”, swing gates are a great looking option.

Automatic swing gate vs manual swing gate
Once you have decided on a swing gate you need to decide whether you would like it to open automatically or manually. Again, this will depend on both your needs and your budget. Automatic gates can come with sensors and remote controls which provide greater control over your security. They also provide convenience as someone doesn’t have to manually open them each time.  Our GA9600 Automatic Swing Gate is fully assembled and ready to bolt down on site, meaning there is minimum disruption caused for your business whilst they are being installed.

Manual swing gates are the ideal choice for many sites where a fully automated barrier is neither cost effective or necessary. Sometimes you only need a gate to act as a physical barrier and deterrent without the need for it to open itself. Our GA5700 manual gate is robustly made from steel, and great for unmanned areas with low volumes of traffic. It also come with an additional latch post and padlock for additional security. Whilst other security measures such as CCTV are a great way of monitoring activity and spotting anything happening, it is perimeter security which is needed to actively stop people from entering. Although gates should not be your only form of security, they should be one of your first considerations when making your premises secure.

Whichever option you choose will be effective, strong, reliable and long-lasting. When choosing, decide on which type of gate will look the best and is within your budget. If you do ever experience any issues, we are always on hand to help. We offer a nationwide reactive callout service and we have local engineers based across the UK and Ireland.

To find out more about our swing gates, please contact us on 01522 682255 for a free, no-obligation quotation and feasibility survey to assess your perimeter security equipment.

How bollards can improve safety

Bollards can help a wide variety of organisations to improve their safety. Whether its for a shopping centre, hospital, school or stadium, bollards are good additional security. Below are just some of the advantages to having bollards on site.

Calms traffic and aids navigation
Large public areas such as shopping centres, hospitals and stadiums also have large car parks. Having bollards in place here will help reduce the speed of cars whilst driving. This is important as they are many other cars and pedestrians in the area meaning careless driving can result in accidents. Having bollards near pedestrian walkways and entrances, indicate both where the pedestrians need to walk but also ensures cars slow down for them.

Prevents overparking

Having bollards can denote where people should park which will prevent overparking and people parking in restricted areas or anywhere they will block access to others.

Prevents crime and terrorism
Unfortunately, anti-terrorism and crime measures are needed more than ever and there are a range of crash tested, automatic bollards available for this. Crowded areas like stadiums and shopping centres or high-profile buildings can become a target due to the potential damage that can be caused, therefore bollards that can withstand ram raiding attacks are sometimes necessary to provide that extra security for everyone.  Not only do they act as a deterrent, but if something did happen, they make it difficult for criminals to getaway.

Protects large glass doors
Many hospitals, universities and shopping centres feature large glass doors or windows which provide a vulnerable point of access. Bollards placed outside of these areas can stop any vehicles crashing through the glass, whether intentionally or not.

Promotes greater sense of security
Having bollards installed can make people feel more secure. Whether this be customers, patients or employees, it is always good to know that security measures have been considered and they know they are safe within the building.

Automatic bollards
We offer a range of automatic bollards which provide a lot of additional benefits to standard bollards. Being able to have them move up or down with an electrohydraulic mechanism means you can use them to deter unlawful entry and to restrict zones at certain times of the day (for example, in car parks when you do not want any new people entering). Automatic bollards also allow you to have control over who enters. You can lower the bollards to authorised cars only and return the bollard afterwards.

These are just some of the benefits of having bollards installed, however they prove how important and beneficial they can be to many businesses and should be considered when deciding on security messages.

Gateway Automation can help businesses and organisations to protect their assets from serious crime with minimum disruption and while maintaining safe and comfortable working environments for clients, contractors, customers and other highly important individuals. For a free non-obligation and feasibility survey please contact Gateway Automation on 01522 682255. Alternatively, our brochure can be downloaded here: http://www.gatewayautomation.co.uk/brochure/.