If you want to increase the security of your commercial property, commercial driveway gates and openers will help you do just that.
In this article, we’re taking a closer look at commercial driveway gates and openers so you can make a more informed decision regarding which type of driveway gate is best for your business.
Commercial Driveway Gates & Openers
If you have a business with a parking lot, garage, or storage space, you may be interested in the benefits of commercial driveway gates. Similar to the way a garage door work, a driveway gate opens and closes by remote. This provides convenience, efficient operation, and increased security.
There is a variety of different types of driveway gates and gate openers available for businesses today. Unlike automatic driveway gates for residential properties, these types of gates and openers are designed for high-traffic areas, like parking garages, lots, and other facilities.
Here’s an overview of a few things to keep in mind while looking for commercial driveway gates and openers.
Finding the Right Gate for Your Business
There are a few things to consider when searching for the right gate and opener for your commercial property. Unlike selecting a gate for a residential property, there’s more to consider than the design and operation function.
You’re going to have vehicles driving in and out of the gate every day. You’ll have much larger vehicles coming in too. Then there’s the issue of security. You’ve got potentially thousands of dollars worth of stock and equipment on-site, so of course, you want to protect it.
Types of Gate Openers
There is a wide variety of commercial driveway gate openers designed for commercial installations. As mentioned above, the needs and type of your business will determine which type of gate and gate opener is right for you.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the different types of gate openers available.
1. Swing Gate Openers
Though swing gates are often used for residential installations due to the amount of space required to operate properly, swing gate openers will power a swing gate with ease so your traffic can keep moving.
2. Slide Gate Openers
The slide gate opener is one of the most popular and widely-used type of gate opener due to its compact size and exceptional performance. These units sit at the base of the fence line, efficiently saving space and powering your gate.
3. Overhead Gate Opener
An overhead gate opener is engineered to increase up-time and provide the most reliable performance available. These heavy-duty gate openers are designed to handle frequent use for commercial buildings in need of dependable performance.
4. Barrier Gate Openers
A barrier gate is ideal for high-traffic areas, like parking garages and parking lots. These are light-weight and open and close quickly, reducing the amount of time it takes for traffic to pass through.
5. Manual Lift & Swing Gates
Similar to barrier gates a manual lift or swing gate is light-weight and operated manually. This makes them ideal for installations like airports, checkpoints, and guarded parking areas.
Gate Automation
The next thing you need to consider is the automation of your gate. Depending on how busy your property is, this is going to be essential. With a manual gate, drivers will need to get out of their vehicle and open the gate to drive through, and then close it behind them. If there’s a lot of people coming in and out, that’s going to eat up a lot of time. Some businesses with swing gates simply leave them open during business hours, which can reduce security.
The best thing to do is automate your gate. This allows drivers to come in and out of the gate, without having to get out of their vehicles. It saves a lot of time and effort on their part.
There are several ways you can automate your gate. One option is to use remotes to open the gate. These work when the button is pushed near the gate, opening it. These are a good option if you have a relatively small crew or regular drivers. You can give remotes to those who need them, so you know who has access to the gate at all times.
Another popular option is to use a keypad. The keypad will only let the gate open if the driver has the right code. This works very much like the remotes, in that you can give the code to whoever needs it. The benefit is you don’t need a physical remote to get in, so you can give the code to whoever needs it. You can also change the code out whenever you need to, to keep it secure.
If you’ll have lots of new drivers coming in and out and have the staff to manage this, you can use an intercom system on the gate. Have drivers announce themselves at the gate, and you can open the gate remotely if you want to let them in. This is a very secure option as you can very everyone before they come inside.
Power Supply Options
If you choose to add automation to your gate, you’ll need to consider whether you want the gate hooked up to the electrics on your property, or to use solar power to power it. Both have their advantages.
Hooking your gate up to the electrics means you’ll have a steady supply of power, and you won’t have to worry about it not working. Even if the power goes out, a backup battery will ensure you’re not much inside.
A solar-powered gate is another good option. The solar panel can be placed almost anywhere, as long as it can get direct sunlight. Again, a battery backup will ensure you have power to the gate, even when the sun goes down. Plus, having a solar panel means less work on your property, as you won’t have to have the ground dug up to connect electrics
Security
One of the most important reasons to install a driveway gate is to secure your business when you’re not there. A locked gate is another layer of security, and it helps delay and put off potential trespassers. When you add the gate to security lighting, alarms, and more, you know you’re doing your best to keep unwanted people out when you’re not there.
This is another reason why adding automation is such a good idea. When the gate is automated, it won’t just open to anyone. You need to give drivers permission in order to use it. That could mean giving them the code to the keypad or giving them a remote in order to open the gate. That way, you can track exactly who has access to the gate at all times.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about commercial driveway gates and openers, you can make a more informed decision regarding which options are right for your business.
When choosing a commercial gate, you’ve got a lot of options. You can choose the style of opening, and whether to automate it. There are several different ways to automate, as well as to power the automation, too. The choice is yours, so get the gate that works best for you.