Safety and Security Features Every Electric Gate Should Have

Electric gates offer a powerful combination of security, convenience, and elegance for any property. However, in both residential and commercial spaces, it’s essential that your automated driveway gates come equipped with the right features. 

Electric automatic gates do more than just control access - they act as a critical deterrent and protective measure for your property. By investing in key security and safety features, homeowners and property owners can protect their assets, ensure safe usage, and enjoy peace of mind.

In this article, the experts from Windlesham Gates explore the most important security and safety features that every electric gate should have.

Important Security Features for Electric Gates

Well-designed electric automatic gates should not just provide benefits like ease of access and improved curb appeal, but must also offer robust security elements that help to protect your property and loved ones. 

As standard, your electric gate should include several essential security features that enhance its effectiveness:

1. Access Control Systems

Secure and reliable access control is vital for both homes and businesses. Electric automatic gates simplify access management by eliminating the need for physical keys.

Instead, access control systems allow you to provide secure and convenient access to authorised users or visitors, while also preventing unauthorised entry. 

Popular choices for electric gate access control include:

• Keypad entry systems, which allow property owners to issue specific access codes to family members, staff, or visitors. To revoke access, these numeric codes can be changed or removed as needed.
• Audio intercoms, where visitors push a button and someone inside the property speaks with them via the intercom before opening the gate remotely.
• Video intercoms, which are similar to audio intercoms, but allow property owners to see and communicate with visitors at the gate through a live video feed before granting entry.
• Tag systems, a hands-free option where an electronic tag in your car alerts the control equipment to your approach and automatically opens your gates.
• Remote controlled systems, where regular gate users are provided with remote controls that can open and close the gate within a certain range.
• Access card/RFID systems, which are typically used for businesses rather than homes. These rely on users presenting their access credentials to a gate sensor via an electronic tag, usually installed in a portable access card or fob.

For enhanced flexibility and convenience, it is also possible for your electric gates to combine several of these access control systems. Similarly, controlling gate access via your mobile phone is becoming more common, thanks to the likes of GSM intercoms and integrated smartphone apps.

2. Automated Locks 

Automated locking systems keep electric gates securely closed when they are not in use, providing a strong, active barrier against unauthorised access. This helps to bolster both your security and peace of mind.

Some automated systems also come with alarm features, which trigger an alert if forced entry is detected or if the gate is tampered with. 

Optional Extra Features to Enhance Electric Gate Security

Though not absolutely essential, additional features can be integrated with your electric automatic gates to further enhance their security. These include:

1. Security Camera/CCTV Integration

Integrating security cameras such as CCTV with your electric gate enables real-time oversight of your boundary. Similarly to video intercoms, live CCTV allows property owners to see who is at the gate before deciding whether to grant access, providing an extra layer of protection.

This can be particularly valuable for larger properties where constantly monitoring the fence perimeter may not be feasible, properties that are based in remote locations, or those that have frequent visitors.

In addition, visible security cameras act as a powerful deterrent, discouraging unauthorised access by potential intruders. When combined with automated driveway gates, CCTV helps create a seamless, secure system for monitoring and managing access. 

2. Anti-Tamper Features

Anti-tamper features such as anti-lift brackets, tamper-proof hinges, and enhanced locking mechanisms make it much harder for intruders to bypass your electric gate system. Such features are particularly beneficial for commercial properties or large homes in rural areas, both of which may be particularly vulnerable to intrusion.

Anti-lift brackets are small pieces of strong metal, usually galvanised steel, that are welded to your sliding gates to prevent any attempts to lift the gate off its track to gain entry. For swing gates, tamper-proof hinges provide similar protection by keeping the gate securely attached to its posts, which hinders removal or dismantling. 

Meanwhile, locking mechanisms such as magnetic locks keep your electric automatic gates firmly closed when not in use, so it is more difficult for potential intruders to force them open. This can provide you with added peace of mind that your property boundaries are protected against unauthorised access. 

Essential Safety Features for Electric Automatic Gates 

Beyond security concerns, safety is a crucial consideration for residential and commercial electric automatic gates. Sadly, there have been several cases of people being injured or killed by incorrectly installed electric gates, which is why they should only be installed by professional companies. 

With qualified, experienced engineers and approval from bodies such as Gate Safe and DHF, Windlesham Gates and other experts have the skills and knowledge needed to comply with the UK’s vital safety legislation and quality standards.

Your chosen installer must also be able to incorporate and provide evidence of specific safety features in your electric gate that help to prevent accidents and maintain its smooth operation:

1. Gate Safety/Motion Sensors

Gate safety sensors, sometimes known as motion sensors, are essential for preventing accidents, especially when it comes to protecting young children or pets who may wander near the gate.

If these sensors detect movement or an obstruction near the gate’s closing area, they automatically stop or reverse it. This prevents your electric gate from making contact with anything or anyone within its path.

There are 3 main types of motion sensors in modern electric automatic gates: 

• Photocell Sensors use infrared beams - which are invisible to the human eye - between a transmitter and receiver to detect obstacles. Whether it is an animal, a person, or a large vehicle, if something moves and interrupts the beam, the gate will not continue closing. 
• Magnetic Sensors detect the presence of metal objects, such as vehicles, and prevent the gate from closing prematurely. 
• Induction Loop Detectors are embedded in the ground and use electromagnetic fields to detect metal vehicles, preventing gates from closing while a vehicle is within the detection zone. 

To find out more about the different types of gate safety sensors, visit our previous blog, Exploring the Inner Workings of Automatic Gate Sensors.

2. Pressure Sensors/Safety Edges 

Having pressure sensors as well as motion sensors adds an extra layer of safety to electric automatic gates, helping them to function safely at all times and reducing the risk of accidental injuries. In the unlikely event that motion sensors do not identify an obstruction, pressure sensors detect when any resistance or pressure is applied to the gate, and stop it immediately. 

Safety edges are the most common pressure sensors used on electric gates to prevent injuries from crushing, impact, or shearing. These rubberised strips fitted along the gate edges contain pressure-sensitive mechanisms that send a signal to stop or reverse the gate’s movement upon contact with an object or person. 

By providing an immediate response to unexpected obstructions, safety edges significantly reduce the risk of accidents, ensure compliance with safety standards, and offer peace of mind to property owners.

3. Force Control

Electric automatic gates that close with too much force can be dangerous, and their motors will wear out more quickly. To prevent this, modern gate systems are equipped with a force control mechanism that regulates the amount of force used during operation. 

If the force exceeds a pre-set safety threshold, the gate will stop or reverse its movement to minimise the risk of injury, accidents, or damage. For safety purposes, all Windlesham Gate installations are calibrated and set so that the force exerted by the electric gate’s motors is sufficient to close the gate and no greater.

4. Manual Override for Emergencies

During emergencies like power outages or mechanical failures, a manual override function allows electric gates to be operated without using electricity. This means that residents can still enter or exit the property safely when an electric gate’s automatic function is temporarily unavailable. 

Manual overrides are typically easy to access and use, giving property owners an important backup solution to ensure consistent access and security regardless of external circumstances.

Install Electric Gates That Meet the Highest Quality Standards with Windlesham Gates

While electric automatic gates offer unparalleled security, convenience, and aesthetic appeal for residential and commercial properties, to fully benefit from these advantages, it is vital to choose a gate system equipped with essential security and safety features.

From robust access control, anti-climb spikes, and automated locks to advanced safety mechanisms like motion sensors, safety edges, and force control, these electric gate features protect your property while also keeping it secure and family-friendly.

At Windlesham Gates, our expertise lies in designing, manufacturing, and installing bespoke electric driveway gates that meet the UK’s highest quality standards. For peace of mind and long-lasting reliability, choose a gate system that seamlessly combines security, safety, and elegance - choose Windlesham Gates.

Contact our experts today to find the functional and stylish electric gate solution that perfectly suits your needs.