In America, property crime is far worse than violent crime. In fact, in 2019, the FBI reported that there were 2,109 property crimes per 100,000 people, while there were 379 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Vandalism and criminal damage occur. It’s why you need your electric gate to work. If it doesn’t and is easily accessible by non-residents, you might as well not have one in the first place. It’s why you and your community or household need to clamp down on electric gate misuse.
Misuse can either mean those using it who shouldn’t, or vandalism. Here are some tips to make things better.
Upgrade Your Access System
There are many different access control systems for electric gates out there. Some of them are old and often get misused by residents and criminals alike. Upgrading an existing gate entrance system doesn’t necessarily mean you have to change the gate itself. Instead, try to upgrade to something that will fit in with your lifestyle. For example, cellular access allows you to use your cellphone to gain entrance to the gate. You can also give or revoke access via an app that links up to your smart gate. It’s a method of access control that makes it hard for people to misuse. It’s not like it’s a gate code where others can learn the code and gain entrance. If someone unauthorized has access, you just remove them on the app.
Upgrading your access system can help you retain control over your electric gate. It doesn’t matter if your gate protects you and your family or the whole community.
Purge Old Codes
Maybe it’s been a while since you changed the codes. You need to update them. It’s easier if the code is for a gate to your own home. You just change it and tell your family. However, if the gate is for a large gated community, then changing the code can be problematic. There are always those who forget the new code and continue using the old code. Perhaps you’re all in a WhatsApp group and can share the code there. You just have to make sure everyone is aware of the change. Otherwise, it could cause trouble.
Codes are inherently passed on whether to contractors, friends, or relatives. There’s a danger they too will pass the codes on to others. It’s why purging the old codes is a necessity. If you live in a gated community, someone should be responsible for changing them once every two months.
Give Clear Traffic Warnings
So many electric gates and gate access systems are damaged by vehicles. Gate posts are hit and unseated; the gates themselves are bashed, damaged, and even ripped off their hinges. It’s important there are clear warnings on the ground or signposted to tell residents and delivery drivers what to expect.
These signs could point to how wide the gate opens on the arc, how wide they should turn to avoid the posts, or how they should approach the gate. If there is an arch over the gate, you should state the clearance so larger vehicles don’t damage it. Giving these simple warnings might stop damage to the gate and save you and the community money for repairs.
You might even consider installing bollards in certain places to protect the gate from damage. Instead of hitting the gate, the vehicle would hit a bollard and spare the gate from damage.
Consider Anti-Climb Paint
If you think your gate is vulnerable to criminals, use anti-climb paint. It’s a thick, greasy substance that stops people from getting a firm grip on the railings. So if anyone were to try and climb the railings, they’d just slide right back down. It’s a great deterrent. Make sure you put a sign up too, as most of the time, the sign on its own is enough to deter any wrongdoing.
It’s not a nice substance so be careful if you’re putting it in places children play or where other people are likely to come into contact with it. You can use the paint on railings and fencing too. If you’re careful, you can apply the paint to only one side of the gate, which lessens the chances of residents touching it from the other side.
Make sure you don’t get the paint into any of the working gears or electrical boxes as it can damage the gate’s function. If there’s a keypad close to the metal, just be careful not to brush up against it. Of course, if you’re using residential gate access control systems like cellular access, you won’t have to come near the metal at all.
Stop Children Playing On Your Electric Gate
Kids might love standing on the electric gate or climbing up it. Especially if they can swing it around while doing so. However, it can damage the gate and stop it from operating properly. Too much weight on the gate will cause it to sag. If it sinks, it won’t marry up with the other half of the gate and it’ll end up looking stupid as well as leaving a gap that someone could probably fit into.
Using the gate once it’s sagged can also cause damage to the ground because it’ll drag. This can be really irritating if you’ve got expensive flagstones or paving because the gate will scratch them.
There are a few different ways to stop children from playing on the electric gate:
- Reeducate the gated community and ask parents to supervise their children
- Put boundaries in place with the children directly
- Use anti-climb paint on both sides of the gate
- Block the gate off
Of course from a safety standpoint, children should never play on an electric gate. They could get hurt or worse. Nowadays, most electric gates have brilliant safety features built-in, but accidents can still happen. Moving machinery and children never mix. When you add a road and traffic into the equation it’s even more dangerous.
If you are interested in upgrading to an easy-to-use and smart gate entry system to help stop misuse, feel free to visit the contact page. If you want to learn more about electric gates in general, check out the blog or navigate to the testimonials page to see firsthand how changing to a smart access cellular system can help you or your gated community.
