Access Controls Do's and Don'ts

  When you are considering an operator for a new or existing gate:

  Do:     

1. Hire experienced company and ask for references.
2. Check with BBB and web review sites for customer satisfaction.
3. Compare warranties on materials and labor. 
4. Consider all the components included in the quotations, some include only bare minimums while others may include additional safety devices and accessories.
5. Make sure you have utilized all tax incentives for solar powered alternatives and have manufacturer's certificate of compliance.
6. Consider hidden costs like permits, replacement of worn out accessories and upgrades in access control technology.  
7. Utilize safety devices to make sure you are UL 325 compliant and have mitigated liabilities for you and your company.
8.  Make sure local Knox-Box or Emergency Vehicle entry devices have been connected and tested for use in case of an emergency.
9.   Make sure all wires and cables are in conduit and that your control box and connections are weather tight and sealed to last a long, long time.
10. Make sure all safety signs have been mounted and photos taken to verify this fact. You can use these photos to promote your business and prove that you have obeyed all safety regulations.

http://youtu.be/njUgZO-shuU

Do NOT:

1. Try to modify garage door opener to act as a gate opener...(see video below  http://youtu.be/-saXQF5IU8U  :)
2.  Use the cheapest operators and access control devices on the market; They will only fail and cause you more headache and expenses in the long-run.
3. Forget to quote Ultra Access Control products to save you time, money and reduce call-backs. 
4. Overlook the fact that your skills as an Access Control Expert can be valuable to other companies. Large to medium fence contractors often sub work to qualified, experienced and certified automatic gate operator installers.
5. Fail to recommend a continued maintenance program to the end user of the automatic gate. Far too often gates and operators are not maintained until there is a problem. Just like any sophisticated electromechanical device, an ounce of preventative maintenance is worth several pounds of emergency repairs or replacements.   

 

Do NOT do this!

What is the "Right" Way to Brace a Gate?

  First let us all agree that the reason we brace gates is primarily to keep it from sagging, to keep it looking good and functioning as it was intended to from the beginning.

   From my extensive research in gate bracing I have come up with four primary categories:

      Compression Bracing - 
A compression cross-brace takes weight from the top bar and transfers it by pushing down against the bottom hinge or a vertical component that transfers load to both hinges. (see photo and/or drawing)

   


 Hinge Side on Right with Brace running from Top of latch side to bottom of hinge side. Typical on Wooden Gates.

  Now, compression bracing can be used on Cantilever gates as well since the load is transferred differently than a hinged gate. Interesting Fact: Cantilever gates are some of the strongest designs because of how they transfer loads. Our ULTRACK gates can be chain link, plain pickets, decorative pickets, vinyl, wood, composite boards our our Eclipse Aluminum Privacy boards.

Ultrack Gates can even be made to look like Estate Gates

 Here you have a fine example of having the fine architectural appeal of an estate gate, with the maximum mechanical advantages that come with a cantilevered gate that is more often used in Commercial or Industrial settings. 
  







This installation was done before we had our BFT USA rack and pinion options as part of Ultra Access Controls.





Suspension or Strut Bracing -  strut - brace consisting of a bar, cable or rod used to resist longitudinal compression a structural member used to stiffen a framework. (see photo and/or drawing)

  







 Notice the through bolting used as well as a compression brace "kick-leg" used on longer suspended areas

 Now a typical cable and turnbuckle is also a form of suspension brace that is often added as a retro-fit to remove the effects of gate sag or as a preventative and adjustable method. 

  The adjustable truss rod on chain link gates and cantilevers gates is also a version of a suspension brace.









   Horizontal Bracing -  Horizontal Bracing is just what it sounds like, using a brace or series of braces that are horizontal and parallel to the top and bottom of the gate frame.

 The traditional "Farm Gate" or "Ranch Gate" utilizes Horizontal Bracing.  Often used in conjunction with Counter Bracing, which is pictured below but is not categorized as a type of  gate bracing, since it has a main purpose of supporting and reinforcing the strength of the hinge post and not effecting weight transference from the gate itself. 

 Counter Bracing (Post Reinforcement)

Sometimes integrated adjustable hinges will eliminate or off-set sagging when gates are in a closed position but do not offer a solution when the gate is in a fully open position. In my opinion, any gate over 16' wide that swings needs a suspension brace with some form of adjustment, like a truss rod. Because Horizontal Bracing alone is often NOT enough on wide spans.

      Gusset Bracing -   Gusset Bracing is the use of diagonal braces in the corners of a gate frame to maintain the original shape of the gate, be it square or rectangular. These gussets come in many varieties and are often used in conjunction with other forms of bracing.  There are even companies like systems for use on all types of gates, primarily marketed at DIY types.

Gusset Bracing done with wood

Gate Kits, this one works extremely well since  it is integrated with the hinges and connects securely to horizontal and vertical members of the gate frame. This technique is often used on aluminum and steel gates as well.

There are of course many hybrids that utilize two, three or all four of these bracing techniques. Some common examples are:

Compression Brace with Suspension Cable Brace

"X" Bracing, or in this case double "X" bracing with gussets

While the decorative gate on the left uses traditional compression bracing, the decorative gate on the right uses compression bracing, suspension bracing and even incorporates board in-fill to add support. This is a great example of letting the bracing become a major design component for the overall aesthetics of the gate.

Some companies like Gate Solutions make kits that make bracing a wooden gate extremely fast and easy. If you do contact them, tell them Darrin sent you.


For addition information or comments and suggestions, please use the comment section or contact me directly at UltraAluminum@gmail.com or on LinkedIn at our Ultra Fence and Railing Group.

And please visit our main website ate UltraFence.com and/or UltraAccessControls.com

Saving Time = Saving Money

  Whether you have just started installing automatic gate operators, are just considering offering them or have been installing them since they have been around, the common sense saying "Time is Money" will ring more than true to you. When you have to pay a fence crew's salaries, insurance, benefits and pick up the tab for the truck, gas, insurance and maintenance then you know it costs dearly each and every time you send a crew anywhere to do anything. When it comes to the crew that has the technical expertise to handle access control those costs are even higher. That is why it is more important than ever to know that the products you choose will in large part determine how long the crew is on the job, how many times they will need to return to complete a project and heaven forbid, how many "Free" service calls you will need to send them on for warranty work.

   Again with your most technically inclined crews, this likely means your most expensive crew too. They are the ones that many fence contractors choose to use outside specialists to cover. Because not only does this access control crew need extra knowledge and experience, they need advanced problem solving skills and specialized tools . Whether you use your own people, sub out the access control portion of the job or are the access control specialists that does sub work for many fence contractors, you all value time;  Because - Time equals Money ;
 Just as efficiency equals greater profitability.

An aluminum alloy bracket guaranteed to save time and money

    You are probably asking yourself...How can this save me time and increase efficiency?

When used with our operators and gates you will gain many magnitudes of efficiency.

     Our Extremely Heavy-Duty Mounting Brackets come powder coated to match the gate and fence, they mount to the post that supports the enclosed track and trolley assembly. It saves a trip and half a day of excavating, forming, pouring, finishing and inserting J-bolts and finishing some more....
all just to wait for another day to get the operator installed, and thus finishing the job.

It also makes it easier on your installers, because this method not only saves time, it saves the installer's back. 

  With our 24 volt BFT Operators you can send one man to do what two to four men had to struggle to do. You can also send a light truck or even a car and save a bunch of fuel over the normal required flat-bed one ton or bigger. Plus you will likely save on Workmen's Comp claims and keep those seasoned professionals longer because they won't be injured and broken down by the time they are in their 50's or 60's. It just makes sense, and thus makes you more Dollars.

Sure, switching to rack and pinion over chain will take some getting used to (usually one job).

 But the advantages of switching to Ultra/BFT System of completely adjustable rack & pinion will:

1. Make you installation MORE SECURE than using chain that can be cut or kicked off gear.
2. Make your jobs BETTER LOOKING by allowing you to keep the drive element hidden.
3. The rack will ADD TO RIGIDITY of the gate, making it stronger than when it left the factory.
4. NOT allow the crew or anyone in the future to WARP THE GATE FRAME by over-tightening a chain. (Which happens, especially on wide openings.)
5. Make your gate system QUIETER than a chain drive, (thus getting you more referrals).
6. Allow your system to be more ADJUSTABLE than any concrete foundation based operator.
7. Allow your team to install twice the operators with less people, which means BETTER PROFITS than any other system.
8. Allow your crew to leave those forms, concrete mixer and trowels on the truck. They won't be needed with this system. (Which will keep the jobsite cleaner and customers happier)
9. Allow your sales staff to tell the home or business owner not to worry about sagging, rusty or oily chains messing up their beautiful driveways and entrances.
10. Lastly, allow for less maintenance and happier installation crews and customers.

Or you could continue to excavate, pour and form, deal with too tight or too loose chains and continue the old ways, while some competitor starts to take away your market share....