Automatic Gates, Barriers & Bollards

There’s more to powered gates than bolting a motor to a gate. A correct installation will ensure your gates are safe to European and British Standards. Anything less and your responsible person or building owner/manager is at risk of prosecution. You must use a professional, qualified installer!

Blake Fire & Security Systems are the answer! With DHF (Door and Hardware Federation) approval and as trusted, approved installers for the industry leading suppliers, we always do a great job. For our clients this means three things:

High standards – you will get the best equipment for your requirements, professionally installed to British and European standards.
Fast turnaround – because we hold most of the equipment we need at our HQ in Southend, we can offer a rapid turnaround. Workload permitting, we can usually get the job done in a week.
Preferential prices – we offer fantastic value due to the long established relationships with our suppliers. We get a better deal than you would ever get from from industry leading manufacturers.

How do automatic gates work?

There are a number of ways automatic gates can operate:

On a time clock – useful to allow staff or tradesmen entry at set times.
Keypad or fob entry – tap in the code or swipe your fob.
Remote wireless key fob entry – works like a car key fob.

Automatic gates are often hinged on posts and swing open, while sliding gates work on a track or a cantilever system. Both are powered by a motor with gearbox when activated.

Why do I need automatic gates for my business?

Automatic gates provide a myriad of solutions to irritating problems and security issues.

Schools – control car parking so staff can get a parking space; safeguard children by keeping unauthorised vehicles and their occupants out! Read more about school security
Offices and retail – control parking, allow essential workers in, easy access for deliveries – provide a code so no need to rely on others closing up after they leave. Your gates will automatically close.

By issuing your code or fob to the relevant people, there’s no need to open up when a courier arrives out of hours. Also, if a member of staff leaves under a cloud, just change the code or delete their fob from the system and your ex-employee is immediately denied access!

How safe are powered gates?

Choose Blake Fire & Security Systems to install your automatic gate system and everything will be safe and compliant because we keep up with the latest standards enforced by the DHF.

Sometimes we are asked to service dangerous gates that do not comply. We are obliged to issue an unsafe gate notification and put them out of service. It’s like the gasman condemning a dodgy boiler.

The onus is then on the Responsible Person to get the gates up to current standards. You are better off getting them serviced by a professional, approved company in the first instance. We also provide maintenance contracts for our commercial clients. We would recommend two visits a year to ensure your gates stay safe.

What is the legislation for automatic gates?

Powered gate systems are deemed to be machinery. This means that every new and existing powered gate must comply with the European Machinery Directive, particularly the Essential Health and Safety Requirements, be CE marked and accompanied with a Declaration of Conformity.

Simple rule of thumb – you need to look for a DHF approved installer/maintenance company to ensure your gates, barrier and bollards are installed to the latest standards. If your automated gates do not comply with these standards and it hurts someone you risk prosecution – read more at the DHF website.

What about bollards?

Sometimes bollards are the correct solution, these can be raised automatically or manually. Automatic is often the best option. For example, a service yard at a retail park employed a manual gate but, with so many delivery drivers coming and going, it was often left open. This meant issues with unwanted visitors. The solution was a set of three raising bollards, which closed automatically behind the leaving vehicle thus keeping unwanted visitors out!

What else do you do?

Automatic barriers! The obvious choice for many car parks, these prevent vehicles entering while allowing pedestrians access to their parked vehicles. We also design, supply and install roller shutters and powered doors for retail, office and warehouse buildings.

Dedication to accreditation

At Blake Fire & Security Systems, our success is built on being approved for quality and expertise by our peers but remaining approachable and accessible to our customers. We only offer a service we are qualified to provide!

As a member of the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) Powered Gate Group we’re approved to install automatic gates to Quality Assured standards of competence and customer service. All members must also operate within a code of conduct which governs standards of workmanship, quality, training, safety, business integrity and CE marking compliance.

Also, we are approved access control installers, with Paxton Gold status and an authorised dealer for PAC, Fermax and Videx! This means you can be certain your installation will be of exceptional quality and perfectly safe for users.