STRONGER STEEL SECURITY GATES INCORPORATING STRONG GATE LOCKS FOR GREATER RESISTANCE AGAINST CROW-BAR AND OTHER ATTEMPTS AT FORCIBLE ENTRY
Just because it is made of steel does not mean it is a SECURITY GATE. To resist the efforts of criminals using hand tools such as screw drivers, crow bars and tire levers, a SECURITY GATE needs to be well designed, correctly, and securely fitted, and have the right security locks to suit the risk. A gate that can be easily ripped out by putting a chain through the bars of the gate and attaching the chain to a vehicle- does not offer a good level of security.
Read Gates & Heavy Gate Locks for more detailed information
In these troubled times of high crime and violence against people, we should NOT be fitting gates that can be bent and mangled easily with hand tools or cut easily with portable grinders. Gates should be constructed so that crowbars and similar implements cannot find an entry-point, and cannot easily bend the gate, the frame, or the lock.
The reason that criminals have been winning the battle for our property is that most gates are too light, have flimsy hinges, and are fitted with locks that simply pop open under slight pressure from a crowbar, tire-lever, or a big screwdriver! Such gates are usually bought on price, and you get what you pay for! It can take less than 30 seconds to force open the average gate, and even less for the average door!
STEEL SECURITY GATES
Gates should NOT be hung on hung on light hinges that are mounted directly to the wall.
The gate itself should have an outer frame of no less than 38 x 38 mm steel tubing.
The gate should be sturdily hinged to a full height steel frame of not less than 38 x 38mm steel tubing which must be firmly fixed to the wall at least on both sides (and at the top where practical).
The vertical in-fill bars should be of not less than 19 x 19 mm square steel running full-height without welds or joints where they pass through the horizontal steel.
Gates should be designed and built with a full-length steel cover strip of at least 50x 5 mm to prevent tools being inserted between the gate and the frame.
The locks should be chosen before ordering the gate, and the gate should be made to suit the chosen lock and galvanised after all the holes are made, to prevent the steel rusting.
SECURITY GATE LOCKS
The design of the gate and the choice of lock are both critical to achieving security. Cylinder locks are almost always best because of the flexibility they offer in changing keys. See the PDF file Gates & heavy gate locks for more information on gates and locks.
Cylinder locks are best for most security applications because the cylinders can be easily changed or upgraded when keys are lost or stolen. See Cylinder locks preferred to better understand this concept. For higher levels of security and to prevent keys being copied, use C3000 T06 or Astral Tekno S01 high security registered lock cylinders and keys, in all gates and doors.
All gate locks should lock into a slot in the steel full-length outer frame, which should be fitted with the correct striker plate (which is supplied with every lock but often not fitted!).
We can offer locks for your whole property on a master-key, or keyed alike to order. See Master-keying and Keying-alike for more information. Note that if you order a master-keyed or keyed alike set of locks, they should be especially made-up to suit your specific needs. Please plan ahead!
DOOR CLOSERS: People don't close and lock gates - DOOR CLOSERS do! All gates that are latching / self-locking must be correctly fitted with a dual-action DOOR CLOSER such as CISA or Geze to ensure the gate locks after every entry or exit. Read SIWRS DOOR CLOSERS below - to understand how to choose the correct dor closer
DEVICES THAT CAN BE USED TO OPERATE SECURITY GATES
Having chosen a lock and power supply – consider that any electronic gate lock can be remotely operated via finger or face biometrics (face biometrics are the most secure and touch-free!) remote transmitters, keypads, cards or tags amongst other things.
Bluelock (see Bluelock PDF) is a remote receiver that can operate gates and many other devices. It can be operated by a mobile device that has Bluetooth as long as the device is within BlueTooth range of the receiver (usually about 10-20 metres).
Gatekeeper is a remote receiver that will allow gates to be opened via Mobile phones from anywhere in the world via GSM. View the short .pdf file Gatekeeper
Both Bluelock and Gatekeeper can, using EXTERNAL external relays, be used to switch on – and off – many electrical devices including pedestrian gates, motorised gates, pool pumps, outdoor lights, irrigation etc.
Note that we do not make gates ourselves – we mainly supply components to gate contractors. We are currently negotiating with some of our gate-making clients to offer better-quality heavy gates fitted with heavier locks, made in the Western Cape. We can also offer heavy industrial and commercial steel gates, made to order by our Johannesburg contractor
We hope to introduce more new ideas for effective crow-bar resistant gates soon.
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