INDUSTRY FOCUS PAGE 44
access control
Most people who buy into gated residential communities do so in order to be – or at least feel – more secure . As well as genuinely offering security and privacy , gates and fences enhance the perception of safety . And this , in turn , increases property values , helps to attract new residents , and allows managers and owners to charge a premium for services and rentals .
Does access control reduce crime ?
This is the most frequently asked question , and the answer is a qualified “ yes ”. Formidable perimeter fencing restricts access and provides both a physical and psychological barrier to criminals . Fences and working gates definitely reduce unauthorised vehicle and foot traffic , especially late at night and early in the morning . For many properties , the traffic reduction alone is enough to bring down parking lot and street crime .
Note we ’ re talking about working gates . The effectiveness of gates and fencing depends on the kind of property , the nature of the residents , and the management controls in place . Gates and fencing work best on a stable property with mature residents , who are likely to be proactive in preventing unauthorised access by , for example , tailgaters , or people asking to be let in “ to drop off some flowers for my aunt ”.
Criminals want to access enviroments anonymously and blend into a community of strangers . Many criminals will bypass a gated community for one that is not gated simply because of the restricted access . Criminals like quick escape routes and don ’ t want to be trapped behind fences or gates if they are discovered , so homeowners ’ associations should think long and hard about how they want to control people exiting the property , as well as those entering it .
Gated communities are more secure than ungated ones , but no estate can claim to prevent absolutely all crime . Gates and fences are just one tool in an effective security package . The residents need to be educated to use the gate system properly , how to bypass it in case of malfunction or power failure , and how report abuse and damage . More importantly , residents must take responsibility for their own security by reporting or challenging unauthorised persons using the gates , and must ensure they do not give out gate codes unnecessarily . Management should regularly change the master gate code to screen out former repair vendors , a zillion pizza delivery companies , and previous residents .
Which gate type and system is best ?
This depends on the purpose of the gate and the type of property . Swinging gates look nicer , but are more expensive to install and maintain , are not suitable for high traffic areas , and tend to get damaged by motorists more often than sliding gates . Horizontal sliding gates are less attractive , but are cheaper to purchase and maintain , and more resilient if clipped by a car .
With any type of gate system , in-ground loop detectors are required to automatically signal when a car is present so that the automatic gate operator can function – and also so that a vehicle gate will not open for pedestrians . Loop detectors can also be used to allow vehicles to leave the property without using a code or remote .
Of course , every gate is only as good as the system supporting it , Secsyst Access ensure that the intercoms , keypads or remotes work effectively . Some additional features include biometric access , licence scanners linked to a database and video cameras . Video cameras must be carefully placed so that , if they ’ re not