Gates and Emergency Response

Gates and emergency access control. These terms should go hand in hand. However, many manufacturers and contractors generally treat emergency access control as an afterthought that can bring catastrophic consequences. Even worse, some contractors give this looming problem no thought at all. Offering your customers the option of installing a comprehensive emergency access-control system, married to a gate operator that is outfitted with adequate battery support to “fail in the open” condition when the power goes out, are critical safety components to any gate installation.

I recently became aware of an incident that occurred in Shell Beach, Calif. A resident of a gated community was having a heart attack, and, when the emergency responders arrived at the gate, they discovered that their master key override would not operate due to a massive power failure. The time it took for them to find alternate means to enter the gated compound ultimately contributed to the death of the resident.

A delayed emergency response under any situation is absolutely intolerable and preventable. For the fire agency to take the time to mandate the master key override system and not take the extra step of adding a “fail in the open” battery backup is commonplace, and yet does not meet the needs of the agency or those they are responding to help in the emergency. To quote Fire Inspector Laura Brown, “In an emergency, every second counts.” These seconds that tick away while the emergency responders fumble with keys or other such devices – or stop to determine if the gate is actually operational during a power failure situation – are crucial. Response time can easily be improved upon with newer technology and adequate battery-support systems.