Bk Security Services

It is a common misconception that the security of the garage and the gates that give access to a property are of little to no importance. In truth, gates are the only element of a home’s security that can potentially injure or harm an individual and, in many cases, the garage is the most accessible and easiest to reach of all the outbuildings on the property.

Planning

Walls, fences and gates can be constructed without planning permission if they are built within the permitted development limits. A permitted development wall or fence can be of any height if it is not adjacent to a public road. If a wall or fence is adjacent to a public road, then the limit is 1m.

Most gates are adjacent to a public road, so most gates are limited to a height of 1m. That limitation is also the most confusing and least understood.

Limits of permitted development apply to all outbuilders with the exception of a wall that surrounds a listed building. An Art.4 direction removes permitted development rights and are common in building that are in a conservation area. That means an outbuilding, including a gate pillar or trellis, would also be subject to the same limitations.

Sometimes a wall is built outside permitted development limits. That does not always mean a building permit will be denied. A building permit should always be applied for, especially if a neighboring property owner has complained. A building permit is not always required to build a wall if it is less than 1m in height. A building permit is always required if a wall is to be built adjacent to a public road.

Understanding the Laws Regarding Electric Gates

Electric gates are considered machinery and fall under the scope of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. Whoever automates an electric gate is defined as the manufacturer. Automating a gate creates a risk, and the user is obligated to manage this risk by installing safety devices. The user is required to test the safety of the gate, mark the gate with the safety warning symbol, and provide the user with a Declaration of Conformity. The safety of the gate is assessed by an accredited third party against the standard BS EN 12445. The control and drive units of the gate are required to bear the UKCA or CE marking.

Strict regulation of powered gates is justified by the number of fatalities powered gates have caused. In 2010, two children under the age of six, in separate incidents, lost their lives in Greater Manchester as a result of powered gate injuries.

The safety of a powered gate should not be left to the reliability of a single safety device.

BS EN 12453 recommends that powered gates should be fitted with a minimum of two safety devices. These devices should be mounted on opposing sides of the opening of the gate. Additional safety devices should be mounted on the gates to sense if an obstruction is in the path of the gate and stop the gate if it encounters resistance.

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) mandates the inspections on workplace and communal gates. Private gate inspections are not enforced. However, if your gate injures someone (delivery person, visitor, neighbor, etc.) you can be held liable. The HSE states that gates are considered safe if they have a Declaration of Conformity, and if the user can provide proof of a force test. You should retain these documents with the sale records of the house. If you do not have these documents and the house was sold to you with electric gates, you should contact the seller.

Things you should check yourself

A monthly inspection should be done to ensure the gate is reversing with the photocell. You can check this by pressing the safety edge with your hand. Listen for new abnormal noises and look for new wear on the gate. Overtime, tracks and hinges can wear out and cause the gate to slow down or stop. This should be inspected and serviced annually. Have an engineer perform a force test to ensure the gate is safe.

Overall Expense

The cost to purchase and install a new set of gates is between 3,000-10,000 pounds. The average cost to purchase and install a new set of swing gates is approximately 5,000 pounds. Sliding gates are more expensive because of additional costs of installing track. The annual service and inspection should cost between 150-300 pounds. The cost to automate a set of gates is between 1,500-3,000 pounds.

Garages

An up-and-over garage door has a central handle which controls latches on either side. Over time with use, those latches wear and can be worked free with a firm pull on the handle. If your door is like that, it will feel “loose” and can take a firm pull to work free other latches.

There are several solutions to this problem. If there is an alternate means of access to the garage, the most economical solution is to put a bolt or padlock through the center of the door to block movement. A garage door defender placed on the garage floor prevents movement of the door in a similar fashion. An alarm contact connected to the house alarm will also indicate when the door is opened. The most secure solution is to replace the garage door.

An added consideration is the side door to the garage. Often, this door is weaker and used less than the main door to the garage, and therefore may be less secure.

Automatic openers use internal bolts that lock you out when you’re away from your house. For this reason, many people don’t use automatic openers. Our guide covers these issues.

Keep the items in your garage out of view. Visibility from the street can be improved with inexpensive window tinting. Don’t store your house or car keys in the garage as well.

Other guides

• Is Your Electric Gate Old and Unsafe?
• How Much Do Electric Gates Cost in the UK?
• Do Driveway Gates Need Planning Permission?
• How to Safely Use an Up and Over Garage Door
• Garage Door Automatic Openers and Locks: Using Both
• What do Security Ratings Mean for Garage Doors?
• Which Garage Door is More Secure? Roll-Up, Sectional, or Up and Over?