Residential

At Swan Access Systems we are specialists in gate automation, working throughout the South of the UK. There are many options available to you when considering installing automatic gates at your premises, depending on your budget, space and requirements.

All types of gates can be automated including wooden gates, wrought iron gates and steel gates. The benefits of having metal or wooden electric gates include, increased security, control over those that enter or leave your premises and convenience.

There are two different types of automation available depending on the type of gates you have and the space available:

Sliding Gates

Sliding gates are the perfect solution to add metal or wooden automatic gates to your property where there is limited space either side of the gates or uneven, sloping ground. Sliding gates are also more secure than swing gates as they provide more resistance to forced entry.

Swing Gates

A swing gate automated system can be added to any type of gate, however they will require considerably more space than sliding gates. Electric gates with a swing motion also work best of flat ground. Swing gates are a cheaper option to sliding gates, as their automation system is simpler.

There are also two different types of automatic system available, either above ground or underground:

Above Ground System

An above ground system is perfect if you are looking for a simple system or have a limited budget. Cheaper than an underground system, the above ground system requires no excavation, as it is post mounted and fully visible.

Below Ground System

Although more expensive than above ground systems, an underground system is more aesthetically pleasing as it is totally concealed underground. Excavation work is required during installation. We will ensure that all work is carried out efficiently the ground is left as it was found.

Access Control

We can also provide additional extras for your metal or wooden automatic gates, including remote controlled access, key padded access and intercom control. We offer a vast range of options so ask for more information if you have specific requirements.

All our metal gates are made to measure and built with quality steel with automation in mind.

We supply metal gates finished to the highest standard using first a hot dipped galvanizing process, followed by a top powder coated colour of your choice. This not only enhances the appearance of our products but ensures the longevity of their life and reduces ongoing maintenance.

Metal gates can be made to swing as either a pair or a single leaf and if you are restricted for opening space or require a higher level of security then they can also be made to slide, either with a track or a trackless cantilever system. We can also manufacture them to look like a pair of gates then you can hardly tell them apart from an actual pair.

Automated metal gates are

Low maintenance
Aesthetically pleasing
Higher security
Can be manufactured to any design, swing or sliding and any size

All our electric/automated gates will be fitted and Part P certified by a member of our fully qualified team. We are a NICEIC approved contractor and a member of the DHF powerd gate group. This means your gate will be safe and comply with current regulations.

Powered door and gate safety is not just about the individual components making up the product, but about the way they are combined together to fit a particular set of circumstances, and what is done over time to maintain safety.

At all times a powered gate must respond in a safe way when any person interacts with it. It’s design must take into account that foreseeable interactions may go well beyond normal use (eg children playing around or with / on the powered gate), as well as normal wear and tear, and adverse environmental influences, particular wind and rain / snow and other debris that can impair function.

What we do at Swan Access Systems to ensure your gate is safe

• Delivering safety by design and construction
• Maintaining for safety
• Risk assessment, competence and training
• Use of standards for design, assessment and testing

There are a number of current standards which are relevant to powered gates, including:

BS EN 13241-1  the Product Standard for powered doors and gates (and most relevant to the CPR^[10])

BS EN 12604 & BS EN 12605  on mechanical requirements and tests

BS EN 12453 & BS EN 12445  on requirements and test for powered gates

BS EN 12635  on installation and use

BS EN 12978  on safety devices for power operated doors and gates

BS EN 60335-2-103 on drives for household and similar gates

BS EN 60335-2-95 on drives for residential vertically moving garage doors but at present adherence to these standards alone in most cases will not ensure that all of the mandatory requirements for safety will be met. You should choose an installer with the correct expertise and experience.

If you have a small driveway or limited space you should consider sliding gates. They are more secure than conventionally opening gates because they are set in/on a track. Pushing sliding gates inwards requires a huge amount of force.

There are two main types of sliding gate systems,

Tracked systems

Tracked gates work by running on a metal rail set into the ground immediately below the gate.  The base of the tracked gate has wheels mounted on it and these run along the rail.  Overall and compared to a cantilever sliding gate, tracked sliding gates are simple

The advantages of tracked sliding gates:

More suitable for very wide access points
Simpler in operation
Needs less run back area

Cantilever Sliding Gate

Electric cantilever sliding gates remove the need for tracking along the length of the opening. A cantilever gate is suspended over the entrance with horizontal posts. Cantilever gates are quieter than tracked gates and reduce the need to keep the tracking clear of debris.  However due to the nature of the cantilever design, an additional section of gate is required to ‘hang’ over the guides, often behind a wall or hedge perimeter. This means that additional room is needed beside the gateway (in the roll back area) than a tracked version and may prevent you from choosing this option.  Unlike the tracked sliding gate, full use of the driveway can be kept during the installation period as no track is needed across the driveway.  The steel posts are concreted in place at each end of the complete unit.

Safety

The design and installation process is more complex than for swing gates and if not installed correctly can be extremely dangerous, which means it’s vital that you use a company with fully trained installers (both gate safety and electrical installation). Swan Access Systems use only the best sliding gate automation equipment from Europe’s leading automation suppliers – Giving you the smoothest most efficient and most reliable operation possible.

Swan Access Systems are experts in solar powered automation. We supply and install a range of professional solar powered gate kits to suit all types of gate. Each kit is rated to operate on the shortest day of the year* and we carry out a full survey to advise you on the correct system required for your needs.

*based on average mid-winter conditions.

Looking to enhance the entrance to your property then a set of quality built wooden electric gates are the choice for you. They offer privacy and security and if looked after will do so for years. All gates are custom built to the size required and suitable for automation. We recommend Steel frames softwood gates or hardwood gates such as Iroko, Oak, Sapele or Idigbo. Steel framed gates are perfect for automation and as they are fully clad with softwood so you do not see any of the internal frame. This gives you a gate that not only looks great but will not warp and gives the extra strength and durability required for an automated gate.