Why have Sliding Gates
At Portcullis Gate Automation we have no bias towards sliding gates because we also design, manufacture, install and maintain high quality hinged gates. So for us it’s simply a question of which of the two is most appropriate for any individual project.
Although many local factors dictate whether sliding or hinged gates are right for a specific application, there are a number of basic criteria which can be applied.
Security
Overall, sliding gates are much more secure largely because they are more difficult to force open. The main reason for this is that part of the gate when closed is retained within a rigid structure and are therefore much more difficult to force open. In addition the more vulnerable points of a sliding gate are less accessible compared to a hinged gate.
As well as being more secure, sliding gates arguably LOOK more secure, so there’s an element of deterrent here too.
A hinged gate obviously needs space for the swing and for relatively large gates this can be a problem on many sites. This problem obviously doesn’t apply to a sliding gate and the space it needs to open is simply against the fencing or boundary wall which would normally be in place either side of the entrance anyway.
More suitable for very wide openings
Although cost effective very large hinged gates are often less practical, partly because of the amount of space needed to accommodate the swing, but also because one sliding gate will often cover the opening that two hinged gates would be needed for. This would then mean that the sliding gate would only require one motor and set of safe edges etc. saving money on equipment, installation and maintenance.
Sloping surface up to the driveway.
Where a road surface rises up on the property side of the access point needing a gate a sliding gate will inevitably be the best (perhaps only) solution. This is simply because a hinged gate, assuming the swing of the gate was inwards as it normally would be, would hit the ground. Often a combination of the above factors means that a sliding gate is by far the better solution and in some cases the only solution possible. A measure of how successful and widely used sliding gates are is the sheer number that can now be seen in use across the country protecting sites as varied as hospitals, factories, schools, warehouses and retail delivery areas etc.
At Portcullis our vast experience, knowledge and expertise allows us to advise you on every aspect of entrance gates, if sliding is the best option, then whether tracked or cantilevered should be used.
For advice and assistance please call us on 0845 602 0846 or email Sliding Entrance Gates to arrange a site visit or just for an initial discussion.
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Cantilever Sliding Gate or Tracked Sliding Gate? ↓ show more detail ↓
There are advantages to both cantilevered and tracked and it’s really a case of which is most appropriate to an individual site. If the nature of the site means that either would be suitable then our preference is for a cantilevered gate which has further advantages outlined below.
Cost for each is as although the simpler tracked gate costs less to manufacture than a cantilevered gate this saving is usually offset by the cost of installing the rail into the ground. The following summarises how each work and their relative advantages and disadvantages.
Tracked Sliding Gates
This method uses a length of metal rail set into the ground immediately below the gate. Wheels are mounted on the base of the gate and these run along the rail.The main advantages of tracked sliding gates are:
- They can span wider openings (as the gate is fully supported along its run)
- Relatively simpler mechanically
The main disadvantages are:
- The ground surface must be level
- The rail must be kept clear of debris at all times so for some high traffic sites this might require frequent attention
Cantilever Sliding Entrance Gates
A cantilever sliding entrance gate is, effectively, suspended over the entrance and therefore needs no rail below it. The basic principle uses an additional section of gate to partly counterbalance the section of gate that spans the roadway.
The main advantages of a cantilever sliding entrance gate are:
- No necessity for a rail and therefore less groundwork required for foundations when installing
- No need to keep the area below the gate completely clear of debris
- Quieter operation
- Can be used on uneven ground
The main disadvantages are:
- More space is required to the side of the gate to accommodate the additional length of the gate
- Less suitable for very wide openings
The most ideal gate for your project
The above information will hopefully help you with your first thoughts about which type of sliding entrance gate is best for your project. However a site meeting with one of our highly experienced team will always be the best way to fully determine which type of gate and the exact specification required.
So please call us on 0845 602 0846 or email Portcullis Sliding Gates to arrange a site visit.
Contact us directly with your Sliding Gates Enquiry so we can get straight back to you to discuss your requirements and provide a proposal.
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Deciding to use a sliding gate rather than hinged gate has rather more to do with factors such as the level of security needed, size of the opening the gate will fill, and whether or not the access roadway the gate passes over is level or on a slope, than the type of premises the gate might protect.
That said it’s inevitable that certain property types will always have a level of security requirement that means sliding gates are more suitable. These sliding gate applications would include Schools, Hospitals, Data Centres, etc:
Schools (though obviously very much dependent on area)
- Hospitals
- Data Centres
- Industrial properties
- Distribution centres
- Warehouses
- Delivery areas for retail outlets (in particular supermarkets and other retailers on out-of-town developments)
- Docks and ports
- Airports
- Airfields
- Police Stations
- Prisons and Young Offender Institutions
- Power Stations
- Waste disposal and recycling plants (in particular those processing sensitive materials such as that from hospitals) Print works (in particular those producing high value product such as currency and stamps, or sensitive / time critical material such as daily press)
- Military bases
- Gasworks
- Water processing plants
- Sewage works
In any event even a brief discussion with one of our technical team will quickly establish if the sliding gate applications are likely to be suitable for your property or new projects. So please call us on 0845 602 0846 or email Portcullis Sliding Gates to discuss your project.
Contact us directly with your Sliding Gates Enquiry so we can get straight back to you to discuss your requirements and provide a proposal.
Powered Sliding Gates Safety Requirement
Safety requirements for powered Sliding Gates
This advice will help architects, specifiers and users to understand the issues and ensure that gates comply with the necessary legislation, regulations and standards.
Electric gates are classed as machines and can cause serious harm if not installed and maintained correctly by professional gate installers. This was tragically highlighted in June 2010 by the deaths of two young children trapped by powered gates in separate incidents less than one week apart.
News Bulletins
From the Health and Safety Executive
All automatic gate systems must by law be installed in compliance with the Machinery Directive MD2006/42/EC and supporting standards as highlighted by recent safety advisories from the Health and Safety Executive.
To aid manufacturers and installers in meeting the requirements for directive compliance, a product standard for gates, BS-EN13241-1, provides an umbrella platform for creating a compliant gate product.
For a “Guide to Gate Safety Legislation and the Machinery Directive” and a “Guide to Safety Edge Systems” please click to view the relevant PDF document below.
To download the Sliding Gate drawing’s please click on the relevant PDF symbol below
