Pedestrian gates in Cape Town are a great addition to any property, be it commercial, industrial or residential, because they provide a more direct entry point through which visitors, employees or residents can enter without having to open large driveway gates. Having to constantly open driveway gates for singular people or pedestrians can be a hassle, as it provides a large opening for criminals to sneak through and it takes far more time to open and close than with smaller pedestrian gates. From a safety standpoint, and from an aesthetic point of view, pedestrian gates create curb appeal and increase the overall value of a property. While many choose to opt for traditional gates, particularly in residential situations, more and more customers have begun to consider the perks of incorporating additional features and accessories to their pedestrian gates in Cape Town – if you’re one of those customers, and you’d like to know more about the range of instruments and parts available to advance the functionality of your pedestrian gates in Cape Town, then read this article.
Hydraulic and Pneumatic Closers
While you may not recognise the name of this ingenious tool, you’ve definitely used many a door or pedestrian gate where door closers are installed. And even if you didn’t outrightly notice its effects, you’ve probably benefitted from this feature in more ways than one. A door closer is a device or mechanism that allows you to close a door properly. When the door or gate opens, a spring compresses within the closer, and when you let go of the door, the spring will slowly release and draw the door or gate to a close.
Door closers are incredibly useful because they prevent the door from slamming, and they do this by offering some cushioning to absorb the shock of the door or gate pulling to a close. There are two different kinds of door closers, hydraulic and pneumatic, and they can be told apart by examining whether they use air or fluid to absorb the shock of the slamming door or gate. With hydraulic closers, the shock of the door or gate pulling closed comes from water. With pneumatic closers, the slamming is prevented by air.
Air-based pneumatic closers are cylindrical instruments with pistons inside that pull back and expel air slowly whenever a door is open. When the door is released, the piston fills with air again and draws the door to a closed position. Fluid-based hydraulic door closers use fluid or oil to close the door, instead of air. The spring is often stronger with hydraulic closers, allowing them to handle more weight and close more smoothly.
Modern door closers, both hydraulic and pneumatic, are handy accessories for doorways and pedestrian gates in Cape Town because they minimise noise levels, and stave off loud bangs from disturbing the peace in your home, business or industrial space. They also prevent your doors or pedestrian gates in Cape Town from wearing and tearing because of harsh slams and bangs, thereby making your homeware last longer. What’s more, they also ensure that if a resident or visitor enters the building and they forget to close the gate behind them, the gate will close by its own means so that you don’t have to tend to it yourself.
Panic Bars
If your pedestrian gate is on a commercial or industrial property, such as a mall, a manufacturing site or even a public facility such as a courthouse, then it might be necessary to install a push pad, also known as a panic latch. Push pads are a safety measure and accessory added to pedestrian gates in Cape Town’s public spaces so that, in the event of an emergency or a fire, people can quickly exit through the gate by simply pushing against the pad or latch. This facilitates fast travel and allows for easy egress to safety so that pedestrians will not be forced to turn a key or gate handle every time they exit.
Panic latches are great to ease the flow of traffic, particularly for emergencies when people tend to stress or become overwhelmed, causing them to fight, flee, fawn or freeze. They are often installed in hospitals, workshops, schools, malls, public pools and other spaces. These pads and latches are installed on the interior side of the gate, and they usually cover the width of the gate, making it easy for anyone to simply press down and open the gate without having to turn or lift the handle.
Panic bars are fixed to the door, and they also work by means of spring – when the lever is pushed down, the spring compresses and unlocks the door. Panic bars save crucial time, and even lives. They are usually installed and designed in compliance with local laws, taking into account the necessary conditions for fire safety. Building code requirements usually stipulate that contractors are obliged to place panic bars on pedestrian gates in Cape Town or doors when there are assemblies of 50 or more people convening, or when there are high-hazard occupancies.
Panic bars are primarily installed in order to mitigate traffic congestion during emergencies such as tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, floods and other disasters. However, they are also installed for ease of use, as pedestrians to enter and exit conveniently, without compromising the security and durability of the door. Panic bars are also exceptionally useful on pedestrian gates in Cape Town because they are a robust means of locking and securing your property from criminals or danger.
Control Panels
Control panels allow people to open and close pedestrian gates for the safety of their inside space. The installation of a control panel prevents people from having to go to their gate physically, therefore allowing them to maintain full control over who they choose to allow entry to. This prevents scenarios where residents or retailers will have to manually walk to the gate every time a visitor enters. Many control panels contain integrated intercom setups for audio-visual access, whereby people can see and talk to the visitor or customer from the safety of their own space.
Control panels are wired from the gate to a handset inside the relevant building or room. Each time a visitor or customer rings the doorbell by pressing the control panel, the handset inside will buzz and the applicable person will be required to answer audibly, screen the visitor and then decipher whether or not they want to let the person enter. If the visitor is permitted to enter, then someone inside can press a button that causes the gate to open.
Control panels can be wireless, set up with a GSM network, and modern technology also allows you to control the gate from your landlines or mobile devices. Control panels are particularly useful in apartment buildings, where it can be tedious to walk down to a far-away gate every time somebody delivers a package, visits your flat, exits your flat, or buzzes for you. Control panels are equally very useful in commercial contexts when shop attendants are preoccupied with their many roles and tasks, making it difficult for them to personally open and close security pedestrian gates every time a visitor or customer wants to enter.
Razor Wire
Razor wire is a kind of fencing that is made with strands of high tensile, galvanized wire. Razor wire is a mesh of steel strips, with sharp razor-like edges. Razor wire is made by crimping razor tape tightly onto steel core wire, and then rolling it together. Most razor wire is made from low carbon steel and or stainless steel with a surface that has been treated with applications such as zinc plating or PVC coating.
Razor wire’s coils are more closely connected to each other than barbed wire, making it more difficult to slip through, and a great defence against attackers or dangerous people. Its sharp edges are a great deterrent, as they can easily slice or cut through any object without hassle. Razor wire is often used in restricted spaces where entrance must be monitored and visitors have to be regulated, such as factories, military bases, international border walls and private residences.
Razor wire can be applied to the bottom or top of pedestrian gates to provide additional protection against intruders. It can also be extended across a brick or concrete walls, or even along the ground as a way to delineate or define a strict perimeter. While it is slightly more expensive than barbed wire because of its more complex manufacturing processes, it is a worthwhile investment if you value safety and security.
Razor wire is also highly resistant to abrasion and corrosion because it is made from strong steel, making it easy to maintain and use for many years. The strength of the steel also makes it incredibly difficult to cut with standard tools, so you don’t have to be concerned that it will be tampered with or cut down. Finally, it is easy to install and has an incredibly long life.
Barbed Wire
Barbed wire is another security fencing wire with pointed barbs spaced out over the central wire. Barbed wire is usually made with the help of an automatic barbed wire machine, which warps the barb around the core line of high tensile steel. Barbed wires are generally used to form fences for farm boundaries and grassland boundaries, protection for herb and vegetable gardens, and livestock protection. For example, barbed wire is often seen surrounding cattle grazing areas.
Other common places to install barbed wire include highways, railways, hospitals, schools, residential areas, sports fields, and forests. Barbed wire can be bought in single or double-stranded wires, and there are a variety of different styles in which it can be twisted. Barbed wire is duller in appearance than razor wire, as its surface is less shiny than razor wire. It is also installed in a twisting fashion, unlike razor wire.
Barbed wire is less dangerous than razor wire, as its barbs are further apart. However, this kind of wire is still very useful to prevent animals and intruders from wandering into your property freely. While barbed wire is less expensive than barbed wire, it is still very useful to install on top of pedestrian gates in Cape Town, as it is rigid, stable and easy to maintain. Thanks to its resistance to rust and corrosion, it will also last a long time and provide good protection against danger.
Install New Features To Your Pedestrian Gates in Cape Town Today
If you’d like to invest in additional safety features for your pedestrian gates in Cape Town, then you can consider the above options. Glow Innovations offers consultation services and free quotations from qualified staff members who can advise you on the best route to take given your property and intentions. With these measures being sold at affordable, competitive rates, you can count on heightened safety for you, your family, or your business without having to break the bank.
