BY TOM CHRONISTER
Condominium complexes, gated communities, industrial compounds, apartment buildings, and private roadways are all locations where mechanized gates are used to control pedestrian and vehicle access. Depending on the application and level of security required, access control systems may be completely automated or be staffed by security personnel around-the-clock. System components typically include perimeter fencing, bollards, lighting, sign-age, tollbooths, and motorized operators that raise traffic control arms or retract gates on demand.
Although walls, gates, and fences do a great job of keeping out criminals, trespassers, and others, these physical barriers also keep out first responders answering calls to these residential and commercial mini-fortresses. For firefighters, getting past an electric gate that stands between them and a call for service can sometimes be a daunting task. Has your response time ever been lengthened because of a remote- controlled gate? Worse yet, have you ever been completely locked out on a call?
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