Security Boom Barrier for an Entrance Control

Security Boom Barrier for an Entrance Control

Access control provides the ability to control, monitor and restrict the movement of people, assets or vehicles, in, out and round a building or site. A Drop arm barrier or entrance boom control system is designed to deter or completely stop unauthorised high velocity entrants, whilst enforcing the use of an access control system to ensure the ‘one token one person’ rule applies. Security levels vary depending on style and type of the products. In case access to the premises is protected by means of a lockable sliding gate, the combination with a barrier system can significantly increase the number of transits per time. Keep in mind barrier systems are not design for pedestrian passage. Basically Boom barriers are horizontal bars that are positioned on a pivot and move up and down.

There are also huge potentials in terms of integrating this technology to other systems, such as Time and Attendance, Visitor Management, ANPR, Fire, Intruder and CCTV, which can cut costs and streamline administration costs. The barrier systems are not suited for the integration into a system of escape routes. if you once invest for a Boom Barrier instead of a security personal, it will benefit to you for years and years.

Boom gates are suitable for all different types of properties, including:

•        Car parks
•        Shopping centers
•        Hospitals
•        Universities
•        Hotels
•        Commercial buildings
•        Industrial sites
•        Residential buildings

Main benefits of Boom Gates:

1.     Control traffic flow:

Boom gates are the best way to control the flow of traffic on and off your property. This is important for properties with limited parking spaces that often attract a lot of vehicles.

A boom gate also allows you to control how many vehicles are on your property at any given time. And if your car park is full, you can prevent further entry.

2.     Improved security:

Security is so important these days for commercial and residential properties. By installing a boom gate you can approve or deny entry to vehicles entering your property based on their credentials. If you don’t want a vehicle to enter your property, they can’t.

With a boom gate, you can also monitor and record the registration details of every single vehicle that enters and leaves your property.

3.     Make money on car park spaces:

If you have a car park, a boom gate with ticket system is the perfect way to make money. As a vehicle approaches, they will be required to take a ticket, and the boom gate won’t let them leave until they have paid for their parking time.

Especially if your property has a car park in a central or popular location, fees from car parking can be a very lucrative business.

4.     Save money on security costs:

A boom gate will save you money on security costs in the long run. You will have a one-off cost to install the boom gate security system, but once it’s installed it is very low cost and low maintenance.

By installing a boom gate you can often remove your need for a security guard. This means that you won’t have ongoing security costs once it’s installed.

5.     Efficient use of space:

As far as gates go, a boom gate system is the most economic use of space. Swinging gates and sliding gates require a larger space at your entrance. In contrast, a boom gate only needs a small amount of vertical space to swing upwards.

6.     Easy exit in case of power failure:

If there is a power failure at your property, a boom gate can be manually operated and switched to open. This will allow vehicles to exit safely and swiftly.

Type of Barrier

Two fundamentally different types of barrier systems are available.

A.    Hand-operated barriers

Also called mechanical Barriers, primarily used whenever there is no need for frequent opening and closing of the barrier. For example, they can be used when, during business hours, uncontrolled access is to be possible, whereas access is to be prevented at other times.

Hand-operated barriers can be fitted with a pendulum support or a fixed support post. Recommend such a type of support for the closed barrier boom for blocking widths of 3 m and larger. Hand-operated barriers consist of a self-supporting steel frame construction – the barrier stand. The barrier boom mount and the gas-filled damper used for counterbalancing are mounted in the barrier stand. The stand is fitted with a base plate with drilled holes for mounting it onto a concrete foundation. As standard, the stand is treated with high-quality galvanization and red powder coating.

The barrier boom consists of an aluminum tube. The open tube is tightly sealed with a round plate at the front end to prevent any rain water or other dirt from entering the tube. The boom is coated in white and fitted with red warning stripes.

The operation of the hand-operated barriers is purely manual.

The locking bolt is securely fastened by means of a chain to the barrier stand or to the resting fork of the fixed support post. Remove the bolt to open or close the barrier manually. A gas-filled damper in the barrier stand helps with and controls the movement of the barrier boom. If the boom is in its final position, replace the bolt to secure it. The locking bolt can be secured with a padlock.

As an option, the hand-operated barrier can be fitted with a locking device equipped with a profile cylinder lock. This device can be bolted either to the barrier stand or to the fixed support post.

A.    Electro Mechanical Barriers

Known as Automatic Boom Barriers, Boom Barrier makes much it harder to get in and out easily. Boom Barrier include various Mechanical Components. It can a be integrated with Access Control Systems such RFID, Bio-metric system to automate the process of entry into a premises. It restricts access to People whose Identity cannot be verified by a Smart Card, RFID Card Reader or Bio-metric Sensor.

In order to achieve greater blocking widths or to operate entries and exits separately, two electro-mechanical barriers can easily be used as a dual-barrier system with the two barriers facing each other. On electromechanical barriers with side-mounted barrier booms, the barrier-boom mounts will then be installed on opposite sides of the barrier housings so as to ensure that the booms are in alignment. The one-sided or fork mounted barrier boom is made from aluminium / Mild Steel Powder Coated and tightly sealed at the open ends so as to prevent any rain water or other dirt from entering the boom. The barrier boom is coated in white and fitted with red warning stripes. On barrier booms of 3 m and more, we recommend the use of a mechanical support for the barrier boom.

Auto electro-mechanical barriers have by an electromotor drive.

A geared motor drives a crank by means of a worm gear (which can be disengaged) which, when turning 180° drives a push rod with the appropriate leverage which in turn raises or lowers the barrier boom by 90°. The sinusoidal motion thus generated causes the motion of the barrier boom to start slowly, accelerate continuously then decelerate before the boom slowly reaches its final position. Entry and exit can be made by a reader, push button or any other type of control device specified by the client at the time of order. All Controls are housed within the unit, therefore NO separate switches or control boxes are required.

In the event of an emergency or isolation of the power supply the drop arm barrier will remain in a closed position.

The preferred mounting position for the key switch is on the housing of the electro-mechanical barrier. If you turn the key in the direction OPEN or CLOSE, the electric control system receives an impulse which will initiate the automatic opening or closing of the barrier. There is no need to keep the key turned in the appropriate direction; instead, you can return it to the middle position and remove it. The electric control system will switch off the geared motor in either final position.

The desk-top console will ideally be installed in a reception building. The console has three function buttons: “Open”, “Stop” and “Close”, status lights can be installed in the button: When continuously lit, they signal the current position of the barrier boom. When the boom is in motion, the light in the corresponding button flashes.

For the detection of vehicles, induction loops can be installed below the driveway surface in front of and/or behind the electro-mechanical barrier.

These loops, with the aide of loop detectors that are plugged into the control unit, make it possible to

stop a closing operation (safety loop),

start an opening operation (opening loop), or

start a closing operation (closing loop).

Very useful combinations of these functions are possible, e.g. an automatic opening of the drop arm barrier when a vehicles exits combined with an automatic closing of the barrier.

once the vehicle has left the barrier area. Using the DIP switches of the control unit you can configure the induction loop to perform the functions desired.

If the electro-mechanical barrier is fitted with an autoclosing function, an open barrier will be automatically closed again after a preset delay of 2 to 90 seconds.

A photoelectric barrier is an additional safety device which can stop an electro-mechanical barrier from closing. The control unit can also be configured for a “stop and re-open” mode

If large driveway widths are to be protected, the two control units of a dual-barrier system are prepared for connection to be provided onsite. A single command will then operate both barriers synchronously.

Depending on the length of the barrier boom, one or more safety pressure strips can be mounted on the boom. The safety pressure strips protect the barrier boom against

slamming into an obstacle. If a safety pressure strip is activated, the closing operation is immediately interrupted. In addition, the barrier’s control unit can be configured for automatic opening of the barrier (auto reversing) in such an event.

For closing the barrier, a hold-to-run (deadman / semi-automatic mode) control is possible. The electro-mechanical barrier will then continue with any closing motion only as long as the control device provides an electric signal. When opening, the barrier always operates in “latch mode” until the final position has been reached.

In the vicinity of the electro-mechanical barriers, traffic lights or rotating beacon can be installed and their function be integrated into the barrier control system. Traffic lights may prove particularly useful, if an electromechanical barrier is to allow vehicle passage in either direction.

For the operation of these warning devices, a pre-warning time of 3 seconds can be set on the barrier control unit.

Installation Guide

•         Ensure that the 220V power supply is isolated at the source.
•          Position the barrier on the plinth (provided by other) and square it up. Mark the holes before removing barrier.
•         Make sure that there is not drilled further then the correct depth to clear the conduit inside the concrete mounting base. To ensure this, mark the drill bit to ensure that the correct depth is achieved
•         Now the barrier can be removed and holes can be drilled ØXYmm x XYZmm deep.
•         Insert the anchors into the holes.
•         Place the drop arm barrier back into place and fix down with M10 x XYmm couch screws
•         Place reflector in line with the beam and fix by means of either double sided tape or silicone.
•         Prior to installation, ensure Loop detector connections, Traffic Light, Photo Sensors.
•         Find correct position of install Reader, Remote Switch & Host workstation.

Maintenance

The Drop Arm Boom Barrier should be cleaned and greased at regular intervals, using the following materials.

Routine cleaning, all Finishes

Cleaning Agent:          Soap or mild detergent water

Action:                         Sponge rinse with clean water, wipe dry as necessary

Fingerprints

Cleaning Agent:          Soap or warm water or organic solvent (acetone, alcohol, genclene)

Action:                         Rinse with Clean Water and wipe if necessary

Stubborn Stains and Discoloration, All Finishes

Cleaning Agent:          Mild cleaning solution or domestic service cleaners

Action:                         Rinse well with clean water and wipe dry

Oil, Grease Marks, all finishes 

Cleaning Agent:          Organic solvent (acetone, alcohol genclene, trichlorethane)

Action:                         Clean after with soap and water, rinse well with clean water and wipe dry

Rust and other corrosion products, stainless finishes

Cleaning Agent:          Oxalic Acid.  The Cleaning solution should be applied with swab and allowed to stand for 15 to 20 minutes before being washed away with water.  May continue using a domestic surface cleaner to give final clean.

Action;                         Rinse well with clean water (precautions for acid should be observed).

                                    Mirror scratches on Painted Surfaces

Cleaning Agent:          Lightly rub with cutting paste.  Rinse area with water and dry.

                                    Apply touch-up paint in fine layers.

Action:                         Allow two weeks to harden. Blend in surrounding paintwork, using fine cutting paste.

Deep Scratches on Paint Finishes Causing Rust

Cleaning Agent:          Remove rust with small sharp knife.  Apply rust inhabiting paint (red Oxide).  Fill scratch with fine body filler just under finished surface. Follow procedure for minor scratches.

Greasing

Engineers need to carry out this action during service visits

Annual Checks

Operation to be carried out with power supply disconnected.

• Check that the wire connectors are firmly attached.
• Check that the terminals are fully tightened.
• Check that the insulation of the wires is in good condition and that no conductors are exposed.
• Check the mechanism fittings; screw and encoder grub screws are tight.
• Carry out general testing as previously advised.

Electrical Circuits

No general maintenance is required apart from replacement fuses in the event of a failure.

General Components

Ensure all areas of assembly are kept clean.

Replacing the parts

Operations to be carried out with the power supply disconnected.

This artical publish on Aug 2017 edition: