Security and easy access do not usually go hand in hand in public garages. But with the help of parking barriers, you can combine convenience and safety in one efficient barricade.
Installing parking barriers has helped many business owners and establishments, particularly those that welcome a huge amount of vehicle traffic daily. These barriers ensure security and access and the organized flow of cars. Thus, it is a must-have addition to parking areas.
What Are Parking Barriers?
Serving as access control barriers, car park barriers, or parking barriers regulate vehicle flow. As its name suggests, it either allows or bars the vehicle from entering or leaving the parking lot.
You might see these barriers in big establishments and commercial buildings. Hospitals, shopping malls and other institutions often include parking barriers in their parking system because of the number of vehicles they cater to each day.
Sometimes, you can also see a parking barrier in a private parking space. This is to keep the area free from unauthorized access.
Manual vs Automatic Parking Barriers
Parking barriers can either be manual or automatic, depending on your choice. However, due to technological advancement and convenience, automatic parking barriers are the top choice nowadays.
Automatic parking barriers have more functionality and reliability than manual car park barriers. Electric barriers typically use intelligent software or systems to operate.
The access control system uses several methods like keypads, encoders, biometric scanning or intercoms to tell the barrier to open or close. Some more advanced parking barriers use plate recognition or car detection to operate properly.
Automatic parking barriers are best suited for places with high traffic. They are more convenient and give more security to the facility. However, they are more expensive to install. Most automatic barriers come in the form of road blockers, automated bollards and rising arm barriers.
Meanwhile, manual parking barriers do not need a power supply or control station. This is a straightforward approach to securing the parking lot by simply using a padlock system to open or lock the barrier in its open/close positions.
A manual parking barrier is more affordable to install. A manual barrier may be a good option if the area operates on less traffic. However, they are less convenient since it requires a person’s interference to actually work, and it does not provide a higher level of security.
How Does an Automatic Parking Barrier Work?
Parking barriers have three main parts: boom, control unit and motor.
The boom is the physical barrier at the gate that stops a vehicle from entering the parking garage or lot. The control unit serves as the central command that tells the boom to open or close depending on what it currently needs. The motor is the one that operates everything from the power source.
Benefits of Parking Barriers
Distracted driving is a very common occurrence in parking lots. Many drivers reported using devices for texting, programming GPS systems, and checking social media or emails while driving inside a parking area. These actions put safety at risk not only for them and their vehicles but for others too.
Installing parking barriers will make drivers more cautious about their surroundings and speed within the parking lot. Here are other benefits of parking barriers that are advantageous for traffic control, pedestrian safety and vehicle access within the parking facility.
Heightened Level of Security
The main reason why most facilities and establishments install parking barriers is the security level it offers. With a parking barrier in place, it prevents unauthorized access. Even when intruders enter the premises, it will be difficult for them to escape since the barrier also blocks the exit route.
Moreover, most parking barriers are reinforced with more security equipment, such as CCTV cameras, allowing you to see who enters and leaves the property.
Safe Parking Environment
Quite a lot of people believe that parking lots are a safe place to put down their guard. They become easily distracted, thinking cars are stationary in their parking spaces. Or simply because few cars are moving around.
Different types of parking barriers are the ideal solution for these distracted drivers. It makes them more aware and cautious of their surroundings because they will never want to cause damage to their vehicles by colliding with these barriers.
Organized Parking
Parking spaces inside a parking lot can get full easily. Without parking barriers in place, some people still drive inside an already jam-packed parking lot leading to unwanted traffic and commotion. Parking barriers help streamline vehicles in an orderly fashion to ensure that proper flow is practiced at all times.
Controlling the number of vehicles inside is more convenient with automatic parking barriers. This is because some automatic barriers can track the number of cars inside the vicinity. It automatically stops other vehicles from entering once it deems the parking facility full.
Types of Parking Barriers
The type of parking barrier to install depends on the parking situation of the facility. But whatever the case is, always ensure that the parking barriers installed have the durability and strength to prevent illegal access.
Here are the three most common types of parking barriers seen in public areas:
- Pressure-Activated Barriers. The barrier opens and closes as soon as it detects the vehicle’s weight close by.
- Human-Operated Barriers. Some may confuse this as a manual barrier because humans are needed to operate this type of barrier. However, it is still powered by a motor. The operator or attendant only has to verify the driver, passenger and vehicle. If it passes the verification process, the attendant clicks a button to raise and lower the lever barrier.
- Ticket-Activated Barriers. As vehicles enter the parking lot, a parking ticket is issued. The driver needs to insert the same ticket into a machine if they want to exit the parking lot.
Parking Stops vs Bollards
Parking or wheel stops are the horizontal barriers you can find on the ground that stop the car from moving forward. It prevents the car from taking the area of the opposite parking space or hitting the wall or posts.
Bollards, on the other hand, are sturdy and vertical posts erected from the ground. Normally used to direct traffic or hold up signs, bollards also function as protective barriers for buildings and other installations.
Parking Barriers
Parking barriers protect vehicles and tenants within the parking lot. Installing parking barriers is a huge part of innovative parking solutions for reducing traffic and enhancing urban mobility.
If you want high-quality and reliable parking barrier gates, feel free to touch base with us at All Security Equipment! We provide a wide range of parking barrier gate products from trustworthy brands like LiftMaster, FAAC and Hysecurity.
