Telescopic gates are designed to allow a sliding gate to take up less space to the side of the opening. This is ideal where a conventional sliding space will not work, as there is not enough space for the gate to slide into.
As you will see in the video below we have created a system which affords a 5500mm gate to slide into a space of only 3200mm.
Telescopic sliding gates work by individual sections of a gate that are linked together and overlap each other as the gate opens to cover a larger opening.
As with all any other type of automatic gates system there will always be a degree of customisation, so therefore many of the technical components will vary, the size, specification of materials and visual appearance will always be different from project to project to ensure the operational and aesthetic requirements of the site are fully met.
Technical factors that need to be considered are; level of security, usage, safety, integrating access control system and combining this with aesthetics and ease of use.
Here are 3 advantages and disadvantages of a telescopic sliding gate system.
Advantages-
Space- A telescopic gate will open into a space smaller than the entrance to which it is positioned. This is idea when a conventional sliding gate does not have enough space or parking space is limited and swing gate will not work.
Speed- Telescopic gates move open and close very quickly. A lot of consideration needs to be paid towards gate safety (below).
Security- Another advantage of telescopic gates are that they move incredibly quickly and cannot be forced open without exceptional leverage.
Disadvantages-
Ground levels- An important consideration when deciding if a telescopic gate is suitable for the entrance is how the level the ground is, or can be made to be. As the system uses a track it is essential that the telescopic gate runs on a on level ground. We are currently working on a cantilevered telescopic gate system to overcome this issue and we will post updates when this has been mastered.
Safety- If not set up correctly telescopic gates have the potential very dangerous. We will not fit railheads (spikes) on the top of the gate- because the telescopic sliding gate effectively becomes a giant hedge trimmer! We will also need to sheet the gate, open bars are not recommend at all because any body part that comes between the bars will be harmed when opening. It is possible to have an open bar design with the use of laser safety curtain.
Costs- Telescopic Gates are technically very challenging, this is not job for your average gate installer. A lot of time needs to go into the design process and they twice as long to install due to nature of setting up the drive system, linkages, 2 x tracks and all the additional safety required. The system will also require an upgraded motor and will need regular maintenance as the tension cable will require adjustment. Ordinarily we build the system in our factory and test it, then disassemble and reassemble on a customers entrance. Due to the amount of work & material cost involved we do not install telescopic sliding gates for less than £15,000+ VAT
Often clients underestimate the cost of automating an existing gate. They tell us they search on the internet for a cheap gate automation kit for £300 then look for an electrician from Check-a-Trade to fit it in a day, for a few hundred pounds… bingo problem solved! Not exactly….
Their gate system might last for a couple of weeks before it all goes wrong, they then call us to come and rip everything out to start again! In most cases, the electric gate system will not even be legal and worst case it is highly dangerous!
The gate automation kit price only makes up a percentage of the total cost and the cheapest kits are usually the most expensive in the long term.
First and foremost, there are labour costs; we respect electricians greatly however the electrical elements are only part of the job. It takes at least 5 years’ practical experience to be a qualified gate engineer.
Any true gate engineer will have all of the following skills and experience-
Industry approved training course qualification pass (DHF, Gate Safe, Etc.)
System design knowledge and assessment
Awareness of Standards & Regulations
Health & Safety procedures and practices
Risk reviewing for safe system operation and advice
Fault finding and rectification skills
Electrical competency & regulations
Ground works
Civil & Structural engineering skills
Landscaping and Drainage experience
Light building & Building Regulations
Fabrication, Erection and Welding
Mechanical engineering skills
Mathematics i.e. gate geometry, weight calculations
Hydraulics & Pneumatic’s
Carpentry & Joinery
Qualified and certified by all major automation brands- BFT, CAME, FAAC, Nice, Beninca.
Wide knowledge of Industry products, procedures & best options
Commissioning procedures and system maintenance
Access control & telecommunications interface
Audio & video, CCTV
Associated products & services, lighting, alarms
Making good & decoration
Computer literacy
First aid
Customer liaison & training
Technical file creation & management
On top of all this- be respectful, happy, friendly and prepared to work outside in all weathers!
These requirements vary depending on the complexity of the project but all our gate engineers are trained and ready for anything- and as you can imagine gate engineers with these skills are hard to find and command good salaries.
It requires over £5,000 worth of specialist tools to carry out most gate installations. We are constantly buying tools due to the high demands placed on them working outside in all temperatures and conditions!
Before work is carried out legally the qualified gate installation company have to carry out a detailed risk assessment, point loading calculations and a execute a full site survey.
Next, the equipment must be purchased. Here follows a typical list of components/costs required to automate a gate (excluding the automation kit which can run in at over £1000 alone):
Electrical enclosure / Cabinet
Junction boxes
Adaptable conduit
Armoured termination glands
Cable cleats and ties
Safety edges, receiver- its worth noting in some cases (particularly electric sliding gates) the safety equipment costs to make the gates legally compliant can amount to more than the gate automation costs!
Direct burial data cable
SWA cable (armoured)
Flexible power cable
Concrete
Ballast
Sheet metal for modifications
Adjustable hinges
Gate stops
Ducting
Clips, bolts, fixings
Resin, Silicon, Grease
Disposable items such as welding rods, cutting disc’s and diamond blades.
Disposal of waste from site (skip on site)
Fuel to from site
Parking/Congestion charges
Allowance in cost for warranty return visits
Delivery charges.
All this is without standard business over heads such as insurance, office costs, rates, vehicles, tools, advertising, accreditation’s, transportation and admin, accounts and sales staff costs etc!
In most cases this type of work takes 2-3 days on site and requires 2 engineers as the gates have to be lifted. There is also a lot of time consuming off site work such as planning the installation, ordering the materials, client liaison and document control.
Once the installation has been completed, we then carry out extensive testing, we have to force test the gates and complete a technical file, CE Mark the gates and provide a 2 year warranty.
Only then are we happy to carry out a demonstration, handover, with controls, to the client.
We hope this goes a little way to explaining everything we need to do, The words ‘cheap’ and ‘electric gates’ have never been in the same sentence! However, if done well, automated gates will be convenient, secure, safe and well worth the investment.
Therefore, if Renzland Powergates Ltd are £2000 more than a jobbing electrician prepared to try his hand at electric gates, you can be sure you are getting £2,000+ more of a job.
Domestic owners of electric gates are advised to keep them in a safe condition or face the possibility of being sued for negligence should anything goes wrong. An automatic gate is a machine and like any other, it poses potential risks to children and adults alike.
In 2006, the first of a series of high profile child deaths associated with electric gates occurred, followed by the watershed moment in 2010 when two children died in separate automatic gate incidents in the same week.
In 2014, two companies associated with one of the 2010 tragic child death incidents were convicted of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. Interestingly, the companies that were prosecuted were not the original electric gate installers but those who had been involved in repair and maintenance of the automatic gate since installation. Understandably today, those involved in repair and maintenance of electric gates are very cautious about the safety of systems they repair or maintain. We have a care of duty to inform clients of potential legal ramifications.
Most serious injuries and fatalities occur by structural failure. Over the course of time, welds rust and fail, fixings become loose and foundations move. We were recently asked to attend a site where a heavy automatic metal gate fell on to a delivery driver waiting at the gates with a package. The gate was not fitted by us. The collapse occurred because expanding anchors (not rated for brickwork) used to fix the hinge had been installed in successive mortar layers which eventually forced the bricks apart. This should have been identified by a competent electric gate engineer during a service visit and rectified. The customer is currently being pursued in court as it is viewed that the homeowner had failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that the gate was in a fit state of repair.
Unfortunately, the homeowner’s insurance company will not cover this claim as the pursuer’s injury, loss and damage were as a result of the defender’s failures and compensation in excess of £225,000 is expected.
The laws affecting the manufacture and installation of new and extensively modified powered gates come from three differing sources: 1. European Law – CE marking and fair trade legislation; 2. National statutes – health and safety laws; 3. Common Law – negligence.
Regular serving and maintenance will ensure- – The system works as designed; – All elements are secure; – The electrical system is safe; – Safe clearances are achieved; – All safety devices work; – That forces are safe; – The risk assessment was valid; – That hazard control measures have worked
The first stage of the process should be a visual inspection to ensure that:
– All welding, nuts bolts, fixings and foundations are secure; – Travel stops are secure and resilient (even when used in manual); – Guides, rollers and hinges are secure and resistant to single fault failure; – Guards are secure and effective; – Safety distances are achieved; – Cabling is secure and protected mechanically; – Earth connections present and tight; – Wire terminations correct and secure; – All cable entries are sealed; – Enclosures are sealed; – Warning signs are in place.
The next stage is to do some testing:
Electrical tests – polarity, continuity, insulation, earth fault loop, RCD function etc. Functional tests of all elements:
– Limit switches; – Photo cells; – Loop detectors operating the correct command; – Intercoms, keypads, key switches, buttons, transmitters etc. operating the correct command; – Safety device function and response. – Condition of all cabling and junction box’s; – Security and effectiveness of all earth connections; – Security of all wire terminations; – Torque setting on control unit (99%); – Condition of photo cells internally and externally; – Sealing of photo cell covers and cable entry; – Sealing of control unit cover and cable entries; – Overall gate structure and plumb of hinges; – Overall condition of rams; – Condition of all safety edges.
This is not intended as a definitive list but it does indicate the level of detail required. In most cases this must be accompanied by some specification detail for oils, greases and reference to any component specific manuals necessary to assist with the process.
– Regulation 18 requires that workplace owners ensure their gate systems are safe and regulation 5 requires that they follow a system of planned preventative maintenance to keep the gate safe.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
– Section 3 places a responsibility on landlords and managing agents keep gates safe for tenants and other users; essentially follow a system of planned preventative maintenance.
– The 1974 act also applies to workplace owners in tandem with the Workplace Regulations.
Negligence
This is common law (Roman law in Scotland) and means that any person who by their action or inaction causes injury to persons or damage to property may be sued in a civil action for damages. Hence anyone with responsibilities for powered gates could be affected. There is no criminal responsibility for a domestic owner of a powered gate, they along with everyone else could face civil action for negligence should anything go wrong.
Here at Renzland Powergates Ltd, we appreciate the importance of detail. Over the following page you’ll find a breakdown optional equipment, as well as details of the comprehensive services and benefits that are available to every Renzland client on all new electric gate installations.
Induction loop vehicle exit
automatic gate exit induction loop
So, have you ever wondered how electric gates open or close automatically when a car passes over? Probably not- but just so you can bore your friends at the pub, it is done by fitting a copper cable under the driveway linked to a detector, programmed to the gate control board. Still awake? Good! The induction loop creates a magnetic field. The gates will automatically open when a car/motorbike passes over the loop, as the metal in the vehicle is detected which triggers the gates to open .
The cable will be fitted into a protective outer casing, buried into your driveway. This system is permanently active, however, at additional cost (around £80) it can be controlled during pre-determined times via a timer or turned off by a key switch. The cost includes labour of re-instating the driveway- please note we charge an additional £50 labour for block driveways as it is more labour intensive and time consuming ensuring the blocks are left exactly how we found them.
This also works on bicycles, so please think carefully about this option if you have young children using push bikes on your driveway (or hostages with metal legs that want to escape!)
Extra Gate remote controls (fobs, clickers, zappers!)
electric gate remotes
Your electric gate system will come with two stylish and robust remote controls. If you require extra remotes, please select colour and number of buttons required. Each member of the family can have a different coloured remote control, therefore no more arguments over who lost a remote, which are always counter productive to a happy family life!
Battery Back Up
gate battery back up
FREE ON ALL ORDERS OVER £10k. In the event of a power cut the battery back up will open/close the electric gates up to a maximum of 25 cycles*. The battery will recharge once power is restored.
Power cuts always happen during the worst possible time! “It’s really fun spending 20 minutes frantically looking for my driveway gate release key, then manually releasing my electric gates at 3am in the pouring rain, when I’m late for a flight” … said no-one, ever… Add this to your order to enhance your chi.
*Varies depending on size/weight of gates. Only compatible with 24v Gate systems.
Hi Gain- Antenna
As standard the electric gate system has a built in aerial which is good for a range of 30-50 meters depending on line of sight and atmospheric conditions. This is an additional antenna to improve and extend the range of the remote controls in rural or built up areas.
Extra Pair of Safety Sensors
Additional rear safety sensors (pictured above as item 4 – the bottom red beam). This prevents electric gates closing on cars parked within the arc/swing of the gates. Item 3 (the top red beam pictured between gate posts) comes as standard.
Extended 5 Year Warranty
5-year gate warranty
Extended 5 Year Warranty- Priority Call Out response 2 x Annual Service (Minimum) Unlimited Call Outs and no labour charges No parts charges including cabling Personal Account Manager Risk Assessment & Advice 25% Discount on additional services Remote gate monitoring Legal Protection Insurance
Hi-Speed Gate Motors
fast gate motors
The fastest electric gate motors available on the market-
This option is subject to our recommendations and site conditions. It is a high security/commercial grade solution and not recommended on softwood products or family residential homes.
The perfect solution where rapid opening and closing manoeuvres are required, ensuring the shortest waiting time and the maximum security. You can have fast opening/slow closing and vice versa.
90° opening in about 8 seconds…(swing gates)
Click here for more information or see video below
Telguard GSM Intercom
gsm gate intercom
Premium Quality GSM intercom crafted from marine grade stainless steel.
Control your automatic gates from anywhere in the world. No internal wiring or redecoration as your land line phones are usually already in the most convenient place! Saves additional cost of remote controls, handsets, cabling, redecoration and fitting charge . The call can even be diverted to multiple owners.
Enjoy increased security, as your visitor will be unaware whether you are home or not… ideal for those early mornings when you have uninvited in-laws or annoying door-to-door sales people visiting you. You can accept deliveries when not home, or even dial in to latch your gate open. Programming, faults and diagnostics available are in real-time, remotely reducing engineer visits.
FREE ENGRAVING! For a personal touch, the unit can be engraved with your house name which we will do for free because we love crafting bespoke products 😉
Wireless Intercom (Audio only and Audio visual available)
aes wireless intercom
A high quality wireless intercom with a very long range; would be suitable for most residential and commercial properties. With extra handsets, you can use this as an internal intercom too. However, please bear in mind that adding more than two handsets will be cost comparable to a GSM system (which has more functionality).
The external front panel has a neon blue back light for night time and is made from marine grade stainless steel with a toughened gloss acrylic front.
This premium version of the AES 603 DECT Wireless Kit includes a built in, illuminated keypad for access control via a numerical code, so you can grant access to friends and family without them disturbing you.
Another benefit for you, is the voice mail feature on the handset, meaning that when you return home you can check if you’ve missed anyone. You will never miss a call at your automatic gate again!
External keypad entry system to open the electric gates. Stores up to 99 codes. The keypad also illuminates at night. Really handy if you forget your gate remote when putting the bins out or you do not want to give children, gardeners or butlers a remote!
2 Bonus options!
LED Lighting
wall lights
A sleek contemporary light design to compliment your new automatic gate system.
The light can act as a warning flashing light, or provide ambient lighting like a fixed courtesy light when the gates open. When connected to a 12/24 Vac/Vdc output, the light can remain permanently lit, and also be activated at dusk to then turn off at dawn thanks to the integrated dusk sensor. The lights can even be turned on/off using your gate remote control.
Optimal efficiency, extra long life: the two 1 W-LED’s guarantee a lifetime of 70,000 hours (continuous use).
Horizontal, wall or ceiling mounting: combined with the possibility of orienting the light beam and compact dimensions of the IP44 box, use is even more flexible
Price includes fitting, cabling, protective ducting, ancillary components and power supply.
Touch Screen Interface
gate control touch screen
Internal touch screen automatic gate and light controls-
Management of timed controls through the built-in weekly and hourly programme, fault finding display, speed, open delay and light settings.
Another high end installation by Renzland Powergates Ltd in East Sheen / Richmond, Surrey.
We pride ourselves on delivering high quality custom designed gates and railings. We have a range of standard designs but can create and install exquisite bespoke wrought iron and metalwork to the client’s exact requirements. We can also custom make our own unique rail heads and components for one of a kind gates in our workshop in Essex- for the kind of high end craftsman ship we deliver you’ll find our rates highly competitive.
As you will see from the pictures below the bricks were specially sourced to create a distinctive contrast the house face bricks, the gates were painted grey to match the timber window frames on the house.
This East Sheen gate installation installation was completed with a high end access control system and heavy duty hydraulic gate motors.
Before electric gates Newdigate, SurreyAfter Wooden Gates Newdigate Surrey
Here is another timber electric gate installation in Newdigate, Surrey by Renzland Powergates Ltd.
The client wanted a driveway gate design that both afforded privacy and fitted in well with the natural rural environment. Timber gates were the obvious choice. It should be noted that timber electric gates in a quality hardwood such as Oak or Iroko are usually more expensive and labour intensive to fit than metal counterparts.
An open top with closed board bottom design was chosen, the bottom is closed board offering privacy against passing traffic but the open bars at the top allow natural light and don’t close off the outside world completely. The gates and matching side panel were hung from huge 250mm oak posts. As the posts were oak and the gates were Iroko species of timber the colours would not match so they were both stained so the colour difference was minimal and not noticeable. Click here for a relevant article on which species timber is best to use on wooden automatic gates.
Once point loading calculations were formulated, the footings were dug to a precise depth. A large concrete base was installed and left to harden off before the posts were installed, so the oak posts would not sink into the clay below the footings.
CAD design for timber gates
As these are wind affected gates, heavy duty FAAC hydraulic ram arms were selected. The hydraulic operator requires little maintenance and is low on electrical power consumption. The hydraulic device ensures maximum anti-crushing protection however for additional safety and to comply with safety regulations safety edges were fitted to the hinge edge of the gates to avoid dangerous finger trapping. When automating close board gates also strongly recommend hydraulic gate automation as it is more powerful, faster and is generally built to much higher engineering standards than electro-mechanical gate automation. The automation was also linked with the garage door operator so the client could open both the electric gates and garage door with the same remote control.
Custom made hinges were made, and a post box was fitted to the side panel. Up/down lighters were fitted to the gate posts, along with a GSM access control system. The ground works team will be installing a new driveway over the next few weeks and we will update the photos.
customer review feedback coming soon-
Price Guide with letter box, and lights £10,000 + VAT
Here is a recent electric gate installation of a carriage driveway in Essex. Renzland Powergates Ltd enjoys unrivalled reputation throughout the South East for quality and precision in luxury gate making.
As the brick piers were already under construction by others – The larger (main) opening was almost 5000mm wide (the smaller 3500mm) therefore we had to formulate a design that worked equally well on both entrances and framed the brick piers without dominating them.
Designing gates that work well on piers that reduce in size is tricky due to side gaps being larger at the top than the bottom (bell core). Therefore David Viera- Project Director designed gates that offered both a horizontal bar so the gates would fully opening without touching the pier caps, and also rise in the middle creating a subtle curve which gave the whole entrance a nice balance and a striking visual identity. Attention to detail was placed on the hinge positions to avoid the stone work and the end scrolls were custom made to sit exactly within the curvature of the pier caps which also to the eye subtly reduced the side gap. Further subtle skillfully crafted details were designed into the gates such a shadow bar at the top of the gates, custom made finials and even the slam plate was reversed to give a better aesthetic balance from from the front our mission is to create a symphony of precision.
The gates were hot zinc sprayed and powder coated in a special silk matt finish. Hydraulic underground motors were chosen due to there faster operating speed and more powerful capabilities. We design and build gate systems to last for 20 years +
This electric gates installation project in Essex was carried out in tandem with the next door neighbour the case study can be found here-
Price guide- both entrances £19,000
Why choose us for electric gates in Essex?
Our bespoke gates are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige- to us gates are a work of art- buy an original masterpiece, not a cheap imitation.
Our reference-
Mrs R – Essex
Many thanks for all your hard work, attention to detail and friendly helpful service, The gates are absolutely perfect and we’ve forgotten how things looked before! We’re really pleased with the gates and they’re working brilliantly, We’ve had lots of good comments and I’ve noticed lots of people stopping to look at them.Hope you have a great Christmas and a relaxing break I love the gates so much I want to go out and put tinsel on them!
If you are looking for a unique way to light your gated driveway entrance why now consider our energy efficient and unique gate pier lights?
Our stylish pier cap ball lights are perfect for entrances and driveways. The “balls” are made from fibreglass and resin, they are then hand painted to look like stone during the day, and give a subtle lighting effect at night. The balls can be customised to match or tone with existing masonry and brickwork.
The lights will be designed as part of your Renzland Powergates Ltd CAD package, prior to your electric gate installation and we also have demo lights, so you can decide if this lighting scene looks right on your property before going ahead.
We hope you find just what you are looking for in this website, but if not, and you feel we can help, please do get in touch either by email or phone. We would love to hear from you.
The ball is hand painted to resemble stone- Available in ‘Sandstone’, ‘Weathered Stone’ , white’ and ‘Dark Granite’ finishes
This is a recent electric swing gate installation carried out by Renzland Powergates Ltd in Ripley, Surrey (located on Guildford Road between Woking and Lightwater )
The brick wall to the entrance was modified to accommodate the new gates and give the client an additional pedestrian gate and railings. As the driveway is on an inclined hill, precise ground works were carried out ensure the gate ran smoothly and level whilst not compromising on aesthetics. The tarmac drive was sympathetically repaired after the alterations had taken place.
For additional security the swing gate was fitted with an electric lock with a 800kg holding force this will ensure the gate cannot be forced open causing potential damage to the motors or rattle during strong winds.
As a gesture of good will, we fitted the pedestrian gate with a gas closer free of charge to ensure the gate is always closed so their children and the family dog cannot run out on to the busy road.
Our client is delighted with the new gates and railings and not only has it ensured the entrance is safe and secure for the family, it has also transformed the appearance to the front of the property adding value to their home.
On some occasions due to the driveway layout or gradient, it is not possible to install a standard swing or sliding electric gate- this could be because there is an incline or not sufficient space for a sliding gate to work.
In this scenario a bi-folding gate could be the ideal solution. Due to minimal leaf swing arc – 25% of effective aperture or 50% for a folding gate, this prevents the gate being in the open position obscuring car park spaces, access doors etc and enables the gates to swing over raising gradients to the secure side of the folding gate, this makes it easy for vehicles to drive around the open gate leaf, reducing the risk of impact damage.
We can design, build and install any folding or bi-folding gate of your choice in timber, metal or wrought iron the gate in the picture was designed and built to compliment the house and garage door. Please note bi-folding or folding gates are significantly more expensive than a standard swing gate installation our prices start at £10,000 . The system requires a hydraulic gate operator for very intensive use and a lot of additional gate safety devices to ensure no one can become trapped or crushed by the folding gates. The installation of a folding or bi-folding gate system is more involved than other types of electric gate systems as it has to have more design time, civil engineering done at the initial stage and requires precise below ground steel work, custom made hinges and exact geometry worked out- this is certainly not a task for a DIY enthusiast or even an average gate installer.
Would you would like fast opening and closing cycle time? –you got it, 5-10 seconds. Due the line motion of opening folding gates are also very secure and vertically impossible to force open without exceptional force
Here is a video of a automaticbi-folding gate we designed and fitted in Ascot, Berkshire it uses a tracked based system without the need for rollers.
We also cater for hi-speed bi folding gates for commercial properties which require a higher duty cycle for busy entrances. If you have a property in London, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire or Essex and would like free advice or a quotation for a folding or bi-folding electric gates we are one of the very best gate installation companies in country, please contact us today to find out why.
Our client previously installed a traffic management system in the form of parking barriers to its private car park; however it was poorly set up and did not offer the level of access control and security the client required.
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