If you own a commercial or residential property with a private car park, then you might consider adding automatic barriers. But when are automatic barriers actually required? Well, there's no law that states you have to have automatic traffic barriers to control vehicles on your property, but we still think they're a great investment. Here are a few scenarios where you might find a traffic barrier useful.

Outside a block of flats

If you own a residential block of flats, you might consider adding an automatic barrier so that occupants can park their cars securely. There's nothing worse than getting home from a long day of work to realise that someone has parked in your spot. An automatic barrier ensures that only people with the access code can use the parking spaces. 

Automated barriers with access codes or passwords are ideal for residential areas because they still allow some flexibility as well as a high level of security. On the one hand, they stop random shop-goers from using the parking spaces and inconveniencing residents, but on the other hand, the access code can be given to friends and family so they can park on-site when they visit. So, if you want to make your residential property more secure (but easily accessible to those who live there) automatic barriers are a great option.

In your workplace car park

Business owners everywhere know that on-site parking can be a struggle. If you've got a designated area for employees to park, you could separate this from the 'general' car park using an automatic barrier. This allows customers or clients to park in the available spaces while ensuring that there will always be plenty of spots for your workers. Adding an automatic vehicle barrier outside your workplace can help ensure that employees get to work on time and will keep their vehicles secure while they're working. 

All you have to do is give the access code to your employees. When someone leaves the company, you can easily change the access code to prevent them from parking on-site in future. There are lots of benefits that come with installing an automatic barrier outside a workplace, so if you don't have one yet - we'd recommend looking into it.

What types of automatic security barriers are available?

There are a wide variety of automatic security barriers on the market, you simply have to choose the ones that suit your requirements best. We can provide:

• Access controlled gates (ideal for residential areas)
• Rising bollards (to block vehicle access on private roads)
• Traditional traffic barriers/car barriers (like the ones shown above)

How can IDS Security help?

If you've been thinking about adding automatic barriers to your business (or anywhere else on your property for that matter) the expert team at IDS Security can help you. We offer a selection of effective traffic barriers that are easy to operate. We work with reputable suppliers including CAME and FAAC, so you know you're in good hands. We have years of experience in installing and maintaining automatic security barriers - we can even help you decide on the best location to install them!

Visit our automatic security barriers page to find out more about the vehicle and pedestrian barriers we offer. If you're ready to start the installation process, you can request a survey and one of our friendly technicians will be in touch.

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As a business owner, it is your responsibility to keep your employees safe. Part of that responsibility includes conducting fire drills. Being proactive about fire safety in the workplace is not just an activity that we recommend you do, it's required by law. If you take a look at the fire safety regulations outlined by the UK government, they state that you must have appropriate fire detection and warning equipment on site. In addition, you should have fire fighting equipment that staff members know how to use, and it should be tested and maintained regularly. 

What fire checks should I do?

• Ensure that all of your fire alarm systems are working. This includes fire detection and alarm equipment.
• Check that emergency lights that guide employees to the fire exists are working.
• Make a note of any faults you find and have them fixed as soon as possible.
• Ensure that all fire escapes are free from obstruction and easily accessible.
• Check that all automatic fire doors close correctly.
• Make sure there are fire exit signs in all the relevant places.

How often should we do a fire drill?

The government recommends that all businesses carry out at least one fire drill per year. Once completed, a record should be made to show that everyone in the business at that time took part in the drill. If a fire did occur and there was no record to show that you'd provided the necessary training, you could be held legally accountable for injuries that occur as a result of the fire.

What if we have a high turnover?

When new staff members join your business, they have no idea what your fire safety plan is, it's your responsibility to make sure that they can access it right away. This could include keeping maps, signs and instructions pinned up in a number of places around the workplace. If you have a period where a lot of new people join the business, you may want to conduct an additional fire drill to make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire. The inconvenience of doing a fire drill is nothing in comparison to the guilt you'd feel if one of your staff members was unsure what to do during a fire.

Which places need to do fire drills more often?

There are some places, like schools, nurseries and care homes, where fire drills should be conducted multiple times a year. This helps the young and vulnerable to learn the processes and gives the staff an opportunity to highlight potential problems that could arise in a real-life situation. It's also important that if you take on members of staff with additional needs, for example, wheelchair users, that you adjust your fire drills and procedures accordingly.

How can IDS Security help me?

Here at IDS Security, we have years of experience helping all kinds of businesses make their premises fire safe. We offer a wide range of fire detection and alarm systems and we can even advise on the best equipment for you! We know that lots of business owners have a hard time assessing their own premises highlighting the most vulnerable places and deciding where to install sensors. We can help with all of that. All you have to do is get in touch!

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Read More: Your COVID-19 Fire Safety Questions Answered

Door entry systems can be used in residential or business premises to control the flow of people. They're great if you need to grant access to certain people (eg. employees) while preventing other people (eg. delivery men) from wandering in unannounced.

We've noticed that a lot of people are adding a door entry system in the wake of COVID-19. During this unsettling time, it's really important you can monitor and control the people coming in and out of your buildings.

One question we often get asked is - how do door entry systems work? The answer to this question truly depends on the door entry system you choose. Here at IDS Security, we offer a wide range of door access systems to suit a number of different requirements.

Popular types of door entry systems

When choosing a door entry system, you need to consider a few things. Who are the people that need access to the building & what type of system is most convenient to them? Who are the people you're trying to keep out & what level of security do you need?

Based on your answers to these questions, you can choose a door entry system that's both convenient and secure. Here are some of the most popular types of door entry systems:

• Biometric
• Fob activated
• Card reader
• Keypad

How do these door entry systems work?

Biometric Door Entry Systems

Biometric door entry systems rely on physical body parts to gain access. This could be anything from a fingerprint, to a handprint or even a retinal scanner! Generally, these types of door entry systems are used in high-security places when it's vital that only a select few people (identified by their biometrics) can be granted access.

Fob Activated Door Entry Systems

These door entry systems are quite common, and grant access to people who are provided with a fob. This is usually stored on a keyring so it can be accessed easily. We often see these door entry systems installed at apartment complexes, eg. student accommodation.

Fobs can be used to open multiple doors and gates, making it easy for occupiers to access all of the spaces they need without having to carry multiple different keys.

Card Reader Door Entry Systems

Card reader door entry systems are very similar to fob entry systems. Instead of a fob, people can carry a card to gain access to different areas. We often see these being used in hospital buildings, for example, where certain members of staff need access to different wards and rooms.

Keypad Door Entry Systems

Keypad door entry systems work by inputting a code or password. Users who know the code or password are granted access. We often see this type of door entry system installed in private car parks or apartment buildings. 

One of the key benefits (and downsides) of this door entry system is that the code or password can be shared with other people. This is great if you live in an apartment and want to grant access to visitors. All you need to do is tell them the password and they can do the rest themselves.

Of course, if the code or password gets into the wrong hands, it can mean unwanted people have access to the premises. To prevent this from happening, you could pair a keypad door entry system with biometrics or a fob.

If you're interested in adding a door access system to your home or business premises, the IDS Security team can help. We have years of experience installing all different types of door entry systems, so we can help you find the right one for you.

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