How to Choose the Right Access Controls for Your Gate Installation
- Graft Gate Supply
- Oct 13, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 1
The access controls you select for a gate application are not one-size-fits-all — they depend on who needs access, how often, and whether the site has network connectivity.
A residential driveway gate and a commercial parking facility gate may use the same operator, but the access control systems for each look completely different. Getting this right is one of the most important parts of specifying a gate system.
This guide walks through three common application scenarios and the access control solutions that work best for each. If you are an installer quoting a gate project and working through which hardware to recommend, this is a practical starting point.
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Graft Gate Supply can help you specify the right access control hardware for any gate application in Ontario
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What Is an Access Control System?
An access control system is the combination of hardware that determines who can open a gate and how they do it. It includes the devices that grant or deny entry — transmitters, keypads, proximity readers, intercoms, and smartphone apps — as well as the wiring and control inputs that connect those devices to the gate operator.
Access control is not an afterthought. It defines the user experience for everyone who interacts with the gate every day. A poorly specified access control system creates frustration for residents, confusion for visitors, and service calls for you. A well-specified system runs without intervention and satisfies the site's security requirements from day one.
The questions that drive the specification are straightforward:
Who needs access — residents, employees, visitors, or all three?
How many users need access?
Is network connectivity (Wi-Fi or LAN) available at the gate location?
Does the client need to manage access remotely?
How should visitors request entry?
The answers to these questions determine which combination of hardware fits the application.
Scenario #1: If the gate is at the end of a residential driveway
A gate at the end of a residential driveway functions as the front door of the property. The homeowner needs secure, reliable access to open the gate from their vehicle or from inside the house. Visitors need a way to announce themselves and request entry.
For the homeowner, the best solution is a combination of the SEA LADYBUG transmitter and the SEA CLOUD smartphone app. The LADYBUG transmitter is a key fob the client keeps in their vehicle — one button press opens the gate as they approach. The SEA CLOUD app connects to the gate system over the internet and allows the homeowner to open the gate from their phone, from anywhere. This is especially useful for letting in delivery vehicles, contractors, or family members when the client is not home.
For visitor entry, the DoorBird D2101KV IP Video Door Station is the right fit. The DoorBird mounts at the gate post and acts like a doorbell. When a visitor presses the call button, the DoorBird sends a notification to the homeowner's phone or tablet through the DoorBird app. The homeowner can see a live video feed of the visitor and unlock the gate remotely with one tap — from anywhere in the world. The DoorBird D2101KV also includes a built-in keypad, so the homeowner can issue an entry code to trusted visitors like housekeepers or regular service providers.
This combination — LADYBUG transmitter, SEA CLOUD app, and DoorBird video intercom — covers the full range of access scenarios for a residential driveway gate without requiring any complex infrastructure.
Scenario #2: If the gate restricts access to a backyard or laneway
When a gate restricts access to only a portion of the property — a backyard, side yard, or rear laneway — the access control requirements shift slightly. The front of the property remains accessible, so visitors can still reach the front door. The gate in this scenario is primarily for resident use, with occasional need for visitor access.
The SEA LADYBUG transmitter and SEA CLOUD smartphone app remain the right solution for resident access. Residents need a reliable, hands-free way to open the gate from their vehicle or on foot, and these two products deliver that.
For pedestrian traffic — residents or guests entering on foot — a keypad mounted to the gate post is a practical addition. The resident programs an entry code and shares it with those who need regular access, such as neighbours with permission to use the yard or service providers who visit on a schedule.
For visitor notification, the DoorBird D1101V IP Video Door Station installs at the front door and functions as a video doorbell for the house. When a visitor arrives at the front door, they press the call button.
The resident receives the notification on their phone, views the live video, and can remotely unlock the gate at the rear of the property if the visitor needs access to that area. This setup keeps the visitor at the front of the property while giving the resident full control over rear gate access.
The key distinction in this scenario is that visitor management happens at the front door, not at the gate itself. The gate access control focuses on resident convenience, and the video intercom handles visitor verification from a separate location on the property.
Scenario #3: If the gate controls entry to a commercial or industrial property
Commercial and industrial properties install gates to control access to specific areas — employee parking separated from visitor parking, a storage yard at the rear of a building, a loading dock with restricted entry, or a fenced compound. These sites have multiple users, defined access hours, and a need to track and manage who enters.
The right solution for most commercial applications is the DoorBird D2101KV IP Video Door Station with RFID reader. This unit combines a video intercom, a keypad, and a proximity card reader in one housing. The RFID reader reads proximity tags — small cards or fobs issued to authorized employees or tenants — and triggers the gate operator when a valid tag is presented.
The DoorBird D2101KV allows you to schedule access windows within the system. For example, employee tags can be programmed to work only between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM on weekdays. Outside those hours, the tags do not grant access and the gate remains closed. This is a practical feature for businesses that do not operate 24 hours but need controlled access during business hours.
For visitors or deliveries, the call button on the DoorBird connects to a designated phone, tablet, or internal receiver inside the building. A receptionist or site manager answers the call, verifies the visitor on the video feed, and grants access remotely. No staff needs to walk to the gate.
For larger commercial sites with multiple access points or a high volume of users, a more advanced access management platform may be appropriate — one that stores user credentials in a central database and generates access logs. This is worth discussing with the client during the quoting stage, particularly if they have compliance requirements around site access records.
The access control hardware alone does not complete the system. On commercial applications, you will also need to account for:
Inductive loop detectors for vehicle detection at the gate
A secure, weatherproof enclosure for the control unit
Conduit runs for power and data cabling between devices
Backup power supply if the site requires 24-hour gate operation
Get Hardware for Your Gate Project from Graft Gate Supply
Graft Gate Supply supplies access control hardware for residential, commercial, and industrial gate applications across Ontario.
We carry DoorBird video intercoms, SEA LADYBUG transmitters, SEA CLOUD connectivity hardware, proximity readers, keypads, and the full range of gate automation equipment to support your installation.
If you are working through the access control spec for a current project, contact our team today. Call or email — we will help you identify the right products and get a quote together quickly.
Contact Graft Gate Supply by email at sales@graftgates.com, or call 905-874-3297
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