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Can You Open Your Gate When the Power Goes Out?March 17th, 2015

What’s your first thought when your power goes out?

Darn, can’t:

  • Use the internet
  • Watch TV
  • Cook supper
  • See anything

Well, what can you do instead?

Maybe you can go out to a movie. But you own an automatic driveway gate, and you have just one little problem: how do you open it without any power?

You SHOULD Be Able to Open Your Gate if You Hired J&J or a Competent Contractor

We can’t make any promises if we didn’t install your gate. Other contractors may do shoddy work, and you might just be trapped at home until the power comes back on.

And did you think about what emergency vehicles might have to do if they need access? If you can’t open your gate for them, they pull it down.

But, assuming you had us, or another good contractor install your gate, you will be able to open it.

This works a few different ways:

  1. The gate automatically opens and stays that way until you have power again
  2. Backup power keeps it working like normal, until that runs out. Then your gate opens automatically until you have power again.
  3. Your gate automatically unlocks, allowing you to open it manually without a tool or key.

Your gate has to respond in one of these ways because international fire code requires it. That links points to international fire code quoted by the city of Puyallup, Washington.

Test Your Gate If You Don’t Know How It Works without Power

If you have a gate and you know it doesn’t open when you lose power, or if you aren’t sure, it’s a good idea to test it. You can also have a contractor do it.

Or if you’re comfortable, you can turn off the circuit breaker and check to see if 1 of the 3 methods listed above works.

Imagine emergency vehicles need to access your home, which doesn’t have power. Your loved one needs to go the hospital. Your house is on fire.

Emergency personnel will rip your gate down, which does 2 things you won’t like:

  1. It takes additional time to respond to the emergency, which could cost your loved one their life or much more damage to your home
  2. Your gate, which you spent thousands of dollars on, needs a costly repair

Most contractors install gates properly so they work without power, but it’s still a good idea to check yours. If you need help checking yours, or if you need to modify it so it works without power, contact JJ Gates.

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