Do you have or want to install a retractable gate? Here’s how to make it more secure

Summer: the time for travelling and holidays, but, unfortunately, also for possible thefts. Homes left vacant for days become an attractive target for thieves, even for the less skilled ones. There is nothing that puts security more at risk than the possibility for a thief to act undisturbed for as long as he needs, and this is precisely what is likely to happen during the summer months when entire buildings are empty for several days.

A fairly widespread solution to deal with this risk is that of retractable gates, or “extendable” gates if you prefer. It is a system that offers various advantages:

  • it is very convenient on French doors as it can be easily opened to leave clear passage;
  • it is very luminous, as it consists of spaced elements that do not screen the light;
  • it has a reduced visual impact, especially when open, when it takes up less than a quarter of the total area;
  • when closed it can be built-in or tipped, in order to make it even more invisible;
  • it is a relatively economic solution and can be installed quickly and easily.

Of course, as we say in Italy, there is no rose without thorns and retractable gates have some drawbacks. In particular, it is a less secure system compared with that of fixed grilles or gates which can be opened, but not retracted. This is due to several factors:

  • normally the elements linking the various uprights are small in size;
  • all the joints are potentially weak spots;
  • the resistance to breaking is provided almost exclusively by the upper and lower guides which, especially if they can be folded, are less resistant than a fixed gate;
  • the framework often provides quite wide spaces, such that levers or jacks can be inserted to widen the uprights just enough to allow a person to pass through, especially if they are slim.

For this reason it is important to make sure you buy a precision made product in order to minimise possible problems.

A potential weak spot is, as in all closing systems, the lock. If the gate is only to be opened from the inside, for example because it is mounted on a window or a French door, it is best to install the lock with the cylinder only facing inwards, as in this way it becomes very difficult to attack it from the outside. If, on the other hand, the gate is positioned on an entrance and it must therefore be possible to also open it from outside, the cylinder can be positioned inside the diamond pattern so that it is accessible from both sides but does not leave enough space for a drill, hammer or any other common break-in tool to be inserted.

A lock for retractable gatesIn this case, the Viro lock for retractable gates can prove useful; this is characterised by mushroom-shaped counterpins which act against the efforts of the burglar and by a special internal self-reinforcing closing mechanism. The system effectively counteracts any attempt to open the gate by forcing the rods inwards with a lever. The shape of the internal components is in fact designed to neutralise the vertical thrust on the dead-bolts. The dead-bolts are also attached to the rods with rivets, instead of screws, in order to prevent the rods from being easily unscrewed and removed.

A lock for retractable gates by ViroRetractable gates are generally mounted on all openings at risk, such as the windows and French doors of the lower floors or those which overlook balconies or which can be potentially reached by climbing up the façade or descending from the roof.
It is therefore quite common for several gates and as many locks to be installed in a home. In this case it is very convenient to use a lock, such as a Viro one, which allows a system to be set up with equal keys, that is, with a common bitting of the locks that allows all the gates to be opened with a single key, thus avoiding the inconvenience of having to handle a large bunch of keys and having to find the right one each time. If the gates are installed in a shop/warehouse it can also be useful to use a master key system, so that one can differentiate the opening permits.

Retractable gates are a solution which allows you to increase the level of security in a simple and economical manner. They can be made even more secure and easy to use by choosing suitable locks and keys.

 The technical features of locks for Viro retractable gates can be seen here.

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