Page 380 - Catalog

BD Loops
Loops: Proper Placement and Size
By Brian Dickson
We’re on the Installer’s Side

Mrs. Jones was heading off to work in her brand-new luxury vehicle. She clicks the remote for her
swing gate and it dutifully opens. As she begins to clear the driveway, she remembers that she forgot her
briefcase that she needs for an important meeting. Mrs. Jones puts her car in park and jumps out to
retrieve the briefcase from the kitchen. On her way toward the house, she hears a loud crunching sounds –
her new car is being crushed by her slide gate!

Mrs. Jones was obviously upset. How could this have been prevented? Other than remembering
her briefcase in the first place, loops could have been installed to detect that her car was in the gate path.
EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES ON DRIVEWAY LOOPS
Loops are the safest method of detecting vehicles in the gate path as they are not affected by weather or
obstructions the way photo eyes can be. What dealers and installer must understand is how many loops
need to be placed in the different gate systems and where. To better understand this, we will look at three
LOOP PLACEMENT AND SIZE
types of common gate systems: slide gates, swing gates, and double swing gates.
By Brian Dickson, BD Loops

How Many Loops and What Size Should they be?

Slide gates require two reverse loops, one on each side of the gate — two feet from each curb and
four feet away from the gate — to completely cover the gate path. You can come as close as two feet from
the gate if the loops are properly phased. By using the proper layout and knowing the driveway width, you
can determine the size of the loops needed. The two dimensions you need to find are the short and long leg
of the loop. To find the long leg of the loop (z), subtract the driveway width (x) by four feet, represented by
this formula: x – 4 = z. The short leg is determined by which type of vehicles are going through the gate.
This is important because the short leg of the loops determines the detection height. If residential vehicles
(low to the ground) are the only vehicles passing through, four feet is recommended. If commercial vehicles
(UPS trucks for example) will be passing through, higher detection is required and 6 feet is recommended.
An exit loop in this gate system is optional and follows the same formulas as the reverse loops. Exit loops
can be located up to 1,000 feet from the gate. The advantage of a longer lead-in on the exit loop is to
minimize the wait time for the gate to open.

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