Services · Low Voltage, Security & Fire Alarm

Access Control, Gates & Intercoms

Doors and gates that open with a card, a phone or a license plate, log every entry, and still let everyone out safely and the fire department in.

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Keys get copied, lost and never returned. Electronic access lets you decide who gets in, where and when, and change it from your phone. We wire the doors and gates, set up the readers and intercoms, and design every opening around safe exit and fire department access first.

What we do

  • Door accessReaders, electric strikes and magnetic locks, door sensors and request-to-exit.
  • Gate accessLicense plate cameras, keypads, readers and gate hubs tied to your operator.
  • IntercomsVideo intercoms so visitors can call and you can open from your phone.
  • Fire department accessKnox key switches and overrides where your fire district requires them.
  • Cameras tied inVideo saved with each entry, so the log shows who and what.
  • Power and conduitCircuits, conduit and trenching out to the gate.

How electronic access control works

Instead of keys, people use a card, a phone, a PIN or, at a gate, their license plate. The system checks who they are and whether they’re allowed in right now, unlocks, and writes it down. Lose a card? It’s turned off from the app in seconds, and nobody has to rekey anything.

  1. CredentialA card, fob, phone, PIN, face or plate.
  2. ReaderReads it at the door or gate.
  3. Hub decidesIs this person allowed, at this door, at this time?
  4. UnlockThe lock releases or the gate opens.
  5. LogWho, where and when, with video if cameras are tied in.
Credential options
CredentialHow it worksGood for
Card or fobTap on the reader (NFC, read range about an inch).Staff, residents, everyday use.
Phone and walletUnlock from the app, or tap a phone or watch with the pass in Apple or Google Wallet.Fewer cards to hand out; easy to revoke.
PINA code on the keypad.Back doors, gates, deliveries.
QR codeA one-time or time-limited code sent to a visitor.Guests and contractors.
FaceSupported on certain readers and intercoms.Hands-full entry, where its privacy rules fit.
FingerprintOn fingerprint reader models.Rooms that need more than a card.
License plateA plate on the list opens the gate.Residents and staff driving in.

Credential types from Ubiquiti’s reader guide and G2 Reader Pro specs. UniFi Access readers are UL 294 listed and connect to a hub to unlock.

A controlled door: card reader outside, electric lock in the frame, motion request-to-exit sensor and push-to-exit button inside, door position switch, all wired to a door hub.OUTSIDEINSIDEDOOR HUBlock relay · inputsPoE to the readerschedules · logApp: add, schedule, revoke123456
Anatomy of a controlled doorWhat goes into one door, drawn simply. Every door gets a survey first: fire rating, how people exit, and what lock the frame can take.
  1. 1Reader outside: card, fob, phone, PIN and, on some models, face.
  2. 2Electric lock: an electric strike or a magnetic lock, chosen for the door.
  3. 3Request-to-exit sensor: unlocks as someone walks up from inside.
  4. 4Door position switch: knows if the door was forced or propped open.
  5. 5Push-to-exit button: a manual release, required with magnetic locks.
  6. 6Door hub: decides who gets in and when, and keeps the log.

Electric strike or magnetic lock? And getting out safely

Electric strike compared with magnetic lock
Electric strikeMagnetic lock
How it holdsReplaces the strike plate in the frame; the latch is released electrically.An electromagnet on the frame holds a steel plate on the door.
If power failsComes either way: stays locked (fail-secure, the usual choice and the one fire-rated doors need) or unlocks (fail-safe).Always releases when power is removed (fail-safe).
Getting outThe inside lever opens the door as usual.Needs a sensor and a push-to-exit button inside, and has to release on fire alarm.
Often used onMost single doors with a lever set.Glass doors and doors where a strike won’t fit.

Fail-safe and fail-secure behavior from Allegion.

Safe exit comes first. Doors people use to get out have to open from the inside without a key or special knowledge. A magnetically locked exit door needs a sensor that unlocks as someone approaches, a manual push-to-exit button that cuts power to the lock for at least 30 seconds, release when the fire alarm or sprinklers activate, and it must unlock if it loses power (building code summary). That’s why every door gets a survey for fire rating and exit requirements before we recommend a lock.

Gate access: keypads, intercoms, phones and plates

Plan view of a gated entry: a car arrives, a plate camera and keypad pedestal identify it, the gate slides open, safety photo eyes watch the opening, and the entry is logged.OPER.ENTRY LOGPlate matched: residentOpened · clip savedVisitor: intercom callGATE HUBopens the operator12345
A gated entry, from aboveDrawn simply, not to scale. The gate company supplies and sets the gate and operator; we bring the power, conduit and low-voltage wiring and tie the access system in.
  1. 1A car pulls up to the gate.
  2. 2A plate camera reads the plate. A plate on the list is a credential, like a key card.
  3. 3Keypad, card or intercom pedestal for visitors and anyone without a listed plate, with the fire department’s override switch where required.
  4. 4Safety photo eyes on both sides of the gate. The operator watches them and won’t close on a car or a person.
  5. 5Every opening is logged, with a video clip.

In UniFi Access, a gate hub connects to the gate operator’s control terminals, plus a lock on a side pedestrian gate and gate position inputs (Ubiquiti). With License Plate Unlock, a resident’s plate becomes their credential: an AI or G6 camera reads it, the vehicle has to be at least 90% inside the detection zone, and the system can save video each time it opens (Ubiquiti). Visitors use the intercom, which can call a resident from a directory so they can open the gate from their phone (reader guide).

  1. ArriveA car pulls up.
  2. IdentifyPlate camera, keypad, card or intercom call.
  3. OpenThe gate hub signals the operator.
  4. Stay safePhoto eyes and edge sensors watch the path.
  5. LogEntry saved with a video clip.

Gate safety. Gate operators are listed to UL 325, which calls for entrapment protection, such as photo eyes and edge sensors, that the operator monitors; if they’re missing or fail, the operator won’t run normally. Automatic gates themselves are built to ASTM F2200, and pedestrians get their own gate (DASMA).

Fire department access

The fire code section on access-road gates requires the fire official to approve security gates, an approved way to open them in an emergency, electric operators listed to UL 325, and automatic gates built to ASTM F2200 (fire code 503.6).

Around here, that usually means a Knox device. Placer Hills Fire notes that all fire agencies in Placer County use the KNOX Rapid Access System, including Knox key switches for security gates (Placer Hills Fire). South Placer Fire’s residential standards call for a Knox electronic override switch tied into the gate keypad, with an acceptance test witnessed by the fire department (South Placer Fire). Requirements vary by district, so we check with yours before we wire.

What gets wired at one door

Wiring for one controlled door: a door hub in the secure side connects to the network switch, the card reader, the electric lock, a request-to-exit sensor, an exit button, a door position switch and the fire alarm panel.DOOR HUBsecure side, above ceilingPoE SWITCHnetwork + powerREADERoutside the doorELECTRIC LOCKstrike or maglockDOOR POSITIONopen / closed switchMOTION REXrequest to exitEXIT BUTTONpush to exitFIRE ALARMrelease on alarmEthernetdata: Ethernet or OSDPlock powerfire input1234
What gets wired at one doorSimplified. Exact terminals depend on the hub and the lock.
  1. 1The hub lives on the secure side, so cutting wires outside can’t open the door.
  2. 2Readers talk to the hub over Ethernet or an RS-485 pair. OSDP on RS-485 supports AES-128 encryption and supervision; older Wiegand wiring sends data in the clear (Axis).
  3. 3The lock gets its own power from the hub or a lock power supply, sized for the lock.
  4. 4A fire alarm input lets the system unlock doors automatically during a fire (Ubiquiti).
Wiegand compared with OSDP reader wiring
Wiegand (older)OSDP (newer)
EncryptionNoneAES-128 with Secure Channel (Axis)
DirectionOne-way, reader to controllerTwo-way: the controller can update and supervise readers
Tamper and wire-cut alertsNoYes, readers are supervised
Typical distanceAbout 500 ftUp to about 4,000 ft on RS-485 (Axis)
StandardLegacy formatSIA OSDP, with a verified device program (SIA)

Secure Channel has to be turned on to get OSDP’s encryption. We check that it is.

Cards, phones, faces and PINs

Access credential options
CredentialGood forKeep in mind
Card or fobEveryone, including people without smartphonesCan be lent or lost; turn it off in seconds
Phone (mobile or NFC)Staff and residents who always carry a phonePhones need charge; keep a backup method
PINContractors and short-term accessCodes get shared; change them often
FaceHands-full entry at a staff doorConsent and privacy rules apply; enroll only people who agree (California law)
QR or visitor linkGuests and deliveriesExpires automatically after the visit (Ubiquiti)
License plateResidents’ cars at a gatePlates can be swapped; pair with a camera record

One UniFi intercom, for example, supports NFC cards, PINs, phones and face unlock at the same door (Ubiquiti). Most sites mix two or three.

Lockdown and evacuation

Two floor plans: in lockdown every controlled door locks at once; in evacuation every controlled door unlocks at once.LOCKDOWNevery door locks, credentials pausedEVACUATIONevery door unlocksStarted from the app, a reader in admin mode, or automatically by the fire panel.
One tap: lockdown or evacuationIn UniFi Access, emergency modes override credentials for a whole site or a single door. Admins can still unlock a single door remotely during a lockdown, and a fire panel wired to the hub can trigger the mode automatically (Ubiquiti). Your emergency plan and fire code rules come first; we wire to them.

Elevator floor control

Elevator control: a reader in the elevator cab connects to an elevator hub whose relays enable only the floor buttons a person is allowed to use.Floor 5Floor 4Floor 3Floor 2Floor 1ELEVATOR HUBrelay per floorFLOOR BUTTONS5locked4locked3enabled2locked1enabledUp to 18 floors per hub
Elevators that know where you’re allowedTap in the cab and only your floors light up. One example, the UniFi Access Elevator Hub, controls up to 18 floors with relay outputs and floor-by-floor policies (Ubiquiti). Elevator work is done with your elevator contractor, who owns the controller side.

Visitors and deliveries

  1. InviteSend the visitor a pass by email or text, for set doors and times.
  2. ArriveThey scan a QR code, tap NFC, enter a PIN or check in at a kiosk.
  3. EnterOnly the doors, gates or elevator floors on their pass open.
  4. ExpireWhen the visit ends, access ends with it.

Based on UniFi Access visitor schedules (Ubiquiti).

Choosing a gate type

Plan views of four gate types: a swing gate needs room for its arc, a slide gate needs room beside the opening, a barrier arm needs only the lane, and a vertical lift gate needs the least ground space.SWINGneeds room for the arcrun-backSLIDEneeds room beside the openingBARRIER ARMneeds only the laneVERTICAL LIFTsmallest footprint
Swing, slide, barrier arm or vertical liftDrawn from above. Swing gates need clear room for their arc, slide gates need room along the fence, and barrier arms control traffic lanes rather than securing a perimeter (DASMA). When there’s no room to swing or slide, a vertical lift gate has the smallest footprint (DASMA).
Gate types compared
SwingSlideBarrier armVertical lift
Space neededArc in front of or behind the gateRun-back along the fenceJust the laneOverhead only
Good forHomes, estates, short drivesCommercial and multifamily, slopesParking and traffic lanesTight sites
SecurityPerimeterPerimeterTraffic control onlyPerimeter

Loops: how a gate knows a car is there

Plan view of a gated driveway with an exit loop inside the property, an interrupt loop on each side of the gate path, and a shadow loop under a swing gate.STREET SIDEPROPERTY SIDEEXIT LOOPopens a closed gateINTERRUPTreopens a closing gateSHADOWholds a swing gate openLoops are wire cut into the pavement. A detector senses the metal of a vehicle above them.
Loops in the drivewayFrom LiftMaster’s loop detector manual: an exit loop inside the property opens a closed gate, an interrupt loop reopens a gate that’s closing, and a shadow loop, used only with swing gates, keeps the gate from closing on a vehicle in its path (LiftMaster). Exact layouts vary by operator.

UL 325, in plain words

A slide gate with photo eye beams across the opening and contact edge sensors on the leading and trailing edges, all monitored by the gate operator.OPERATORmonitors allphoto eye beamsedge sensoredge sensorIf a monitored sensor is missing or fails, a UL 325 operator won’t run normally.
Entrapment protection, explainedGate operators listed to UL 325 use monitored entrapment protection, such as non-contact photo eyes and contact edge sensors (DASMA). Operators are marked for the usage class they’re listed for, and every class the site falls into has to be covered (DASMA FAQ).
UL 325 usage classes
Usage classExamples
Class IHomes: one to four single-family dwellings, or a garage or parking area tied to them
Class IICommercial and public access: apartment buildings of five or more units, hotels, retail, garages
Class IIIIndustrial and limited access: factories, loading docks, areas not open to the public
Class IVGuarded restricted access: airports, prisons, guarded sites

Gate operator classes matter for apartment communities and HOAs: a gate a resident shares with neighbors is often Class II, not residential.

Solar gates

Solar gate power: solar panels charge batteries through a solar control box, and the batteries run the gate operator day and night.SOLAR CONTROLcharge controllerBATTERIES24 VOPERATORopens the gateCycles per day depend on:sun where you are · panel watts · battery size · standby draw of accessories
Solar-powered gatesHandy where running power is hard, like a ranch gate at the end of a long drive. LiftMaster’s solar guidance ties the number of daily cycles to sun zone, battery capacity and standby current, and asks for unshaded panels (LiftMaster). Every accessory, including cameras and cellular call boxes, adds standby draw, so we size the system to everything on it.

Gate call boxes: wired, Wi-Fi or cellular

Call box connection options
ConnectionGood forKeep in mind
Wired networkMost reliable; video and access control on one cableNeeds a conduit to the gate
Wi-FiShort distances near a buildingSignal at the gate has to be tested
CellularRemote gates with no networkNeeds a cellular plan (DoorKing); cell signal varies

More on entry stations on our video intercom page.

Where it fits

  • Homes and ranchesDriveway gates that open by plate, phone or keypad, with an intercom at the road.
  • HOAs and apartmentsEntry gates, pool gates, laundry rooms and mail rooms, with access that ends the day someone moves out.
  • BusinessesStaff doors on schedules, a log of every entry, and no rekeying when keys walk off.
  • SchoolsControlled entrances and staff-only doors, designed around safe exit.
  • Ag and equipment yardsGates for trucks and crews, with plate logs and a record of after-hours entries.

Choosing an access system

What we compare with you, whatever the brand:

  • Credentials: cards, fobs, phones, PINs or license plates, and how easy it is to add or remove someone.
  • Locks and fire rules: how each door locks and unlocks, and how it releases for safe exit and fire alarm.
  • Power loss: battery backup and what each door does when the power is out.
  • Software: on-site or cloud, licenses or subscriptions, and whether it works alongside your cameras.
  • Logs and schedules: who came in and when, and doors that unlock on a schedule.

For fire department access, we install the key switch or lock box your fire district asks for (often a Knox device). We work alongside your gate company on the gate and operator.

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How the job goes

  1. 1
    Call or send a quote request

    Tell us which doors and gates, and who needs in.

  2. 2
    Door and gate survey

    Frames, fire ratings, exit rules, the gate operator and your fire district’s requirements.

  3. 3
    Design and estimate

    Readers, locks and wiring for each opening, in writing.

  4. 4
    Install and test

    Every door and gate tested, safety sensors checked with your gate company, and fire department testing where required.

  5. 5
    Handoff

    Adding and removing people, schedules and the entry log in the app.

Permits, fire access and codes

Locks on exit doors have to meet building and fire code for safe exit, and gates across fire access roads need fire department approval and an approved way to open them in an emergency (fire code 503.6). Some districts witness an acceptance test of the gate override (South Placer Fire).

Inside Auburn city limits, electrical permits come from the City of Auburn Building Division, which takes permit applications online. In unincorporated areas, such as North Auburn, it’s Placer County Building Services. Elsewhere it’s that city or county’s building department. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection and meet the inspector.

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Common questions

Can my gate open for my license plate?

Yes, with a plate camera and an access system that supports it. The plate becomes the credential, and the system can save video each time the gate opens.

What happens if someone loses a card?

You turn that card off in the app. Nobody has to rekey anything.

Can visitors call me from the gate?

Yes. A video intercom can call a resident from a directory, and they can open the gate from their phone.

What does the fire department need at my gate?

An approved way to open it in an emergency. In Placer County, fire agencies use the Knox Rapid Access System, and some districts require a Knox override switch tied into the keypad. We check with your district before we wire.

Electric strike or magnetic lock?

Most doors with a lever set get an electric strike. Magnetic locks suit glass doors and some others, but they need a sensor and push-to-exit button inside and must release on fire alarm and power loss.

Do you install the gate itself?

We work alongside your gate company on the gate and operator, and handle the power, conduit, wiring and access system.

Request a free quote

Free estimates, no pressure. Tell us a little about the job and we’ll get back to you. Or call (530) 401-7419, answered 24/7.

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Sources

Product details come from the makers’ own pages and can change. Fire access rules vary by district, so we confirm them with yours before we wire. Checked against the sources above in November 2026.