Reference
Automatic Gate Glossary
Plain-language definitions for automatic gate, operator, and access control terms, plus Marin County code references.
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This glossary defines the most common automatic gate, gate operator, and access control terms used throughout the site, from photo-eyes and loop detectors to Knox switches, Zone Zero, and PSPS battery backup. Useful when comparing quotes or planning a Marin County gate project.
- Automatic Gate
- A driveway or perimeter gate equipped with a motorized operator that opens and closes the gate without manual effort, typically activated by a remote, keypad, intercom, or smart entry system.
- Swing Gate
- A gate that pivots on hinges mounted to a post, opening by swinging inward or outward. Single-swing gates have one leaf; dual-swing gates have two leaves that meet in the middle.
- Slide Gate (Sliding Gate)
- A gate that moves laterally along the fence line on a steel V-track set into the driveway or on a cantilever assembly that floats above the ground.
- Cantilever Gate
- A sliding gate that is counterbalanced and floats over the driveway opening on rollers mounted to the fence line, with no track on the driveway surface.
- Gate Operator (Gate Opener)
- The motorized assembly that opens and closes an automatic gate. Common types include articulating arm, ground-mount, underground swing operators, and rack-and-pinion slide operators.
- Articulating Arm Operator
- A swing gate operator with a jointed arm that mounts to the gate post and pushes or pulls the gate leaf open and closed.
- Ground-Mount Operator
- A swing gate operator mounted to a foundation pad at the gate post, often hydraulic, used for heavier residential and estate gates.
- Photo-Eye (Photoelectric Sensor)
- A pair of infrared beams across the gate opening that detect obstructions. Required by UL 325 safety standards to prevent the gate from closing on people, pets, or vehicles.
- Edge Sensor
- A pressure-sensitive strip mounted to the leading edge of a gate that reverses the gate's motion when it contacts an obstruction.
- Loop Detector
- A buried wire loop in the driveway that detects the metal mass of a vehicle and signals the gate to open (free-exit loop) or hold open (shadow loop).
- Free-Exit Loop
- A loop detector installed on the inside of a gate that automatically opens the gate when a vehicle approaches from inside the property.
- Shadow Loop
- A loop detector installed under the gate's swing or slide path that holds the gate open while a vehicle is present, preventing the gate from closing on the car.
- Access Control
- Any system used to grant or deny entry through an automatic gate, including keypads, intercoms, telephone entry, card readers, and smart entry systems.
- Keypad
- A wall or post-mounted device with numbered buttons that opens the gate when a valid user code is entered.
- Intercom
- An audio or audio-video communication device that allows the homeowner to speak with visitors at the gate before granting entry.
- Telephone Entry System
- An access control device that rings a phone (often a mobile) when a visitor arrives at the gate, allowing remote audio communication and gate release from anywhere.
- Smart Entry System
- An app-based access control system with cloud user management, audit logs, and integration with smart home platforms.
- Rolling Code Remote
- A gate remote that uses a continuously changing security code to prevent code-grabbing attacks. The standard for modern residential gates.
- Battery Backup
- A battery system inside the gate operator that keeps the gate functional during grid power outages — essential in Marin County during PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).
- Manual Release
- A mechanism on the gate operator that disengages the motor, allowing the gate to be opened by hand during a power outage or emergency.
- Knox Switch (Knox Key Switch)
- An emergency override switch controlled by a master key held by the fire department, allowing first responders to open an automatic gate without delay.
- Zone Zero
- California's emerging ember-resistant zone within 0-5 feet of any structure, intended to be kept free of combustible materials to prevent wildfire ignition.
- Ordinance 601
- A Marin County ordinance addressing emergency vehicle access and related public safety provisions; commonly referenced in the context of driveway gate fire access compliance.
- PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff)
- A PG&E program that proactively de-energizes power lines during high wildfire risk weather, often leaving Marin County properties without grid power for multiple days.
- V-Track
- A steel V-shaped track set into the driveway that guides a V-track sliding gate's wheels. Reliable and inexpensive but requires regular debris clearing.
- Soft-Start / Soft-Stop
- An operator feature that gradually ramps motor speed up at the start of a cycle and down at the end, reducing mechanical stress on the gate and operator.
- UL 325
- The Underwriters Laboratories safety standard governing automatic gate operators in the United States, including requirements for entrapment protection devices like photo-eyes and edge sensors.
- Duty Cycle
- The number of open/close cycles a gate operator is rated to perform per hour or per day. Residential operators have lower duty cycles than commercial operators.
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