Commercial properties don’t all have the same security needs.
A retail store, office building, warehouse and trucking facility each have different traffic patterns, entrances and areas that need to be monitored.
That was an important consideration when Laswell completed a commercial security project for TCS Ohio, a trucking facility in Louisville, KY.
The project focused on the facility’s gated entrance, where semi-trucks and other large vehicles regularly enter and leave the property. Laswell installed a commercial security solution designed to provide useful visibility around the gate while protecting exterior system components from the elements.
The Security Challenge: A High-Traffic Commercial Gate
Truck yards and transportation facilities can have significant vehicle activity throughout the day.
Depending on the property, a commercial gate may be used by:
- Semi-trucks
- Employees
- Delivery drivers
- Vendors
- Contractors
- Service vehicles
- Visitors
That creates a different security environment than a standard pedestrian entrance.
Camera placement, equipment location and outdoor conditions all need to be considered when designing the system.
For the TCS Ohio project, Laswell focused on creating reliable security coverage around the facility’s gate and the heavy vehicles using it.
Security Cameras at the Gate
Exterior cameras can provide useful visibility around the primary entrance to a commercial property.
At a trucking facility, gate cameras may help authorized personnel review activity such as:
- Vehicles entering the property
- Vehicles leaving the property
- After-hours activity
- Deliveries
- Visitors
- Activity around the gate itself
Laswell designs commercial security cameras around the areas a business actually needs to see rather than simply installing cameras wherever mounting is easiest.
For transportation and industrial properties, that often means thinking carefully about entrances, yards, loading areas, parking areas and building exteriors.
Protecting Outdoor Security Equipment
One important part of the TCS Ohio installation was protecting the system components that needed to operate outdoors.
Laswell installed a NEMA-rated enclosure for the gate security equipment.
NEMA enclosure classifications are used to describe the degree of environmental protection an enclosure provides. Different enclosure types are designed for different conditions, including exposure to rain, windblown dust, water and other environmental factors.
The exact enclosure selected for any commercial security installation should be appropriate for:
- Equipment being housed
- Mounting location
- Exposure to weather
- Dust and debris
- Moisture
- Temperature conditions
- Other site-specific requirements
This is an important part of commercial system design that often isn’t visible once the project is complete.
Why Outdoor Equipment Placement Matters
Commercial security systems depend on more than the cameras themselves.
A complete installation may involve equipment such as:
- Power supplies
- Network components
- Connections
- Controllers
- Communication equipment
- Recording or interface hardware
If equipment is located outdoors, the enclosure and installation need to account for the environment surrounding it.
A system designed for an interior office closet should not simply be mounted outside without considering those conditions.
The TCS Ohio project is a good example of how commercial security installation involves both the security technology and the infrastructure required to support it.
Designing Around Semi-Truck Traffic
Large commercial vehicles also affect the way a gate should be evaluated.
Semi-trucks differ significantly from passenger vehicles in:
- Height
- Length
- Turning radius
- Entry and exit path
- Stopping position
- Driver location
Camera placement should therefore account for how vehicles actually move through the property.
The objective isn’t simply to point a camera toward the driveway.
It is to establish a useful view of the activity the business wants to document.
Gate Security as Part of a Larger Commercial System
A commercial gate is often only one part of a property’s overall security plan.
Depending on the facility, a broader commercial security system may include coverage around:
- Building entrances
- Parking lots
- Loading docks
- Warehouses
- Equipment yards
- Offices
- Perimeter areas
- Interior sensitive spaces
The right combination depends on the property and its operation.
A trucking facility may place greater emphasis on vehicle entrances and outdoor areas, while an office or healthcare facility may have very different priorities.
Access Control May Also Be Appropriate
Some commercial properties need more than visual monitoring at a gate.
Depending on how the facility operates, commercial access control may also be considered for managing authorized entry at doors, gates or other controlled locations.
Access control can be particularly useful when a business needs to establish who is permitted to enter certain areas and when.
However, the correct solution should be based on the actual operational requirements of the property rather than assuming every gate needs the same technology.
What Businesses Can Learn From This Project
The TCS Ohio project illustrates several principles that apply to other commercial properties.
Start with how the property actually operates
Security design should account for real traffic patterns, not just the building footprint.
Identify the important entrances
A primary vehicle gate may deserve different coverage than a secondary employee entrance.
Plan camera views intentionally
Each camera should have a purpose.
Protect equipment from the environment
Exterior installations require equipment and enclosures appropriate for their location.
Think beyond individual devices
Cameras, enclosures, wiring, networking and other supporting infrastructure all contribute to the finished system.
Design for the specific business
A trucking facility should not receive the same cookie-cutter security layout as a restaurant or office.
Commercial Gate Security in Louisville, KY
Businesses with vehicle gates, truck yards, industrial properties and large outdoor facilities often need security systems designed around conditions that don’t exist in smaller commercial buildings.
Laswell designs and installs commercial security solutions for businesses throughout Louisville, surrounding Kentucky communities and Southern Indiana.
Our team evaluates how vehicles and people move through the property, where visibility is most important, what environmental conditions the equipment will face and how the system should fit into the business’s overall security plan.
If your commercial property has a gate, truck yard, loading area or other high-traffic exterior location that needs better visibility, contact Laswell to schedule a commercial security assessment.
Looking for Better Security for Your Business?
From security cameras and monitored alarm systems to access control and connected security solutions, Laswell helps businesses throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana protect their properties, people, and operations with dependable security tailored to their needs.
