ELMHURST, Ill., Feb. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Throughout the United States, both homeowners and renters are putting an increased emphasis on the safety and security of their homes, with more people moving to secure or gated communities. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's most recent statistics, 11 million households reside within gated communities, an increase from more than 7 million in 2001.

To ensure residents are as safe as possible, Underwriters Laboratories (a global independent safety science company dedicated to promoting safe living and working environments) has updated its safety standards for automatic gates, known as UL 325. The new 2016 standards require that in addition to safety devices such as photo eyes and/or sensing edges, gate operators bearing the UL Label must stop working if the safety devices are not functioning properly. LiftMaster – the nation's leading manufacturer of residential and commercial gate operators – has updated its entire line to meet and exceed the safety standards set by UL 325, and is seeking to educate community members, Homeowner Associations (HOAs) and property managers.

LiftMaster recommends HOAs, property managers and residents of gated communities pay attention to the following:

• Compliance: Gate operators located at the entrance and exit of communities should meet the 2016 Underwriters Laboratories' UL 325 standards. "LiftMaster redesigned its line of automatic gate operators to work as a UL 325 compliant system," said John Villanueva, vice president of marketing, LiftMaster. "Each product delivers best-in-class safety and security features, which are vital for a secure community." If the gates in your community do not have the proper safety equipment, consider replacing with ones that do, such as LiftMaster's High-Traffic Commercial DC Side Gate Operator Model CSL24U.
• Installation and Maintenance: Gated communities offer residents increased peace-of-mind, knowing their families and households are safe and secure. To strengthen this mindset, ensure your community's gates and access systems have been professionally installed by a safety-trained dealer and are inspected regularly.
• Mitigating Risk: Utilize UL 325 listed gates and access systems, such as LiftMaster's new High-Traffic Commercial Swing Gate Operator Model CSW24U to reduce risk in your community. Gate operators should also feature a battery backup system, so the gate can continue to operate properly in all conditions, even when the power is out.

Dawn Marshall, a community manager at FirstService Residential, who currently manages 10 properties in the Las Vegas area noted that, "Standards like UL 325 are extremely important for gated communities, and are needed to ensure safety. It's critical to have an understanding of how to stay current on the latest safety and security regulations, and LiftMaster is a great partner in doing just that."

With these helpful tips, you can ensure your community is compliant, safe, functional and secure. For additional information on gate operators visit LiftMaster.com/GateSafety.

About LiftMaster

LiftMaster is the number one brand of professionally installed residential garage door openers, as well as a major manufacturer of commercial door operators, residential and commercial gate operators, telephone entry systems and related access control products. Driven by the access and security needs of the marketplace, LiftMaster's expansive line of state-of-the-art residential and commercial products are designed to fit any lifestyle or application, providing the latest technology and innovations in safety, security and convenience. For inquiries on LiftMaster products or to inquire about becoming an authorized dealer, please visit LiftMaster.com.

Media Contact

Jillian Shkolnick
Edelman
Jillian.Shkolnick@edelman.com
(312) 552-1189

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SOURCE LiftMaster

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