Key points
- Most ANPR problems come from the gate, the light and the process, not the camera
- Test after dark, at the actual gate, before you sign off
- Get app integration confirmed in writing before you buy
- Plan the visitor and delivery flow, not just resident entry
1. Is the camera position right for your gate?
The camera has to see the plate fairly straight on, at a predictable stopping point. Slopes, sharp turns just before the gate and wide lanes where cars drift to one side all reduce read rates. Ask the vendor to show where the stop line and camera will be on a drawing.
2. Will it read plates at night?
Headlight glare and dark gates are the commonest causes of misreads. Plate cameras with IR illumination handle this well when positioned correctly. Insist on a test after dark at your actual gate before handover.
3. What happens with non-standard plates?
Fancy fonts, dirty, bent or partly covered plates lower accuracy on any system. A fallback is needed: RFID tags, a remote, or a guard override. Agree what happens to a resident whose plate is not read.
4. How will visitors and deliveries be handled?
ANPR solves resident entry. Visitors, cabs, delivery riders and staff still need a process at the guard desk, and ideally a separate lane or a clear priority rule so residents are not stuck behind a delivery check.
5. Will it work with your visitor-management app?
Some apps and ANPR systems can be integrated; many cannot, or only partly. Ask for the integration to be confirmed in writing, naming the app and the ANPR software, before you buy.
6. Is the barrier right for the lane and the traffic?
Boom length, opening speed and duty cycle should match the lane width and peak-hour traffic. A barrier that is slow or overheats at 8:30 am creates a queue no camera can fix.
7. Is it safe?
Loop detectors or sensors should stop the boom coming down on a vehicle, two-wheeler or person. Check how the barrier behaves when a car stops under it.
8. What happens in a power cut?
Decide whether the barrier should stay open, stay closed, or run on battery backup, and put the camera, controller and network switch on a UPS so logs are not lost.
9. Who manages the resident list?
Plates change when residents buy cars, sell flats or move out. Agree who updates the list, how quickly, and who has admin access. The association should own the admin credentials.
10. What does the AMC cover?
Cameras need cleaning and refocusing, barriers need mechanical servicing, and software needs updates. Ask what the AMC includes, the response time for a stuck barrier, and whether parts are included.
A simple way to compare quotes
Ask every vendor for an itemised BOQ listing camera, controller, software licence, barrier, loop detectors, UPS, cabling and installation separately, with the AMC priced on its own line. It is the only way to compare like with like.
If you would like a second opinion on a quote you already have, send it to us. Read more about our ANPR and boom barrier installations.
