What to Ask Your Rubbish Removal Service Provider Before Hiring?

  Introduction

For any homeowners planning to hire the best rubbish removal service to assist on their home improvement project, it is imperative that they ask questions before signing a contract. This process allows them to sift and filter those who are true to their services from those who are just pretentious or scrupulous in the market today. This way, they are able to spend their hard-earned money wisely. Thus, they can have peace of mind after the work is done.

So what are the best questions to ask? Below are what most experts and homeowners recommend.

#1 How long have you been operating as a rubbish removal company?

Of course, the longer they are in the rubbish clearance industry, the more experience they have. So that means they are more knowledgeable about waste clearance problems and how to solve them. But it does not stop there https://www.rubbishcleared.co.uk. You cannot immediately equate their experience to expertise.

Words are not enough. They are never a guarantee. You have to ask for proofs of achievement or accomplishment. Check out their recognitions, awards, and positive reviews. What organization or agency gave them the award? When did they receive those? Do your own research to see if they are genuine.

#2 Do you have a physical office?

An increasing number of businesses these days are operating online. Meaning, they have chosen to let go of their actual office [or did not even plan to have one] and just decided to set up a virtual one over the internet through a website or a Facebook page. Not all of them are scammers. Some are legit. You just have to check for evidences to prove their claim.

However, a rubbish clearamce contractor that has both physical and virtual presence is surely top of the list. Because they have an office in your locality, you have a place to go whenever you encounter problems compared to those who just gave you a phone number or an email address [avoidance of any responsibility is easier this way]. But due diligence requires that you go over their registration documents with the designated authorities just to ensure they are genuine.

#3 Are you licensed?

If the provider is licensed, it gives you sense of security and confidence that you are, in fact, dealing with someone who is approved by the proper authorities, right? In case of any issues, you have someone you can file your complain to and get justice.

But if you are dealing with the unlicensed ones, you will be left alone to solve your case. You would have no assurance of getting something out of the wrong committed. Hence, it is very important that you are only negotiating with the licensed providers or contractors.

#4 Are your workers insured?

If the contractor's workers are insured, you'd have peace of mind that you will not be the one to answer for any costs related to accidents at work. The contractor will cover that and not you. That is how important it is.

You would know that the company is true to their services and existence in the industry through their care for their workers. Legit and professional contractors would choose to insure them not just for the company's sake but most of all, for the workers' family.

#5 Do you provide workmanship warranty?

So it is not enough that they have a physical office, licensed, and insured, they must also provide a warranty of their work. Usually, this part is stated in the contract, so read through this part.

Getting rid of a large pile of junk ensures a pleasing environment. Regular rubbish removal keeps your premises attractive and beautiful. Apart from keeping your premises neat and clean, routine rubbish removal ensures some other positive issues related to environment and health. It can make your surroundings aesthetically appealing. You stay far from the attacks of various germs. As junk removal is an important factor of life, we should get it done regularly. Getting a routine junk removal service is always good.

There are some rubbish removal options available in the market. Normal rubbish clearance service and skip hire are the two popular options. But as the statics say, many people like to choose a junk removal company as it is cheaper than a skip hire. Skip hire is costlier than normal junk removal service. The reason may be its huge infrastructure, state of the art equipments and approval by the local council. The companies belong to this category keep a fleet of vehicles and waste containers. This service is ideal for huge industrial and commercial cleaning. Generally, common and household people have nothing to do with skip hire. If you are a normal homeowner, you can choose a scrap removal service to keep your premises clean and hygienic at an affordable rate. Nowadays, rubbish removal service has become a cheaper alternative to skip hire.

Keeping pace with the modern complex demands, junk removal companies are arranging and rearranging their infrastructures with modern equipments and other necessary things. They are gradually increasing their market-share by occupying the share of the skip companies. Most of these companies carry valid licenses as the yardstick of their quality service and complete client satisfaction. They are proficient in dealing with any type of domestic or commercial rubbish. They can easily clean any commercial, industrial and domestic rubbish without complicating them and increasing the cost of it to any degree. Scrap removal companies are emerging as a very good alternative to skip hire.

On the other hand, skip processes charge more for using skip bags and bringing waste containers for the removal of junk. Apart from these two important reasons, skip processes require permits from their local councils. The arrangement of the process is controlled parking rules. Companies are to maintain a decorum and standard. Else, there is a chance of cancellation and suspension of permits. Consequently, skip processes become more expensive. Now rubbish removal services are the cheaper alternative to skip hire.

How Counseling For Engaged Couples Might Help You Before Your Marriage

There are numerous reasons why engaged couples may hope to consider counseling, and it is vital to remember that attending counseling sessions does not point to a bad relationship. In reality, the eagerness to work through problems or examine diverse issues that will strike their marriage shows the level of commitment the couple shares and can help reinforce their tie even before they walk down the aisle https://www.rubbishcleared.co.uk. Counseling can also support couples to determine if they are prepared to get engaged, and it can aid them in deliberating concerns they may not have considered beforehand.

While relationship and premarital counseling is sensible for every engaged couple, those who face more grave issues may particularly want to ponder counseling or therapy. Couples who may be notably in need of counseling include:

* Remarkably young couples. There is no proper age to get engaged for every couple, but very young couples with fewer adult and relationship experiences may want to consider counseling to guarantee they are prepared for a lifelong commitment.

* Couples of opposite faiths. Obtaining religious or spiritual counseling can aid couples to bring their faiths together into a supportive religious relationship to nurture their marriage.

* Couples with abusive pasts or abusive family histories. Even if the abuse was finished long before the couple met, knowing that history and working through the old emotions can help couples know one another and learn how to be reassuring. Note: If couples have experienced abuse in their own relationship, they ought to search for extensive counseling before they get engaged to confirm their issues are resolved and they can move on without abusing one another.

* Couples with special life circumstances. Psychological disorders, medical concerns, long distance engagements, and other special circumstances can be unruly, and counseling can help couples hold their engagement without letting these circumstances be obstacles to their happiness. Additional types of counseling are handy for even more specific concerns, such as money, self esteem, substance abuse, and other issues that could be reflected in the couple's relationship.

Types of Couples Counseling

There are some types of counseling available to engaged couples, from fundamental premarital counseling to specialized sessions that can help them get support for any issues in their relationship.

Premarital Counseling

Premarital counseling may be required by law in some states or by the couple's faith. These two types of premarital counseling can be very opposite, but they are both worthwhile for couples planning a life together.

* Secular Premarital Counseling: If couples should attend counseling by law, the sessions usually incorporate primary advice on family planning, finances, communication, the legal definition and responsibilities of marriage, and other issues worthwhile to engaged couples. In various states that insist on counseling, couples may be able to elude the requisite if they have been previously married or if their nuptials are scheduled after a determined waiting period.

* Religious Premarital Counseling: Faith-based counseling may be necessary by different churches in order to have a lawful clergy perform the marriage ceremony. Counseling sessions often incorporate discussions of the role of religion in marriage, the responsibilities of married couples, the value of communication with one another and with God, and how to seek assistance from the church to settle conflicts.

Therapy Counseling

A few types of therapy counseling can be worthwhile to engaged couple if the issues addressed directly impact their relationship.

* Substance Abuse: This class of counseling may be for individuals who have abused drugs and alcohol or for their significant others. Ways to stay clean, how to handle the consequences, and different issues are frequently highlighted in supportive ways.

* Medical Counseling: If one person in the couple suffers from a physical circumstance, sickness, or handicap that requires therapy or unique care, the couple can attend counseling sessions to determine how to cope with the circumstance and how to work together as a loving, understanding couple.

* Emotional Counseling: Family abuse, disputes, deprivation, and other issues can lead to emotional problems that may demand counseling. If a couple attends this class of counseling together, they can help one another get support for these issues to lead a happy, complete life.

Specialized Counseling

Other specialized counseling that can be profitable for engaged couples include:

* Financial Counseling: These sessions examine creating a personal budget, directing debt, controlling credit cards, retirement plan, investing, and other monetary issues that can act upon the couple's marriage.

* Family Counseling: If either the bride- or groom-to-be has children from a past relationship, attending family counseling can aid the children to settle into the new family and help the couple learn how to be parents together. Ideally, couples need to resolve parenting issues before they walk down the aisle.

* Parenting Counseling: If the couple hopes to start their family right away or if they are already pregnant, counseling sessions for eager parents can help them prepare for adding a new family member to their relationship.

* Career Counseling: Planning career paths, selecting a new career, and additional issues can help couples feel safe not only in their relationship, but also in their professional paths as they start their lives together.

Arranging Counseling

If premarital counseling is necessary before a couple marries, their nearby church or marriage license office can often suggest accessible resources. For more secular counseling services, couples should ask doctors, therapists, and other resources to find the best services for their particular needs. Counseling sessions may be weekly or monthly continuing programs, one day workshops, weekend retreats, or other formats, but the end outcome is the same: helping them prepare for an enduring relationship.

Should engaged couples go to counseling? Only the couple can determine how to answer, but proper professional assistance for working out problems and plotting a stronger relationship can only help aid every couple willing to attend counseling before they walk down the aisle.

Why Your Home Needs Gutter Guards

As a homeowner you need to be proactive in keeping up with maintenance on your home. Neglecting important areas of your home such as foundations, roofing and siding can lead to damages that will end up costing you a lot in repair and replacement bills. Also, if you are not diligent about home improvement you may find your insurance company will not cover certain damages since it can be determined by an adjuster that you did not take the proper steps to keep up to date on repairs. Gutters are extremely important to the structural integrity of your home and if you want t avoid clogs, annual cleanings and ice dams, consider adding high quality gutter guards to your home.

No matter where you live, the weather will provide plenty of hazards for your home. From the torrential rains of the southeast to the heavy snows of the Midwest, weather will surely test the performance of your gutters. If you have an open gutter system you run the risk of dead leaves, ice and common outdoor debris getting into the gutter channels and downspouts. Once this material collects in the gutter it is very easy for it to cause clogs that will prevent the gutter from draining water properly. Clogs often lead to water backing up in the channel where it then spills over the lid and in some cases starts to creep up under the roof shingles causing leaks in your ceilings.

Another issue with open gutters is that you will have to clean your gutters frequently to prevent clogging. Cleaning is a dirty and tedious task and one most homeowners try to avoid but when dead leaves and debris are preventing rainwater and melting snow from draining you have no choice but to clean out the system https://shieldgutterprotection.com/. With high quality gutter covers you can eliminate the need for regular gutter cleaning since the design of the system prevents leaves, pine needles and animals from getting into your channels and downspouts.

If you live in an area where snow and ice are frequent in the winter then gutter guards should be mandatory for your home. Heavy snowfall can put a lot of weight on your gutters. This pressure will start to make sections of your gutters sag underneath the weight and if the weather stays cold can cause ice dams. The combination of heavy snow and ice dams will prevent melting snow from draining and put your roof at serious risk for damages. However, when you install durable gutter shields on your home you ensure that snow and ice drain properly when melting and can rest easy knowing your roof and gutters are protected.

It seems that each year we have more and more rain during the fall months. With this rain comes a lot of potential damage that could happen to your home if the water is not directed to where it is supposed to go. Gutters are a necessity to all homes in order to protect the home's siding, doors, windows, and foundation. However, in order for these gutters to work the way they are supposed to work, you need to have Rain Gutter Guards. This is a part of the system that installs over the trough of the gutter.

They are installed in this way in order to keep debris such as leaves, sticks, and other flying debris from settling into the trough of the gutter. When this happens, the gutter will become clogged. This will impede the flow of the rain water which has to go somewhere. It will end up seeping through the bottom of the gutter and onto your siding. You will find that there are many different types of Rain Gutter Guards that you can purchase today. There are some that can be rather expensive while there are others that will be more affordable.

Either way you go, the more protection that you have for your gutter system, the better chance that you will have to not have to worry about clogs. The Gutter Leaf Guard is a very popular model of the Rain Gutter Guards that are available. You can find out more information about this gutter system by searching for it on the Internet. This system is a whole gutter system that includes the gutters as well as the curved shields that will keep the debris out of the trough. The gutters that are included in this system are two inches thicker than most other gutter systems that you find in stores.

There is also the Waterloov that is becoming more popular as well. This system does not have a small opening between the shield and the gutter. The shield of this system is actually attached to the gutter with small holes running up and down the whole system. This system will keep out just about all debris that could get into it so that there will virtually be no chance of clogs. It will cost you a bit more money, but it will be well worth it when you will no longer have to manually clean out your gutters. All Rain Gutter Guards are more than worth the money and the time that you save.

One thing that many homeowners can agree on is that it can be a hassle to have to constantly clean the rain gutters attached to the roof.

Typically, after a period of heavy rain and wind, the rain gutters can become clogged with leaves, twigs, branches and other large pieces of debris that it wasn't designed to hold. While the frequency with which cleaning out this kind of debris depends on where you live and how severe the weather is at any given time of the year, it isn't uncommon for homeowners in the places that experience the worst weather to have to perform these cleanings more often than they might want to.

By getting a Gutter Protector for you rain gutters, you can drastically reduce how often you have to take out the ladder and climb your roof to clean the gutters.

Not cleaning out the rain gutters attached to your roof is a big mistake. If left unattended, the blockages the lead to leaks that could damage other parts of your home like the walls. Not only that, but the standing water can lead to weeds and plants growing if blockages aren't cleared quickly enough. Even worse, disease carrying mosquitoes like to nest in similar conditions and have been known to do so in rain gutters blocked to the point where collected rainwater has nowhere to go.

Protectors are designed to fit over rain gutters, allow the gutters to continue to collect water and channel it away while, at the same time, keeping out large pieces of debris.

Even with that piece of information in mind, you have to remember that the gutter protector does not have a universal design. There are several different types of gutter guards that, while they all do the same job, each type does it somewhat differently. You'll have to make the choice as to what kind of protector you want to put on your gutters yourself.

Whether the gutter shield that you choose is made of nylon, mesh, metal or has brush bristles there are factors to consider when picking the gutter protector that will be fitted to your rain gutters.

Many times, it's better to consult with a professional contractor experienced in installing rain gutter systems and gutter guards so that you get the best gutter shield for your home after factoring in things like the weather and your budget.

Hiring a contractor for this sort of work will also allow a speedy installation. When working with a contractor, you'll get an estimate for the work that needs to be done, as well as a plan for how the work will be carried out and a thorough evaluation of your specific needs for protecting your home. With a professional doing the work, gutter shield installation can often take as little as a few hours after all of the decisions are reached.

Poster Prints As Promotional Tools For Parks

Maintaining and promoting the use of a small community or neighborhood park can be challenging. When the town budget is limited and private support is absent, park maintenance officials need to come up with creative ways to generate income and promote the park's facilities. A more affordable but highly visible marketing tool for a local park can be the use of full color poster printing.

Posters are attractive. Posters with unique graphic designs, high-impact images, and a compelling message can really be noticed. A poster with an iconic image or great composition can become collector's items.

Posters are repositionable. Posters can be positioned in strategic locations in order to gain high visibility from a target market. Posters can also be posted in several locations all at once for greater exposure. Community bulletin boards, town halls, libraries, coffee houses, bookstores, pet stores, hobby and craft stores. Below are some ideas on how posters can be used to promote support for local parks:

o Posters to Promote Park Events-Posters can be used to promote upcoming special park fundraising events including concerts, fairs, sales, games, plays and sports activities like marathons.

o Posters to Promote Special Promos and Discounts-Posters can announce special promos or offers on park tours and amenity rentals. Posters can also announce discounted rates for the community when they celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions at the park.

Convenient Online Poster Printing

Ordering poster prints online is convenient and affordable. Online poster printing companies provide simple, easy to follow options to upload customized poster designs and sizes. online poster printing services use digital or offset printers that can print quantities from one to one hundred with no obligations to order minimum quantities. Ground shipping and prepress services like digital proofing are offered for free for added value.

Q: We will be closing on a building within a month. It has a parking lot that is beginning to show its age, probably about 20 years old. What sort of preventative maintenance is appropriate for parking lots?

A: The average life of a parking lot is generally from 20 to 30 years, but that depends greatly on its overall maintenance during its lifetime. You did not mention its present condition, but it is common that a parking lot undergo a major renovation that includes an overlay or complete resurfacing after 17 to 20 years, so yours is probably due.

The original construction of the lot (the quality of the installation, materials, foundation, and drainage), and its continuing maintenance are the major factors influencing its eventual life. If there are problems with the original construction, they will generally show up early in the form of fatigue cracking, depressions or rutting. The original design should take into account high traffic or areas that might bear extra weight, such as loading zones. Environment also causes parking lot failure, particularly water infiltration. Sunlight, water infiltration and a freezing/thawing cycle all contribute to parking lot failure.

A planned maintenance program is the best way to ensure that your parking lot reaches its peak life span https://www.piccadillyresidences.com. This includes regular sweeping (sand works just like sandpaper on wood), crack sealing, filling potholes and seal coating. There should be an urgency in sealing cracks and filling potholes. The longer they are unrepaired, the more extensive damage as water infiltrates. Winter repair may be temporary, but it should be done quickly. If necessary, a more permanent repair of cutting and replacing should be done in the spring.

Pavement will age regardless of how it was installed. Within three to four years a parking lot begins to "ravel", which means the surface is getting rougher. This is the time to seal-coat, and we recommend seal-coating no less than once every four years. This is the time to fill any cracks, which are disastrous to the long term life because they allow water intrusion into the pavement, as well as any potholes. And obviously, re-striping will be necessary after a complete seal-coating.

There is no magic available to indefinitely extend the life of a parking lot. But with a planned maintenance program, you can extract the maximum life, probably avoiding a costly total lot replacement by at least 10 years. This is truly one of those cases in life where spending a relatively small amount of money upfront will substantially reduce your overall cost.

My office is contacted many times a month regarding a parking lot control arm or barrier gate injury of some sort. These terms are generally interchangeable; however, some standards do not use the term control arm, only barrier arm. Usually, the attorney starts by explaining that the plaintiff was hit by a descending parking lot arm without any advance warning. Sometimes the injured party is riding a motorcycle, sometimes walking as a pedestrian under the arm. In other claims the gate arm does not fully cycle open before returning to the horizontal position. There are also cases where the gate appears to have been left in an open position, turned off, and is remaining in the upright position for extended periods of time and suddenly descends just as a pedestrian begins to pass under it. There are numerous variations of the same type of accident, but there are big differences in who the responsible party is for the cause of injury. Some of the first questions asked pertain to how the device works, and why the arm did not detect the person as they walked through the driveway.

FULLY AUTOMATED OR ATTENDED, BOTH SHARE SOME CHARACTERISTICS

Manufacturers of most barrier arm gates build their devices to activate in one of two different ways. Fully automated by remote stimulus and/or manually controlled by a parking lot attendant.

Many parking lot control arms are activated when a driver pulls up to a parking lot gate in a vehicle. As the vehicle arrives, an electronic signal is sent to the arm mechanism due to the detection of that vehicles large metallic presence interacting with an in-ground magnetic field. This

in- ground magnetic field is created from buried wires known in the trade as an induction loop. The signal generated from this "activation or approach magnetic induction flux loop" often is connected to a ticket printing device. This piece of equipment is commonly referred to as a "Ticket Spitter". The "Spitter" issues a ticket, usually for single vehicle access prior to activating the barrier arm gate mechanism causing the arm to raise. An alternative method to get the control arm raised requires a driver to reach out of the car and push a button to receive a parking lot access ticket from the "Spitter". (In that mode of operation, it is probable that there is no magnetic loop in place.) In either case, once the ticket is taken by the driver, the "Spitter" sends a control signal to the gate arm mechanism, and the arm is supposed to raise, generally for a single vehicle to control access to the parking lot.

As the vehicle transitions from the approach location where the ticket is issued, once the control arm raises, there is usually a functioning magnetic flux or induction "Safety Loop" located under the control arm swing location which provides protection for a vehicle until it has cleared the "Zone of Danger" underneath the active arm. The control arm may also be kept in the open position by a timer that holds the gate arm up for a predetermined time prior to closing. Using a timer function in place of an in-ground magnetic loop is risky, as vehicles may not clear the opening, or another vehicle can attempt to gain access without receiving a usage ticket. Older, non-current standard compliant installations have been seen without any consistency of design or operational function.

There are multiple installation variables that can alter the basic loop positions and quantities, but most basic systems operate as described above using at least two control loops. One underneath the control arm, and one egress or approach loop. In some installations, all three loops will be present. This triple looped system offers the most comprehensive safety for a vehicle, NOT A PEDESTRIAN!

MANUAL VERSIONS OF PARKING LOT CONTROL ARMS

A parking lot attendant, usually positioned inside an adjacent booth, has a control switch that activates the parking arm. The attendant has a switch that raises the arm, lowers the arm, and keeps the arm inactive, either up or down. Some manually controlled arms also have magnetic induction loops connected to the parking lot control arm when the parking lot is unmanned after hours, in which case, the arm should function in the fully automatic mode, as described above.

BARRIER ARMS ARE WEIGHT ACTIVATED, RIGHT?

Contrary to popular belief, most are activated due to a change in a magnetic field which is generated by twisted energized wires positioned below the adjacent pavement of the control arm. Modern arms are not usually controlled by pneumatic pressure like an old-fashioned gas station bell hose. It is unlikely that the weight of a vehicle or a pedestrian walking underneath the arm will stop an active arm. Modern parking arms are triggered by a change in the magnetic induction loop return. Modern induction loops are manufactured from a relatively light gauge of wire, placed in a rectangular shape that is calibrated and sized to detect a change in the magnetic field when a metallic object such as a vehicle enters or covers that field.

Many attorneys insist to me during their initial call that a pedestrian walked next one and activated the arm due to their client's weight, and the arm failed to remain open as they walked under the arm. This scenario is generally incorrect. Weight of a vehicle, or weight of a pedestrian cannot activate most modern parking control arms. A trigger of an arm or activation of a street traffic light due to weight has not been in practice for many years. It is highly unlikely that a pressure pad sensitive to weight is ever controlling a parking lot arm today.

UL 325/ASTM F2200

There are several standards that are used to design and install parking control/barrier arm devices. In the most basic sense, UL 325 (Underwriters Laboratories) in conjunction with ASTM F2200 (American Society of Testing Materials) as well as other trade organizations have compiled standards that are designed to make a control/barrier arm installation safe and user friendly. Most of the regulations that are referenced in these standards have been adopted and in common trade practice and usage since the year 2000. There are numerous revisions of these standards, and industry best practices for service providers and installers should be to bring any of these past installed products up to date with the latest revision of the standards for entrapment and function.

A UL 325 COMPLIANT INSTALLATION

A UL 325 compliant barrier arm or parking control arm installation requires several conditions to be met. The mechanism is generally installed atop a concrete island (not a UL requirement). All conduits and control circuits are routed into the base of the barrier arm mechanism through this elevated platform. This is not always the observed situation; however, it seems to be the most encountered condition as the elevated platform provides protection from vehicle impact for the arm housing. When this island is placed by a concrete contractor, it is the perfect time for the facility to install a dedicated pedestrian walkway.

This dedicated pedestrian walkway must be away from the "danger zone" of the active control arm. This dedicated pathway is one of the most important factors to having a UL 325 compliant installation. Another significant safety device required for a UL 325 compliant installation is blatant painted warnings on the pavement located adjacent to both sides (ingress and egress) of the control arm. For instance: "Not a Pedestrian Walkway" or "Motor Vehicles Only" along with bright stripes and designs to draw the attention of a pedestrian to indicate danger prior to coming into the "danger zone". Signage is also required, on the arm itself, the cabinet that houses the activation equipment, and on a placard in front of the control arm equipment.

PEDESTRIAN SIGNAGE, NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE

I have observed for many years that pedestrians are often walking while distracted by their cell phones, other people they are engaged in conversation with, or low lighting conditions. Although a UL requirement for a compliant installation is having a warning sign placed in several areas adjacent to and attached to the control arm, that warning is often unseen for many reasons. Pedestrians often look to the location that they are planning to reach without seeing their immediate surroundings. When this occurs, any warning signage has no value to them. A sign that is attached to a vertically elevated arm is out of the field of view for a pedestrian in most cases so that warning label is ineffective. A distracted pedestrian is as likely to walk off a curb in front of oncoming traffic or walk under a raised parking control arm without realizing that the danger exists. Blatant pavement signage has also been ignored by distracted pedestrians focused on getting to where they want to go.

WHO IS AT FAULT?

There are a variety of cases where a parking lot barrier arm has malfunctioned due to a complete lack of maintenance awareness. Most manufacturers suggest they should be inspected and evaluated for function by a professional service provider at least once a year. This interval inspection routine is questionable in a parking area with high usage of the control arm. In a case of continual usage, a professional service provider should be in place to inspect the device every quarter. Usually, some malfunction occurs that requires professional visits more frequently than every 3 or 4 months in a high usage installation.

Sometimes property management or an owner employs a maintenance person to make repairs. This can be problematic, as that maintenance person may not have adequate skills or training as to how to properly inspect the functions of the control arm mechanism and related systems correctly. In other low usage areas, where the arm is either occasionally used, unused and left in an open condition, or there is minimal parking lot activity, property owners never get them serviced. They are unaware of the need for service, feel that the arm is operating correctly when it is used, or just do not want to expense the services of a professional due to budgetary constraints or an ignorance of how the device functions.

Most owners of parking control lot arms do not understand or have the skills to properly check all functions of the arm control mechanism. They may be capable of replacing a broken arm component when damaged by a vehicle, but rarely understand the actual electronic requirements. When a competent, qualified professional service provider is used to make proactive inspections of a parking control arm, there are numerous tests and electronic evaluations that are made with dedicated service equipment that the average equipment owner would not possess.

One of the most basic critical evaluations to ensure that a parking control arm is properly functioning involves checking the resistance capacity of the in-ground magnetic flux loops. These loops are one of the primary controls for avoiding vehicular/arm impact collisions. There is an electronic meter known as a "megohm meter" or "meggar" that checks the condition of the in-ground loop insulation material of all system loops. It measures millions of ohms of resistance by placing a signal onto the flux loop when tested. The unbroken condition of the insulation that is the outside coating of these in ground wires is essential to have a properly functioning flux loop.

Electrical leakage to the surrounding ground due to partial loss of the protective insulation creates false imaging to the controls of the parking arm equipment. The insulation of these flux wire loops has an expected life. This is due to corrosive aspects of the material that the wires are encased in. Concrete, asphalt, various cement, sands and gravel all have corrosive components to their chemical composition. These acids can affect the lifetime of the flux wire insulation. Depending upon how much water leaches through the pavement, these flux wires will eventually be exposed to chemicals that will break down the insulation protection that is required. When that insulation breakdown finally happens, the operation of the magnetic flux loop is inconsistent and often becomes a danger to vehicles of all kinds (cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, trailers, etc.) using the control arm.

Defective operation of parking lot control systems has been frequently observed following flooding due to driven rains or adjacent sprinkler systems. In several past cases, service providers and owners that failed to take critical tests to determine insulation quality of magnetic loops have been responsible for damage caused as a result of those unknown wire conditions. In some claims, the service provider was aware that the loops were not functioning up to specifications of the loop manufacturer yet failed to take any proactive action to have them replaced, or minimally alert the owner of the arm that the condition existed. To save money, some service providers fabricate their own loops for these installations. When that is the case, the service provider needs to regularly verify the condition of the loops to make certain that the performance is as required.

ADDING ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURES

It is usually a goal to make a product that is as safe as is possible for all users. The UL 325 standards attempt to keep current with technological advances but are not always up to date. Basic requirements as described above do make control arms reasonably safe, but there are additional safety devices that can be added to most parking control systems.

Cross threshold optical sensor beams. These beams function in the same way that a common residential automatic garage door bottom beam sensor works. They provide an additional protection to both vehicles and pedestrians as they stop the control arm from descending when the beam is obstructed. To be effective, they need to be properly positioned and in enough quantity.

Audible alarms are being installed to alert pedestrians and drivers in proximity to the control arm that it is about to descend.

Visible alarms that provide strobe or flashing light action alert pedestrians and drivers that the barrier arm is about to descend.

Contact safety switches attached to the bottom edge of a parking control arm cause the descending arm to reverse when 10 pounds of force from an obstruction occurs.

These added safety devices are not part of any standard requirement but are relatively inexpensive to add to a control arm system and tend to be more effective in warning pedestrians that something is about to happen. Both alarms begin working a few seconds before any activation movement of the arm starts. A properly positioned beam or beams can be effective in stopping the descent of a control arm when a pedestrian is obstructing the beam but is not fully reliable due to user interactions. It is best practice to avoid having any pedestrian walk under the pathway of a control arm.

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING THE ACTIVE CONDITION OF ALL MAGNETIC LOOPS

Many motorcycle injuries from parking arms have occurred as a direct result of magnetic loop degeneration. Properly operating control loops should have enough sensitivity to "notice" most metallic objects. I have been able to test magnetic fields for gates and control arms using a one-foot square piece of sheet steel with positive results that have activated the devices. Cars and trucks obviously have larger footprints than a motorcycle, scooter or bicycle, but if the loops are sensitive enough and the module that controls those loops is properly adjusted, it is not unreasonable to get a big enough change in the magnetic field to trigger the operator mechanism. Unless there are specific access and egress points for motorcycles and other two wheeled conveyances, most riders will expect that a control arm will react to their rides. It is critically important to have competent professional service providers evaluate control arm systems on a regular basis. Changes to sensitivity of the magnetic fields that can occur suddenly create problems resulting in cosmetic damage to cars but can cause catastrophic dangerous conditions for two wheeled vehicles. Motorcycle accidents with barrier arms are particularly dangerous when the safety loops that are positioned under the control arm fail or work intermittently. A rider will gain access, the arm will lift, and without warning it will descend into the face or on top of the head of the rider leading to potentially severe injuries. It is a reasonable expectation on the part of a motorcycle operator that the arm will remain open and the in-ground loops will detect the presence of a motorcycle. Dangerous conditions that exist as a result of deferred or non-existent maintenance of parking control arms have created many motorcycle rider impact injury claims.

VARIETY OF OBLIGATIONS ON ALL PARTIES

THE OWNERS OBLIGATIONS

When there is no proactive maintenance of any device or piece of equipment in a facility the owner is negligent for failing to make the effort to ensure that the property will be safe for all invitees. Failing to employ competent professional service providers due to cost, ignorance, laziness or stupidity is negligent. Having properly maintained and properly operating equipment is responsible and meets the standard of care expected of an owner that invites the public on to the property. Having a proactive plan to provide inspections and maintenance of all equipment is responsible and diligent. If the professional service provider has not met the standard of care, the owner may ultimately have the responsibility for the defective condition of the control arm. Whether or not there is an indemnification policy between the service provider and owner can determine who is financially responsible for the injury claim. If the owner has been informed of operational or functional deficiencies by others and has refused to upgrade or make the control arm standard compliant, it is more probable than not that the owner will become a responsible party.

A SERVICE PROVIDERS OBLIGATIONS

If a professional service provider does not make the property owner aware of changes in standards or advise the owner of possible safety upgrades, that professional is not acting up to industry expectations. The service provider is also not taking the opportunity for increased sales revenues derived from making those suggestions. If a service provider has offered limited services to an owner (such as an on-call / as-needed basis), it is hard to place the blame on the service provider that was just providing specific work. It is still recommended that all deficiencies in an operating barrier arm system be identified, specified, and described so that the service provider can transfer the liability onto the owner of the now non-compliant control arm.

When a professional service provider installs a parking control arm in a non-compliant installation (for example there is no dedicated walkway or signage), the obligations for that deficiency depend upon the communication and working relationship with the owner of the property. There are several different scenarios that determine the responsible parties for the non-compliant conditions.

Was the service provider only called upon to install a specific product?

Was the service provider limited by the owner of the property to only do a specified job?

Did the service provider make the owner aware of the deficiencies of the installation prior to, during or after the work was performed?

Did the service provider attempt to make the installation current standard compliant, but was told not to?

What portion of the installation was the service provider involved with? For example, the service provider was contracted by a general contractor and told to specifically provide a portion of the products required to make the installation compliant. The representations made by the general contractor was that the general would place all signs when the project was turned over to the owner, the general would have appropriate pavement warnings painted and placed when the paving was completed, and the general would install a dedicated walk way for pedestrians at a later date.

If the service provider acted in a trade appropriate manner, fulfilled all duties and obligations informing the owner or management of the non-compliant conditions encountered, that service provider has met the industry standard of care. In that case, the service provider is not responsible for a non- compliant control arm installation.

PEDESTRIANS INVOLVED IN A PARKING CONTROL ARM INJURY

WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES?

This condition has been seen so many times that multiple injuries were caused in the exact same way. In several past claims, a pedestrian was essentially forced to walk under a parking control arm because there was no other way to exit the lot or garage space. There was no dedicated pedestrian walkway, no openings in a fence, no indicated paths for people to exit, no special stairways or other means of egress, and in those cases, the control arm was unavoidable. In other claims, a remotely operated control arm, that was activated by a guard in an adjacent hut came down upon several pedestrians due to the guard being careless. The gate was routinely in an upright position, the guard never meant to have the gate close upon the pedestrians, yet the injury took place as a direct result of the guard's negligence.

ACTUAL CASES OF PEDESTRIANS BEING STRUCK BY PARKING CONTROL ARMS

A group of pedestrians walking into a concert venue walked under a control arm, which came down just as they walked under it. There was plenty of space on either side of the control arm, but there was no signage or painted warnings on the pavement showing where the arm could come down.

A pedestrian going to work in a hospital, caused her own injury. She watched as a car went through the control arm entry point and did not realize that the gate would close upon her. In her deposition statements she said she thought that the arm would stay up because she had seen other people walk through the same opening in the past without the arm descending. There was a dedicated walkway a few feet away from where this incident occurred, going through the vehicle path was a shortcut that saved a few steps and caused her major injury.

Tenant of an apartment complex gets hit with control arm gate after helping a neighbor gain access when the neighbor had forgotten her card key access pass. The injured party stood adjacent to the control arm, swiped her access card, watched her friend drive through the opening and then without thought proceeded into the lot following the car. Once the car cleared the magnetic loops, the arm descended as designed, only it struck the tenant, knocking her out only seconds after her good deed.

INTENDED USE OF CONTROL ARMS

Control arms are designed for restricting the flow of vehicles into or out of a location that desires regulation of traffic. The equipment functions based upon activation signals received as described above. Access points that have control arms are not intended for pedestrian traffic at any time. While most vehicles are metallic, most pedestrians are non-metallic. The machines that operate these control arms are dumb robots without any capabilities of intervention in the event of a non- conforming use. A pedestrian attempting to walk through a parking control arm location is a non- conforming use, and there must be some common sense exercised when assessing an interaction with any robotic machine.

PROPERTY OWNER OR PROPERTY MANAGER RESPONSIBILITIES

All owners that have public, commercial, or residential community properties can expect usage by thousands of different people. If proactive maintenance and evaluation of the location setting as well as the condition of the equipment that people interact with is made routinely, an owner can take the needed steps to keep the property in a reasonably safe condition. An owner should enlist the services of qualified and competent service providers to make certain that all access control arms are properly functioning, and the site is totally compliant. If an owner takes responsibility and hires professional service providers to make a property fully compliant, that owner has met his obligations to all invitees of the property. Failing to proactively evaluate a potentially dangerous condition is negligent. Maintenance saves money in the long run. Keeping equipment of all kinds in good condition is responsible and indicates good ownership. Safety to all invitees should be of prime importance to a concerned owner.

TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Magnetic induction flux loop: A wire of specific size and design placed below the pavement surface to create a magnetic field which is altered when a metal object (vehicle) is in proximity or on top of the wire field.

Ticket Spitter: A printing device used to dispense parking tickets to patrons of a parking lot. Manual (push button by user) or automatic (triggered by presence of vehicle on top of magnetic loop in ground), records date and time of entry onto a paper ticket and then when removed from the slot activates a control arm mechanism to gain access into the lot.

Control arm device: All electronic and mechanical equipment combined to allow a gate arm to raise and lower.

Approach loop: Magnetic loop placed in ground to trigger activation of a control device.

Safety Loop: Magnetic loop placed directly under the path of a parking control arm to protect vehicles from impact by a descending gate arm when the zone is occupied by a vehicle.

Egress loop: Magnetic loop placed in ground to hold a control device in the open position until the area can be cleared. Usually in place in high traffic or cross traffic locations.

Megohm meter (Megger): An electronic meter designed to determine resistance in millions of ohms, relevant to this article, checking for leakage due to the breaking down of insulation on in ground magnetic flux loop wires used to control parking control arm actions.

Zone of Danger: The area immediately under the path of a descending parking control arm and any immediate area where a pedestrian could be struck by a descending arm without notice.