Category: Access Latch

If you’re working with young children in a kinder, preschool or childcare centre, you’ll no doubt be used to entering and exiting via a MagnaLatch® childproof gate system. While for most of us, this is something we probably just do on autopilot, for people of short stature and those in a wheelchair, it can be a major hurdle due to the height of the childproof lock.

In Australia, safety gate systems, such as Magnalatch®, are used in early learning, childcare settings, and community playgrounds to keep children safe and ensure compliance with applicable legal and safety requirements. However, the one issue with the product to date has been the height of the lock, which sits at around 1500–1600 mm from the ground. At this height, any visitors, staff, or clients who are in a wheelchair or of short stature are unable to reach the lock, meaning they cannot enter or exit the premises independently.

The good news is, that’s about to change! The AccessLatch MKII is a fantastic new product that can quickly and easily be installed on Magnalatch® safety gate systems, allowing them to be opened from a lower height while remaining child safe and compliant with requirements.

So if you’re looking for a simple, affordable, no-power solution you can add to your preschool or childcare centre’s safety gate system to make it accessible to all, read on to discover more about the AccessLatch.

AccessLatch = Equal access for all

No matter your sector or industry, these days every organisation has a responsibility to provide equal access to people of all abilities. There are now many more workplaces, businesses and community spaces that include features like ramps and accessible car parks, that allow access to people of all abilities—however, there remain some barriers that require attention. 

For example, the height of locks on safety gates means that those in a wheelchair and of short stature are unable to gain access to the premises. Thankfully, more and more simple, affordable solutions are becoming available to solve access issues, and AccessLatcc MKII is a great example of this. Once installed, it removes the barrier of height for anyone attending your preschool or childcare centre who is of short stature or in a wheelchair, allowing them to gain access quickly, easily and independently.

Simple, affordable, zero-hassle solution 

For some businesses, the belief that accessibility and access solutions are difficult to implement and expensive to design and install is a barrier to taking action. And while some solutions do require significant changes, the AccessLatch is a simple add-on to your existing or new Magnalatch® safety gate system that is really easy to install and inexpensive to buy. The AccessLatch is essentially a key-operated base unit that allows the gate to be opened from a lower height with the use of an MLAK key. This provides instant access to those who need it while maintaining child safety standards and compliance with the relevant requirements.

No power saves you time and money

 

Not only do electric and battery-operated units cost money to run, but they also require ongoing maintenance checks to keep them operating effectively. With the smart key-operated design of the AccessLatch, you can forget about the hassle of replacing batteries or maintaining a power source. The lock barrel of the unit is conveniently fitted with a standard PD barrel used for restricted access keys so that all that is needed for access is an MLAK key that’s available from local councils. Alternatively, if your preschool or centre prefers to use a unique key for access, a locksmith can simply re-key the barrel to suit your requirements.

Equal access can be as simple as that

As AccessLatch demonstrates, providing equal access for all can be simple and hassle-free. Not only is it 100% Australian-made, but it is also designed to comply with the relevant Australian standards and comes with a 10-year replacement warranty for total confidence and peace of mind. So if you’re keen for your preschool, kinder, childcare or early learning centre to be accessible and welcoming to all, the AccessLatch could be the ideal solution. 

If you have a question about AccessLatch or any of our other products, contact our team on 1300 994 890. We’re always happy to offer expert advice and guidance to help you provide equal access to all.

 

Most parents of small children would agree that the growing trend towards fenced community playgrounds is a positive move. The addition of a safety gate system such as MagnaLatch MKII provides peace of mind, as it offers an additional layer of safety to prevent children from getting lost or wandering into a dangerous situation, such as a nearby road or waterway. However, for parents, carers and grandparents who are of short stature or in a wheelchair, the height of the latch on safety gate systems is generally out of reach, which means they are no longer able to enter the space independently. 

However, the good news is that there is now a solution that allows this group to enter their favourite park or other fenced facilities with zero fuss, while also keeping kids safe. The MagnaLatch MKII is a simple and affordable add-on unit for MagnaLatch safety gate opener, which can be easily implemented by councils and community groups to new and existing fenced playgrounds.

The AccessLatch attaches to new and existing Magnalatch safety gate systems and doesn’t require any complicated installations, ongoing running costs, or maintenance. So, to find out the key benefits of the AccessLatch and discover how it can make your fenced community playground more accessible, read on.

Easy to install on both new and existing safety gate systems

To provide the most enjoyment, it’s essential that community spaces are easily accessible to people from all walks of life. Whether you are in the planning stages of developing or reshaping a new playspace, or have an existing fenced playground in your region already, with the addition of the AccessLatch, your fenced community playground can become instantly accessible to people of short stature and in wheelchairs.

Installing the MagnaLatch MKII does not require any major investment in cost, time or effort, which is a big plus when you’re working for an organisation with a strict budget process and limitations. It can be simply added to the existing MagnaLatch MKII opening mechanism as required, making it suitable to roll out to all fenced community playgrounds and spaces in your zone.

Smart design with no power source required 

Another big plus is that the key-operated base of the AccessLatch does not require a power source or batteries to function, which eliminates much of the ongoing maintenance and operation costs. The design includes a standard PD lock barrel suitable for restricted access keys. It can be opened with an MLAK^(R) key, which allows access to people with disability with ease. Alternatively, the barrel can also be re-keyed to a unique lock if preferred where restricted access is required. 

High-quality Australian-made product that’s built to last

When installing safety and security features in public spaces, it’s essential to use high-quality products. This is a big factor in minimising unnecessary maintenance and replacement costs due to avoidable damage and premature wear and tear. Materials used within playgrounds need to be long-lasting and durable, especially the entry and exit points that experience high traffic and frequent use. The MagnaLatch MKII ticks both these boxes, providing you with peace of mind that it will withstand the daily rigours of heavy use. It is 100% Australian-made from quality materials and is designed to comply with all the relevant Australian standards. Another value-add feature is that it comes with a 10-year replacement warranty, so you can be confident that any faults will be rectified promptly and with no out-of-pocket costs.

Also check out the benefits of AccessLatch for Childcare Centres

When you work with or care for children, childproof gates are a must. Across Australia, they are used in community playgrounds, preschools, kindergartens and childcare centres are highly effective at keeping children safe and ensuring compliance with the relevant safety and legal regulations and requirements.

1) An AccessLatch makes your premises accessible to all

Today, every workplace, business and community space has a responsibility to ensure that its premises can be easily accessed by people of all abilities. While ramps, accessible car parks and toilets are all now common features, there remain some small but important details that are often overlooked but can cause significant inconvenience and unnecessary stress. For people in wheelchairs and of short stature, safety gates can be one such problem if there is no alternative to the standard height lock. For this group, the installation of an AccessLatch MKII is a simple and cost-effective solution that allows them to access the premises quickly, easily and independently.

2) The AccessLatch is a simple solution that’s easy to install

While some accessibility solutions can be difficult to implement and/or expensive to design and fit, the AccessLatch MKII is simple to install and can easily be added to a new or existing Magnalatch® safety gate product. As an alternative key-operated base unit it allows the gate to be opened from a lower height with the use of an MLAK^(R) key. This solution provides easy access to those who need it while also allowing your child safety lock system to remain child-safe and compliant with the relevant requirements.

3) The AccessLatch doesn’t require batteries or power to operate

Because the AccessLatch does not require batteries or a power source to operate, once it’s installed you won’t need to worry about ongoing maintenance or operating costs. The lock barrel of the unit comes fitted with a standard PD barrel used for restricted access keys, so all users need for access is an MLAK key and they can enter easily. If preferred, the barrel can be rekeyed by a locksmith, giving you complete flexibility to suit your requirements.

A simple solution that allows easy access for all

We are passionate about equal access and see the AccessLatch MKII as a simple solution that preschools, kindergartens, early learning and childcare centres Australia-wide can easily implement to allow people in wheelchairs and of short stature to come and go from the premises with ease. 

On top of this, the AccessLatch MKII is 100% Australian-made and comes with a 10-year replacement warranty for peace of mind. Made from high-quality glass-filled Nylon with a UV dampener and designed to comply with AS 1428.1 (2009) – Design for access and mobility and AS 1926 – Safety barriers for swimming pools, once it’s installed, you can be confident it will provide access to all with zero fuss!

If you’d like to know more about AccessLatch MKII or have a question about any of our other products, please contact our team on 1300 994 890 to discuss your requirements.

3 Important Reasons Why Your Preschool or Childcare Centre Should Install an AccessLatch MKII