Yes, first and foremost, metal causes the RF field of prox/AVI readers or wireless transmission devices to collapse into itself, resulting in degraded read ranges and/or blocked signal transmission. Polycarbonate Housings are “wireless friendly”, that is to say they never impact the performance of any RFID devices. Secondly, metal housings have a tendency to rust and get dented which not only affects the aesthetics of the install, it also necessitates ongoing maintenance. Polycarbonate Housings never rust and do not require any maintenance. Thirdly, mounting devices on, installing and customizing metal housings often require special tools and drill bits while Polycarbonate Housings only require standard hand tools and are easily customized. Despite having tremendous tensile strength (9,000 psi), they “cut like butter”. Last but not least, Polycarbonate Housings are less expensive than most metal housings.

BABA is an acronym for “Build America, Buy America” and in the simplest terms, that means a compliant product is not only built in America, but all source materials used in the product are sourced in America as well. Don’t be fooled by verbiage like “Country of Origin – USA” or “Built in America” because most frequently, these products are assembled or modified in America from foreign source materials. All of our Housings and our Steel Pedestals are Build America, Buy America Act Compliant (our Stainless Steel and Aluminum is sourced in the E.U. and those pedestals are manufactured here in the U.S).

No, The Housing Company is a small, privately owned American business that was started in 2001 by two guys in the RFID/Gate & Access Control industries that are both still active in the business.

No, our Polycarbonate Housings and Steel Pedestal materials are 100% domestically sourced so those are not subject to any tariffs. Our stainless steel and aluminum pedestal (representing less than 5% of Pedestal sales) materials are sourced from the E.U. and are potentially subject to tariffs.

Primarily, our Housings are uniquely designed so the covers can be “popped off” and re-attached to facilitate the mounting of devices (readers, intercoms, cameras). Additionally, the more metal you add to the Housing, the more detrimental it is to RFID devices.

Yes, The Housing Company offers the ICMS, Internal Component Mounting Solution, for each of the  Housings. The ICMS consists of a custom milled HDPE plate, pre-drilled (for included screws) that mounts on the mounting bosses molded into the inside of the Housings.

The best solution is to install our dual head 42 inch Pedestal (PS042B-UDP) so you can install two Housings side by side.

Yes, our recommendation is 12” x 12” cube of (min. 3000 psi) concrete for single car height  (36 and 42 inch) including dual head (side by side) pedestals. And 12”x 12” x 24” cube of (min. 3000 psi) concrete for dual height and AVI stanchions (72 and 94 inch) is appropriate in most cases. Width & Depth recommendations are subject to site soil conditions and consideration of area frost lines. The pad depth should be below frost line by 6”-8”.

Yes, due to the following: Alloy Composition: Chinese steel products may incorporate a broader range of alloying elements, sometimes using lower-grade materials or more recycled metals, which can affect the steel's performance characteristics. Common Fillers: U.S. steel tends to use higher-quality alloys and follows specific standards that dictate the use of fillers, making the steel more reliable for demanding applications. Quality Control: U.S. manufacturers often adhere to stringent quality control measures and industry standards, ensuring more consistency in product performance. Chinese suppliers may have variable quality control, impacting the final product's reliability. Production Methods: The methods and technologies used in producing steel can differ, with U.S. manufacturers often employing more advanced metallurgical techniques that yield higher-quality steel.

The PS042-BSS is “Brushed” Stainless Steel, not “Polished” Stainless Steel. Brushed stainless steel has a matte, textured finish that hides scratches and fingerprints, while polished stainless steel has a shiny, mirror-like surface that looks elegant but shows wear more easily. The choice is mostly about aesthetics and maintenance, not performance.