Safety is NOT optional on powered gate systems, it is mandatory
We are finding more and more often people with electric entrance gates are contacting us for advice on the safety of their electric entrance gates as they have been installed by trades people outside the automatic gate industry, using equipment bought online.
Unfortunately, far too often the lowest specification of motor drive units are being used so end up being on or beyond their power limits and worse still basic automatic gate safety is being avoided altogether. The usual excuse we hear is based on not wanting to spend the additional money on the gate safety devices and they will take the risk themselves.
We are happy to assist wherever possible of course and give an honest opinion on the basic requirements to comply with regulations in the UK on remote control entrance gates. We can offer the installation of the required equipment to comply if it isn’t in place already.
There is a lot of information online about automatic gate safety and the legal requirements, but a lot of it is common sense quite often.
You should never, ever have a remote controlled electric entrance gate without any form of obstacle detection system incorporated to stop and reverse when any obstacle is met in the path of the gate travel. Not having basic safety sensors breaks every basic rule going and could end up with serious repercussions if there was ever an injury or worse with the gates injuring a person.
Automated gates provide excellent security and control over who can access domestic and commercial properties, but they are classed as machinery in law and must be legally compliant and safe for anyone to use. In a commercial environment there will often be far higher risk as anyone can be within proximity of the gate when operating.
Further to the basic safety requirements are the issues of dealing with entrapment and crushing areas on gates, especially with open design sliding gates where a limb, hand or head can be trapped with terrible consequences. The gate design itself can take a lot of issues out of the equation when it comes to safety and we can assist with all that detail when consulting with us.
To most people there is no visual difference between a safe electric gate and an unsafe one. Not only are infra red safety beams used and when broken prevent the gate being operated, but far more important are leading edge obstacle detection systems designed to stop and reverse the gate when they are blocked by any obstacle.
If you think your electric gate or barrier isn’t safe then please contact us for a consultation and basic safety check. Without a minimum level of safety and obstacle detection in place, whether you are in a domestic or commercial property, you could be breaking the law.
Contact us for details on our gate safety assessment service on (01933) 229123
Alternatively email us on enquiries@agdsystems.co.uk or go to our contact form
