Guide to Automated Gate Safety
Automated gates make life more convenient and improve property security, but they are pieces of moving machinery that can cause serious injury if they are not properly designed, installed, and maintained. This guide explains what the safety requirements are and what you should expect from a professional installation.
WHY SAFETY MATTERS:
There have been fatal incidents in the UK involving automated gates. In most cases, the cause was inadequate safety provision: gates without proper safety devices, gates that had not been risk-assessed, or gates where the force was not properly limited. These are avoidable problems, and proper installation eliminates the risk.
THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK:
Automated gates fall under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. The installer has a legal duty to ensure that the completed gate system meets the essential health and safety requirements. The property owner has an ongoing duty to maintain the system in a safe condition.
RISK ASSESSMENT:
Every automated gate installation should begin with a site-specific risk assessment. This identifies the hazards present at that particular site, such as the risk of someone being trapped between a closing gate and a wall, the risk of a child climbing on a moving gate, or the risk of a vehicle being struck by a sliding gate.
The risk assessment determines which safety devices are needed. A gate on a quiet private driveway may need different measures to a gate on a busy commercial entrance with pedestrian traffic. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
SAFETY DEVICES:
The most common safety devices are photocells, which are infrared beams positioned across the gate opening that detect when something is in the path; safety edges, which are pressure-sensitive strips on the leading edges of the gates that trigger a stop when contact is made; force limitation, where the motor is set so that the gate cannot exert dangerous pressure on an obstruction; and manual release mechanisms that allow the gates to be opened by hand in an emergency.
FORCE TESTING:
After installation and at each annual service, the force exerted by the gate should be measured and recorded. This confirms that the gate will stop or reverse before it can injure someone. The results are compared against the limits in the relevant safety standards.
DOCUMENTATION:
A proper installation should produce a Declaration of Incorporation confirming the system meets the essential health and safety requirements, a risk assessment document, force test results, an installation manual with operating instructions, and a maintenance schedule.
ONGOING MAINTENANCE:
Safety devices need regular testing to confirm they are still working. Motors drift over time and may need force levels readjusted. Components wear and need replacing. Annual safety testing is the minimum recommendation for all automated gates.
WHAT IF YOUR GATE IS NOT COMPLIANT?
If your automated gate was installed without proper safety measures, or if it has not been serviced and tested, it may not be compliant. We can carry out a full safety assessment, identify any gaps, and recommend the work needed to bring the system up to standard.
Need a safety assessment or annual test? Call 01952 740308.
