Advice For Domestic Owners of Automated Electric Gates

Consumer Information - This information has been produced by dhf as a guide to ensure that you are aware of what your installer is legally obliged to do for your gate to comply with legislation and be safe, and what documentation you should receive from your installer for your records.
 
Advice For Domestic Owners of Automated Gates.
An automated gate is a machine and it poses potential risks to children and adults alike.  In recent years, there have been several deaths caused by dangerous gates along with countless serious injuries and near misses. Unfortunately, there continues to be lack of awareness and knowledge of automated gate safety with a proliferation of poorly trained, Ill equipped and unqualified installers operating illegally, particularly in the domestic market. There is an unknown number of dangerous gates still in service today, many of which are On domestic properties. If someone was to get injured by a dangerous gate, the owner could well be held liable.
 
By choosing a dhf member you can be assured that they are aware of the criminal laws that require automated gates are safe: anyone installing, maintaining, or repairing a gate is legally required to ensure the gate is safe.
 
New gates are required to comply with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations which bring the European Machinery Directive into UK law.
Further, anyone maintaining, repairing or modifying an automated gate is required by section 3 of the Health & Safety at work Act 1974 to ensure all works result in a safe gate.
 
In every case, a safe gate is defined as one conforming to or exceeding the requirements of BS EN 12453 :2017 and BS EN 12604-2018 which requires that:

•  Automatic gates must be protected by “touch sensitive” control either by rubber safety edges or intelligent drive units that will cause the gate to retract if it encounters an obstacle. The effectiveness of these must be checked using a force testing metre to ensure that forces are at a safe level.
• There should also be “light beams” across the entrance as a backup measure.
• Light beams must never be the sole protection measure, unless they form multi beam curtaining that prevents all possible access to the moving gate.
• Multi beam light curtaining is a little used technology in the domestic market due to its relatively high cost.
• A single beam of light is just too easy to defeat by standing astride or leaning over the beam for it to be safe.

​Where the gate creates a shearing hazard as it passes a fixed support element, wall or fence (very common with a sliding gate) there must be rubber safety edges or fencing to prevent access to the dangerous movement. These areas could alternatively be protected with a light curtain. 
 
Rather than use additional safety devices, smart design that eliminates changing hinge gaps and use of intelligent drive units can be utilised to provide the required level of safety.
 
The gate below uses a combination of careful design to eliminate hinge gap hazards and drives with built in obstacle detection. The gate will stop and reverse on contact with obstacles; this is backed up by light beams across the opening.

​You should also be provided with user instructions, safety warnings and maintenance instructions, together with a log book to record maintenance and repair activities.
 
In order for an automated gate to remain safe, it will need regular maintenance and safety checks to ensure that it will remain safe and reliable in service.
It is inconceivable to imagine an automated gate that does not require at least an annual maintenance visit and many systems will need more regular visits dependent on use, automation and safety devices in use.

dhf Automated Gate Group member companies  have all been trained and qualified to install, maintain and repair automated gates. They have agreed to work within a strict code and always operate strictly within the law.
Contact dhf to help find a company locally on 01827 52337, visit www.dhfonline.org.uk , or email info@dhfonline.org.uk and always look out for the dhf logo.

The Electric Gate Company offer high quality bespoke electric & automated gates for commercial and residential properties. Including aluminium electric gates, wooden electric gates, sliding electric gates, electric speed gates, turnstiles and barriers.
View our range of electric gates and automatic gates, including bespoke design service and installation below..