Technical Tuesday updates

Standards require that any system not operated in hold-to-run mode must have accessible moving parts hazards protected either by limiting the exerted force or providing a non-contact presence detections system. A safe edge is one way of providing force limitation, the other equally viable method for some crush and impact hazards is inherent force limitation, where the drive unit can sense an obstruction and retract the moving leaf before crush or impact force becomes too high. Read TS 013-1 for further guidance.

Did you know, although force testing is mostly done at the main closing edge of hinged powered gates, safe force across the entire width of the gate has to be verified.  After all, the main edge of a hinged gate is actually the point of least torque.  EN 12453 states the following on this subject: “The following clauses describe the tests necessary at the closing edges, but where other hazards of [gates] are being protected by limitation of forces, the values specified in Annex A shall be verified at that hazard."  DHF training and TS 013 explain how to assess where crush hazards exist on a hinged gate and how to verify safe force at all crush and impact hazard areas.

Did you know, if it is possible (not just probable) for a powered gate to contact a person, safe force must be effective wherever the gate could contact them.  This means that on a hinged gate, either the gate must be equipped with laser scanners on both sides, or that it must have effective force limitation at the main edge and across both lower edges.  Many hinged gates are capable of crushing body parts in the swept arc of movement, but only achieve safe force at the main edge; this is neither safe or compliant.  Force limited automatic gates must also have supplementary beams, but these are a secondary measure to improve probability, not the primary requirement to control the possibility of harm to people. Read TS 013-1 for further guidance.

The criminal laws affecting supply and maintenance are stringent. Any company who works on your gate must ensure that it is safe on completion:

1. With the exception of private domestic owners, owners and managers of powered gates are legally obliged to keep them in a safe condition due to a range of criminal workplace and general health and safety legislation. All owners are subject to civil law requiring that injury and damage to property must be prevented.
2. The UK Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Northern Ireland Health and Safety at Work Order 1979, and the Republic of Ireland Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005 place a criminal responsibility on companies working on gate systems to ensure that unsafe systems are not left in service.

Powered pedestrian gates are actually classified as automatic doors within the scope of EN 16005, rather than vehicle or goods entrance gates covered by EN 12453. Whilst it is not a finite legal requirement to use the appropriate standard, and equal or better level of safety must be achieved.  Given that EN 16005 requires the use of non-contact presence detection over force limitation in higher risk locations, when automating pedestrian gates, either non-contact presence detection or force limitation with a 150N maximum (rather than 400N allowed on vehicle gates) in combination with photo beams inside and out should be used. Read TS 013-1 for further guidance.

Automated gates are classed as machinery and as such, when they are installed, they must be provided with adequate safety to ensure that users and others who may be affected, like passers-by and visitors to your property, are not endangered. The laws affecting maintenance are quite stringent and any company who works on your gate must ensure that it is safe.  HSE has some useful information for domestic owners of automated gates, including your responsibilities: http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/faq-powered-gates.htm