Over the coming months, Dimension Engineering will be available to carry out detailed inspections on all types of industrial gates to existing customers. In the following articles released by the HSE, clearly details all the new requirements regarding gate safety in order to be compliant with the current Machinery Directive. At Dimension, we have compiled all these new requirements and have generated a detailed gate inspection program/Risk Assessment to provide to clients to ensure that all there machinery/equipment is fully compliant with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

If you wish to avail of this please contact us to discuss your requirements.

In June 2010 the tragic deaths of 2 young children in separate incidents less than 1 week apart only served to highlight the safety issues facing the European gate automation industry. All automatic gate systems by LAW must be installed in compliance with the Machinery Directive MD2006/42/EC and supporting standards as highlighted by recent safety advisories.

All Manufacturers and installers of automatic gate systems should take all necessary steps to meet compliance with the Machinery Directive to ensure their completed products are safe.

To aid manufacturers & installers in meeting the requirements for directive compliance, a harmonised product standard for gates was produced in 2003. The standard BS-EN13241-1:2003 provides an umbrella platform for creating a compliant gate product. The umbrella platform refers to supporting standards which contain information and requirements for various aspects of the gates performance & design

Index of Standards

BS-EN 13241-1 makes reference to the following standards:-

• BS-EN 12453:2001 – Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates. Safety in use of power operated doors. Requirements.
• BS-EN 12445:2001 – Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates. Safety in use of power operated doors. Test methods.
• BS-EN 12978:2003 – Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates. Safety devices for power operated doors and gates. Requirements and test methods.
• BS-EN 1760-2:2001 – Safety of machinery. Pressure sensitive protective devices. General principles for the design and testing of pressure sensitive edges and pressure sensitive bars.
• BS-EN 12604:2000 – Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates. Mechanical aspects. Requirements.
• BS-EN 12605:2000 – Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates. Mechanical aspects. Test methods.

Relevant Articles

Technical Documents Required

Automatic Swinging Gate Force Safety Testing Swing Gate Test Points

Automatic Sliding Gate Force Safety Testing Sliding Gate Test Points

Servicing, Maintenance & Repair of Existing Gates

Responsibilities of the Installer/ Manufacturer on a New Automatic Gate Installation New Installation

In addition to the following guidance for product standards, the machinery directive requires several key documents to be created in a technical file. This technical file can then be handed over with the finished gate product to the client.

For the installer the required documents include the following:-

• Risk Assessment.
• Declaration of Conformity.
• Manufacturers CE marked stamp or label.
• Force testing results.
• Declarations of Incorporation or Conformity from the drive unit & safety device manufacturer.
• Guide for safe use of gate (operational instructions).
• Installation / Maintenance log book.

Relevant Articles

Technical Documents Required

Automatic Swinging Gate Force Safety Testing Swing Gate Test Points

Automatic Sliding Gate Force Safety Testing Sliding Gate Test Points

Servicing, Maintenance & Repair of Existing Gates

Responsibilities of the Installer/ Manufacturer on a New Automatic Gate Installation New Installation

Gate Safety in the European market

New Installation

When commissioning a new gate installation, you are required to comply with the machinery directive standards. This applies to all of the below;

• You manufacture the gate and automation drive unit.
• You manufacture the gate but use automation from another manufacturer.
• You buy the gate and automation from other manufacturers, and commission as a product.

In the situations detailed below, the risk assessment carried out may identify reduced risks associated with the use of the gate. However even in these circumstances, the consumer, the owner, the installer & the service engineer’s safety when using the gate must be considered.

• The gate is only used by trained users and there is no intended, inadvertent or unauthorised access to it by members of the public (e.g. secure M.O.D facilities).
• The gate is operated only by trained users using a physical hold to run device (such as a key switch) when the trained user is in the direct vicinity of the gate.

Relevant Articles

Technical Documents Required

Automatic Swinging Gate Force Safety Testing Swing Gate Test Points

Automatic Sliding Gate Force Safety Testing Sliding Gate Test Points

Servicing, Maintenance & Repair of Existing Gates

Responsibilities of the Installer/ Manufacturer on a New Automatic Gate Installation New Installation

Gate Safety in the European market

The current machinery directive 2006/42/ EC came in to force on 29/12/2009, however there were no significant changes from the previous directive version in relation to safety requirements. In addition to the directive both the Health & Safety at work act 1974 and Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 can be used in relation to any gate incidents, and has been used to prosecute in one case already by the HSE.

Manufacturers and installers of automatic gate systems who provide maintenance for gates installed, must take steps to address safety on all sites. Companies should consider making contact with their existing customers to update them on legislation & current machinery directive safety standards and to offer a risk assessment service procedure to ensure the gate is safe and fit for purpose, including any safety upgrade recommendations. If the person/s or company responsible for the gate declines to have any safety upgrades applied the installer must make record that the upgrades were refused.

The risk assessment is an essential requirement to comply with health and safety laws and is used by the installer to demonstrate that a gate is safe to be worked on and used. If an installation is found to be dangerous to the public or employees on a commercial or industrial site, the installer should notify the client that the gate should with immediate effect be taken out of service. The gate should not be used again until the gate is signed off as meeting the H&E requirements and compliance with a declaration of conformity.

If a residential gate installation is found to be dangerous to the residents, general public etc, due to its design, location or condition, then the installer should again notify the client that the gate should be taken out of service with immediate effect. It is possible that if the client left the dangerous gate in operation, then this could fall under a civil law claim resulting from any accident occurring on the gate.

In both of these circumstances it is advisable for the installer to switch off the device/s provided it is done without disconnecting a cable and leaving the cable exposed. The installer should follow the procedure of issuing a notice of un‐safe operation whilst informing the necessary parties in writing not to carry out further work on that gate until it has been made safe in accordance with current safety requirements/ legislation’s.

Relevant Articles

Technical Documents Required

Automatic Swinging Gate Force Safety Testing Swing Gate Test Points

Automatic Sliding Gate Force Safety Testing Sliding Gate Test Points

Servicing, Maintenance & Repair of Existing Gates

Responsibilities of the Installer/ Manufacturer on a New Automatic Gate Installation New Installation

Gate Safety in the European market

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