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Here are some
helpful safety tips. This list is not intended to be a
comprehensive list of every safety precaution. Always
consult your manufacturer’s installation or instruction
manual for safety information about your model. For more
safety tips about automated vehicular gate systems, see
our Automatic
Vehicular Gate System Safety Guide.
| FOR GATE OPENERS |
 Stand
Clear! Motorized sliding
and swinging gates can be dangerous. When a
motorized gate is opening or closing, stay clear
of the motion of the gate. Entrapment can cause
injury or death.
- Look for the Listing Mark.
For safety, make sure that the vehicular gate
opener being installed on your property bears
the "mark" of a nationally recognized
testing laboratory such as "UL" or
"ETL." These marks identify that the
product has been tested and complies with the
UL 325 Standard for Safety.
- Don’t Reach Through.
Never reach through a motorized gate to operate
the gate opener controls. Reaching through a
gate to operate a control device is extremely
dangerous. The UL Safety Standard for gate openers
prohibits controls from being positioned within
reach of the gate or gate opener.
- 10-Foot Rule.
Gate controls must be installed and positioned
so that a person using the control cannot touch
the gate or gate opener. As a rule of thumb,
controls should be installed a minimum of 10
feet away from the gate. If your gate opener
system allows a person to "reach through"
the gate to operate the control, immediately
shut off power to the gate system and contact
a professional gate system company to move or
disconnect the control.
- Warn Children.
Do not allow children to play on automated gates.
This could be a deadly game. Take time to teach
children about the importance of safety in the
vicinity of an automated gate.
- Inherent Reverse.
Since March 2000, gate openers that are listed
by a nationally recognized testing laboratory
and are intended for use by the public (1) must
include an inherent reversing feature and (2)
must be installed with a secondary entrapment
device such as photoelectric eyes or reversing
edges. Older automatic gates generally do not
have these built-in sensitivity systems that
can detect objects that may be caught in the
gate. If your gate opener lacks this type of
system that can detect obstructions in BOTH
the opening and closing cycles, it’s time
to replace your gate opener.
- Do It Yourself?
Installing a vehicular gate opener system is
not a project for a do-it-yourselfer. Reason:
gates are heavy, and these systems generate
high levels of force that can create hazards
if the system is not properly installed. Gate
openers cannot be simply "plugged in."
They require detailed installation procedures,
installation of secondary entrapment prevention
devices, and installation of vehicular detection
devices. They must also be installed in compliance
with the UL 325 Safety Standard, and the gate
itself needs to comply with ASTM F2200. If you
need an automated vehicular gate system installed,
contact a professional gate systems installation
company.
- Maintenance.
Like all electro-mechanical devices, your automated
gate system requires periodic maintenance and
testing. Follow the recommended maintenance
and testing schedule in your gate opener owner’s
manual. Ask your professional automated gate
system installer about a service contract to
keep your gate system running safely and smoothly.
- Know Your System.
Ask your professional gate system company to
demonstrate the safety systems associated with
your gate opener. Make sure you know how to
safely test these systems. It’s also important
to know how to manually operate your gate opener
in the event of a power outage or system failure.
- Pinch Points! According
to ASTM F2200, all exposed rollers in sliding
gates must have covers or guards to protect
pinch points. These covers prevent hands or
feet from getting caught between the gate and
the roller. If your sliding gate does not have
roller covers or guards, contact a trained vehicular
gate opener technician to have appropriate guards
installed on your gate system.
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