Automatic Driveway Gate Safety
When it comes to automatic driveway gate safety, badly installed automatic swings or sliding gates have the potential to cause significant injury.
Some models of the gate opener systems have an adjustable force to prevent the extra force when something goes into the gate, and the gate opener system stops when a crash happens as an emergency action. It is not useful for gate safety because this system activates when the car or something else crashes into the gate body.
Using the safety sensors recommended to avoid any damage is recommended. Some people are not using the safety edges or safety sensors to save money, but they will pay more later!
Like cars or any machines we use regularly every day, there are dangers.
But we know how to look both ways when we cross the road, or not to drive too quickly in the wet.
Modern cars also have airbags and anti-lock brakes.
Automatic Driveway Gate Safety is the same.
If you don’t know how to use it safely and it’s not built with safety features, it could be dangerous.
If you are interested in having an automatic driveway gate system, there are risks you need to know about. So this article gives you an outline of what to look for and how to make sure you have the right parts, and more importantly, that you have to search for the right and experienced installer.
Putting a gate or a pair of gates, automation equipment, and other accessories such as safety devices, locks, and access control systems together creates a new ‘machine’ from these elements. This new machine needs to be as safe as possible.
For most domestic installations, gates swing or slide open and closed. This creates several potential risks. These risks are based on how each gate moves with gate posts, other gate leaves, fences, walls, and railings.
To ensure you end up with safe automatic gates, the first step is to carry out a safety audit to identify the potential risks.
For good safety on your motorized driveway gate, you have to pay attention to:
A- Physically remove the different types of risk.
B- Physically prevent access to risk areas.
C- Educate users on the potential dangers and how to avoid them.
Unfortunately, there are times when a gate will be used or approached by people without knowledge of the risks and how to avoid them, so preventing physical access to the risk areas is always preferable.
Directives, Guides, and Recommendations
Some standards describe the minimum requirements for an automatic driveway gate safety system.
These include:
Recommends a minimum level of safeguarding against the crushing hazard at the closing edge of the driveway gate, depending on the type of environment in which the driveway gate is operating.
The Standard defines 3 types of use:
Type 1 – The driveway gate is only used by trained users, and there is no intended, inadvertent, or unauthorized access to it by members of the public.
Type 2 – A limited group of persons (for example, persons sharing a block of flats) are trained to operate the driveway gate, and the automated driveway gate is located in a public area.
Type 3 – Any person is free to operate the driveway gate, and the gate is in contact with the general public.
Recommendations for the minimum levels of safeguarding based on how the automatic driveway gates will be used include the following:
As Type 1 gates are controlled and operated by trained users, they are not covered in this safety notice because the gates are not located in the vicinity of the general public.
But Type 2 or Type 3 gates with automatic controls are accessible to untrained individuals who may not understand the possible risks. They could, therefore, find themselves close to the risk areas of an unsafe driveway gate.
So the Standard advises on the level of safeguarding as follows:
1- The forces that operate the gate leaves must be limited using force limitation devices or sensitive protective equipment.
2- Provide ‘obstacle detection’ that recognizes the presence of a person or an obstacle in the area the driveway gate moves through.
3- The Machinery Directive describes what the installer needs to do when creating a new piece of machinery. This covers the paperwork and CE marking that you should receive from a good driveway gate automation company.
Royal Gate provides safe and standard parts and installation services for driveway gates and operator systems in Greater Vancouver, BC, Canada.
If you are interested in having a sliding, swing, bi-folding, telescopic, or cantilever driveway gate and the automation system, we will be happy to share our best recommendations with you.
–> To have in-site technical services:
- If you have an account with us, please send your request directly from your customer panel.
- Please click here to send your information and request directly to our customer hub, and let us know your preferred dates to schedule a visit.
- If you are in Greater Vancouver, BC, our technician will come to your address and resolve the problem.
- To have on-site technical services for your installed automatic driveway gate, if you have an account with Royal Gates, please send your request directly from your customer’s panel.
- If this is your first service request, and looking for our recommendations, please send some pictures from the gate operator, main control panel, and receivers or your remote control to us using WhatsApp at 778 384 2800 or by email to retcc.ca@gmail.com.
- You can click here to send your information and request directly to our customer hub, and let us know your preferred dates to schedule a visit.
- You will be contacted within one business day.
–> To get an estimate for your required driveway gate, you can click on “Fast Estimate”.
- If you want to continue, please submit the form, your request will directly come to our customer hub, and we will make contact with you within a maximum of one business day.
- To create a custom quote, need more information like design, dimensions, your address, name, and email.
- You can click here to send your information and request directly to our customer hub, and let us know your preferred dates to schedule a visit (If necessary).
- If you are in Greater Vancouver, BC, our technician will come to your address.
- Please send some pictures of the driveway, posts, and the electric sources to us using WhatsApp at 778 384 2800 or by email to retcc.ca@gmail.com.
- You can click here to send your information and request directly to our customer hub, and let us know your preferred dates to schedule a visit.
- You will be contacted within one business day.
If your location is out of the BC, you can send some pictures from your driveway gate, and the operator by text message or email, and call us to get our technician’s suggestions to resolve the issue with your driveway gate opener.
Royal Electronics Technology Center Co (Royal Gates) using the best gate automation technicians can repair the driveway gate operators.
Our main service area is in Vancouver BC Canada.
Victoria Island, Duncan, Gibsons, Nanaimo, Sechelt, Tofino, Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Anmore, Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack in British Columbia are our services areas.
For more information on the installation methods and our previous project regards to “How to Install an Automatic Gate” please visit our YouTube channel.