The installation of a new powered gate and the adaptation of a non-powered gate to a powered one are subject to Regulations.

Where the gate is supplied as a complete product from the factory, the manufacturer must ensure that

1. the gate meets the essential health and safety requirements set out in the Regulations
2. it is CE marked
3. comes with a Declaration of Conformity and comprehensive instructions for installation, use and maintenance. They should also provide information on actions to be followed if there is an accident or breakdown, especially where someone is trapped by the mechanism.
4. The manufacturer must also create a technical file on the installation.
5. The installer takes responsibility for safe installation according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Automated gates must be kept safe by means of regular maintenance and Inspection. GG Gates and Barriers Ltd offer this service to our customers. This maintenance should include a test of the safety features of the gate (to ensure they are set and working correctly) A log should be kept of the maintenance and testing by the  gate owner.

The owner must know how to release the gate in an emergency. Releasing the gate should be easy and quick to do and there may also be a need to inform other users how to do this.

The owner should also be familiar with the safety features of the gate, including:

1. any safety edges (usually rubber “buffer” strips running the full height of the gate
2. light beams, or other sensors, to detect a person or object in the way of the closing gate
3. fixed guards at other areas, for example where the vertical bars of a gate slide close to the vertical bars of a fence.