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Eagle Security Systems Limited Galtee House 1 Heanor Road Ilkeston Derbyshire DE7 8DY
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If you are planning to upweight your home security by
installing an automated gate, the national charity Gate
Safe is urging all homeowners to proceed with caution.
While automated gates represent an excellent means of
enhancing the security around your home, ensuring
children and pets cannot stray and safeguarding against
any unauthorised visitors gaining access to your property,
be aware that the same gates are also capable of inflicting
serious injury – and potentially worse – IF they are not
installed and regularly maintained by a suitably trained
and competent installer. Gate Safe has recorded 34
accidents and 12 deaths, caused by automated gates
which have not been installed and maintained in line with
current safety guidance and legislation.
All automated gates should be fitted with at least two
forms of safety to protect against the risk of a child / adult
or indeed pet, becoming trapped and ultimately crushed
by the gates when they are opening or closing or being
dragged unwillingly into their pathway. When checking a
quote from an installer, Gate Safe encourages you to look
for a reference to
photocells or light curtains which detect when someone is
approaching the gate, stopping its operation, as well as
the addition of safety edges which will prevent a gate from
making contact with a person / animal by stopping and
reversing it away. Your installer should always undertake
a thorough risk assessment of the site to identify any
potential additional hazards which could result in an
unsafe gate, for example, if the gate features brick pillars,
the gap between the pillar and the gate could represent
another potential crushing risk …
The charity is also warning homeowners NOT to install
their own automated kit to transform an existing manual
gate into what is effectively a lethal machine. Such DIY kits
often fail to offer the appropriate safety devices detailed
above and also don’t provide any additional guidance
relating to other safety issues which could lead to the
creation of dangerous trap points. These kits are readily
available on the internet and at a time when many
households may be looking at saving money, Gate Safe is
concerned that they may be an increased appetite for
purchasing these devices rather than contacting a trained
installer.
Installing automated gates is a skilled job that should be
left to the professionals so never be tempted to ask
someone who is not qualified to take on the job just
because they can do it at a cheaper rate. Equally, always
ensure that the gate quote includes the fitting of the
essential safety devices designed to provide the
appropriate level of protection. Failure to follow this
advice could ultimately result in you paying an extremely
high price …
Article Published by Gate Safe December2020