Safety Tips

Safety Tips for Gate Openers

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 brochure on Gate System Safety; An Automatic Decision.

1.  Stand Clear!  Motorized sliding, swinging, lifting, pivoting gates and barriers 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.

2.  Look for the Listing Mark.  For safety, make sure that the vehicular gate operator 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 ANSI/CAN/UL 325 Standard for Safety.

3.  Don’t Reach Through.  Never reach through a motorized gate to access the gate operator controls. Reaching through a gate to operate a control device is extremely dangerous. The UL Safety Standard for gate operators prohibits controls from being positioned within reach of the gate or gate operator.

4.  The 6-Foot Rule.  Gate controls must be installed and positioned so that a person using the control cannot touch the gate or gate operator. As a rule of thumb, controls should be installed a minimum of 6 feet away from the gate. If your gate operator system allows a person to “reach through” the gate to operate the control, immediately shut off power to the gate system and contact a certified gate operator installer or technician to move or disconnect the control.

5.  Warn Children. Do not allow children to operate the gate or play in the gate area.  Keep remote controls away from children.  

6.  Enhanced Safety Features.  Many enhanced safety features have been adopted since March 2000. Older automatic gates generally do not have the latest safety systems that can detect objects that may be caught in the gate or prevent objects and people from being caught in the gate. If your gate operator lacks this type of system that can protect against entrapment in BOTH the opening and closing cycles, it’s time to replace your gate operator.

7.  Do It Yourself?  To ensure that your automated vehicular gate operator is installed safely, follow the guidance below. Remember, an improper installation can create a hazardous situation.

• Verify that the manufacturer’s instructions state that the product is suitable for a DIY installation. Pay close attention to the safety recommendations in the installation manual. If the gate operator manufacturer does not specifically state that the operator is suitable for DIY installation, contact a certified automated gate operator installer or technician.
• Verify that the gate operator is listed to the ANSI/CAN/UL 325 Standard for Safety. See #2 above.
• Be sure the gate itself complies with ASTM F2200, Standard Specification for Automatic Vehicular Gate Construction. This standard can be obtained from ASTM (ANSI Webstore). See DASMA TDS 370 for more information.

8.  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 certified gate operator installer or technician to have appropriate guards installed on your gate system.

9.  Know Your System.  Ask your certified gate operator installer or technician to demonstrate the safety systems associated with your gate operator. Make sure you know how to safely test these systems. It’s also important to know how to manually operate your gate operator in the event of a power outage or system failure.

10.  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 operator owner’s manual. Ask your certified gate operator installer or technician to move or disconnect the control about a service contract to keep your gate system running safely and smoothly.