Physical Security Solutions

As with any form of powered machinery, the use of automated gates and barriers requires a careful and considered approach to safety. There are many risks that must be mitigated to ensure operators, pedestrians and passers-by are kept out of harm’s way, with heavy-duty equipment, moving parts and electric motors having the potential to cause severe injury, and even fatality.

Common hazards to people and vehicles include:

• Being struck by a moving gate or barrier arm
• Being caught, trapped or crushed by fixed or moving parts
• Being electrocuted by electronic components
• Adverse weather conditions causing damage or malfunction
• Failure of equipment over time due to lack of maintenance

If you have security gates and vehicle barriers in operation on your site, it’s critical to ensure your equipment is safe, reliable and fit for purpose.

The best way to do this, is to employ the services of a suitably qualified and accredited gate maintenance company, who can maintain your gates as part of a scheduled maintenance programme. This is a service that we offer at Securitas.

Your gate maintenance company will carry out a number or checks, typically on an annual basis, to ensure your equipment is safe and in good working order.

As part of a routine maintenance check, your maintainer should:

• Carry out work in line with Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• Test mechanical and electrical component parts for safety and performance
• Carry out force testing in line with BS EN 12453:2017+A1:2021
• Leave the equipment in a safe condition
• Provide records of all servicing and repairs carried out
• Offer future safety inspections to check that the original installation remains compliant to the latest European standards and Health and Safety laws

If significant modifications are made as part of the maintenance visit, reassessment may be required to ensure it conforms to the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.

Powered gate systems (and associated equipment) are legally classed as machinery, meaning all new installations must comply with strict gate safety legislation, along with a number of European standards and Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSR) relating to manufacture, design, installation and maintenance.

Applicable legislation includes:

• Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008
• European Machinery Directive - BS EN 13241-1
• Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
• Provision of Use of Work Equipment 1998

Applicable European standards include:

• BS EN 12453:2017+A1:2021 - Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates. Safety in use of power operated doors - Requirements and test methods
• BS EN 12604:2017+A1:2020 - Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates - mechanical aspects - Requirements and test methods
• BS EN 12635:2002+A1:2008 - Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates - Installation and use
• EN 12978:2003+A1:2009 - Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates - Safety devices for power operated doors and gates - Requirements and test methods

All gates should be accompanied by detailed user instructions, CE marked and include a Declaration of Conformity.

More details are available at: hse.gov.uk

In law, the stakeholder legally responsible for ensuring the gate equipment and machinery complies with the relevant legislation is known as the ‘Responsible Person.’

In most cases, the ‘Responsible Person’ is the manufacturer of the equipment, whose duty is to ensure the gate complies to Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. They must also be able to demonstrate this through a technical file, which is available for the authorities to view on request.

However, in cases where an installer assembles a powered gate from component parts, (including where existing manual gates are reused and converted to power operation), they will assume the role of the 'Responsible Person' and take on the legal obligations of the manufacturer.

As the owner, equipment user or occupier of a commercial premises with powered gates and barriers installed, you have important responsibilities that help to ensure the safety of your employees and the public. This includes meeting the requirements of The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

You should have the system regularly maintained by a competent maintenance provider.

With the help of the manufacturer, installer or maintainer, you should also ensure those in charge of operating the system are trained, competent and have access to detailed instructions on how to maintain safe use. They must be fully aware of how to safely switch the system off, and how to release the gate in an emergency.

More details are available at: hse.gov.uk

Checking your equipment conforms to the latest standards is something your gate maintenance company should help you to ensure as part of routine maintenance visits. As standards and legislation are often updated over time, you should also expect to be informed by your maintenance company, if this will affect your equipment.

In our experience, we have found that many existing gate and barrier installations do not comply to the latest gate safety legislation. It is therefore vitally important to confirm that your installation is compliant.

In partnership with our approved gate safety partner, we can offer you a review of your existing gates and barriers.

This will include a visual assessment of your equipment to determine whether it is complaint to the latest safety standards. If you are looking to upgrade or install new physical security solutions for your business, we can provide a no-obligation site survey and quotation.

To arrange a survey, simply complete the contact form at the bottom of this page and a member of our team will get in touch to discuss your requirements in more detail.

An important consideration when designing your gate or barrier solution, is how the equipment will be managed, operated and controlled. Will the system be administered by on-site security staff? Can the process be automated using technology? Will employees be given their own access credentials?

Our advice is always to explore the possibilities of integration. That’s because the limited methods of operation typically provided by manufacturers (such as remote control and sensor-based automation) are not robust or tailored to your specific needs.

For fencing installations, integration enables proactive monitoring of fence lines using technology such Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems and video surveillance.

There are many types of security systems that can be integrated with security gates and barriers to create a combined physical and electronic solution. The most commonly applied are access control and video surveillance systems.

Access control allows you to securely manage the movement of visitors and employees using several types of technology. For example, audio and video intercom systems are commonly installed at main entrance gates as they allow visitors to converse with your security staff before access is granted or denied.

Perhaps you have a dedicated employee entrance? In this case, you may opt to install a key pad or card reader solution, so staff with the correct credentials can enter site without the need for costly human intervention.

With access points and perimeters deemed high-risk areas, the use of video surveillance and CCTV cameras alongside gates, barriers and fence lines has become normal practice. Security cameras (often with built-in analytics) can be installed to monitor traffic, cover fence lines and control vehicle entry using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.

Integrating your gate or barrier solution with electronic security systems make it possible to create a solution that works exactly how you want it to. This is a key part of our design process, which includes discussing the various integration possibilities that will dramatically increase efficiency and security levels when managing access to your site.

Key benefits include:

• Reduce reliance on 24/7 security staff
• Lower your overall security budget
• Minimise risks of human error
• Save time through use of automation
• Enhance your visitor management experience
• Collect time and attendance records for employees

Gain increased value from your existing security technology

Checking your equipment conforms to the latest standards is something your gate maintenance company should help you to ensure as part of routine maintenance visits. As standards and legislation are often updated over time, you should also expect to be informed by your maintenance company, if this will affect your equipment.

In our experience, we have found that many existing gate and barrier installations do not comply to the latest gate safety legislation. It is therefore vitally important to confirm that your installation is compliant.

In partnership with our approved gate safety partner, we can offer you a review of your existing gates and barriers.

This will include a visual assessment of your equipment to determine whether it is complaint to the latest safety standards. If you are looking to upgrade or install new physical security solutions for your business, we can provide a no-obligation site survey and quotation.

To arrange a survey, simply complete the contact form at the bottom of this page and a member of our team will get in touch to discuss your requirements in more detail.