Gate Safety Considerations - How Safe Are Your Gates?
- Does the gate have a Contact Sensor?
- Is a NON-CONTACT Safety Sensor installed on the gate?
- Are all access control devices (pushbuttons, key switches, card readers, etc.) far enough away to prevent a user from coming in contact with the gate while operating the controls?
- Are the gates and related access control system serviced on a periodic basis?
- Are the gate's safety features routinely tested by the gate attendant or maintenance personnel?
- Is the attendant's control panel clearly labeled and configured to provide convenient manual control of the gate?
- Are the manufacturer's original warning signs in place on both sides of the gate?
- Is there a clearly defined and marked passage for pedestrians or bicyclists?
- Does the gate system incorporate a means to detect a vehicle and then close after the vehicle passes through?
- Are all rollers, pinch points, and entrapment zones of the motorized gate protected by covers and/or NON-CONTACT Safety Sensors?
Motorised Gate Safety - How Vulnerable Are You To Damages?
- Why is it common for gates to strike and injure pedestrians?
- What is my exposure or liability when the gates I own strike a pedestrian or vehicle?
- Why is it common for a gate to strike and damage vehicles?
- Who has the responsibility to install a gate safety system?
- Will signs and warning labels protect me from injury liability and vehicle damage claims?
- Will my insurance rates go down if I install a safety system?
- Why aren't "light beam" infrared safety systems effective for safety sensing?
- Are rubber pads good enough to reduce my liability?
- How often should I test my gates to ensure the safety system is working properly?
- My home-owners/condominium association exempts itself from responsibility if the gate strikes my vehicle. What happens if the gate strikes a guest's vehicle?
Does the gate have a Contact Sensor?
A Contact Sensor may provide some safety benefits, but does not eliminate strikes, damage or liability. Even with a Contact Sensor a substantial risk of vehicle damage and pedestrian injury exists. Damage to the gate also can occur if the struck object is in motion.
Is a NON-CONTACT Safety Sensor installed on the gate?
A Non-Contact Safety Sensor offers the maximum safety and highest liability reduction. Damage claims can be greatly reduced. Non-contact Safety Sensors can also help reduce the likelihood of serious injuries.
Are all access control devices (pushbuttons, key switches, card readers, etc.) far enough away to prevent a user from coming in contact with the gate while operating the controls?
Many injuries and deaths have resulted from users trying to gain access to gate switches and controls by reaching through a gate panel. DASMA and UL recommend that these be located at least 6 feet from the gate.
Are the gates and related access control system serviced on a periodic basis?
A gate and its related access control system should be serviced on a periodic basis by a licensed and insured gate dealer. Some dealers offer these services under a contract agreement. A logbook documenting the inspections may be of benefit should a gate strike result in a lawsuit.
Are the gate's safety features routinely tested by the gate attendant or maintenance personnel?
If, upon inspection, the powered closure device does not react with the desired safety response, it should be taken out of service until a properly trained technician performs repairs.
Is the attendant's control panel clearly labeled and configured to provide convenient manual control of the gate?
A properly configured gate control panel should have all buttons, switches and resets clearly labeled, defining their function and they should be within "line of sight" of the gate. The risk of gate strikes can increase when a new attendant begins operating an unfamiliar and unlabeled control panel.
Are the manufacturer's original warning signs in place on both sides of the gate?
Many times the original manufacturer's warning signs are not re-installed after a gate has been repaired for damage. These signs contain carefully worded safety information as recommended by DASMA (Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association), UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and other safety organizations.
Is there a clearly defined and marked passage for pedestrians or bicyclists?
All facilities should provide a safe, clearly defined pedestrian walkway or gate. It must be located far enough away to prevent pedestrians or bicyclists from coming in contact with the motorized vehicle gate. Such a defined passage should be designed to make access and usage convenient to the pedestrian and comply with all ADA regulations.
Does the gate system incorporate a means to detect a vehicle and then close after the vehicle passes through?
If a gate is not equipped with a vehicle detector loop to close it after a vehicle passes through, an increase in strikes is likely. Drivers who follow a preceding vehicle are unable to determine when the gate is set to time-out and close. NOTE: In-ground loops offer no protection for pedestrians and may increase the possibility of gate strikes to motorcyclists and certain vehicles with high chassis.
Are all rollers, pinch points, and entrapment zones of the motorized gate protected by covers and/or NON-CONTACT Safety Sensors?
Applying covers and Non-Contact Safety Sensors to these areas will greatly reduce the risk of injury or possible death if a person gets too near to the gate while it is operating.
Why is it common for gates to strike and injure pedestrians?
Pedestrian walkways are sometimes located adjacent to the drive lanes where gates are located. The in-ground control loops only detect metal and, therefore, the pedestrian is provided with no safety. The InvisaShieldTM technology, when properly installed can reduce the likelihood that a pedestrian will be struck if he/she mistakenly walks in a traffic lane.
What is my exposure or liability when the gates I own strike a pedestrian or vehicle?
Even if a direct blow does not cause injury, being caught off guard and falling to the ground may cause sufficient injury to create a claim. Typically, the property owner, gate manufacturer and servicing gate dealer are named and held liable. Vehicle strikes are the most commonly reported damage caused by motorized gates. Condominiums, apartments, commercial parking garages, hospitals, etc., have a budget to repair scratched or dented vehicles and fix the damaged gate arms. Typically, these repair expenses can average around $1500 annually per gate.
Why is it common for a gate to strike and damage vehicles?
- Improperly Installed or Maintained Gates - Many gates are installed, configured and serviced by unqualified personnel.
- Access Control Device "Misread" - Often an optical barcode or proximity reader correctly reads the first vehicle, opens the gate, and then begins its close cycle. A second vehicle, unaware that it has been misread, continues driving and is struck by the closing gate.
- Non-conforming Chassis - Common with motorcycles and trucks. Due to their height, width, length, or lack of sufficient mass, these types of vehicles may not be detected properly or at all by the "loops".
- Accidental Attendant Closure - This happens frequently in busy parking or traffic control applications when the attendant mistakenly activates the close button due to the confusion of working multiple gates.
- Loop "Tune-in" - This occurs when a vehicle stays too long on a loop and the gate times out and begins its close cycle.
Who has the responsibility to install a gate safety system?
It is the responsibility of the site owner to provide a safe and to have a gate safety system installed and maintained. New safety regulations prompted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission require gate dealers to bear the responsibility for informing and advising the site owner on safety requirements, availability, and consequences for existing and new gate installations.
Will signs and warning labels protect me from injury liability and vehicle damage claims?
Although helpful, signs and warning labels are not a foolproof guarantee to reduce the site owner's liability or the responsibility for damage claims Statistics show that most juries tend to side in favor of the victim.
Will my insurance rates go down if I install a safety system?
Any time you make your facility safer, your insurance carrier should be notified. At this time, installing a gate safety system may not reduce your premium, but as gate and door related litigation increases in our society it is very likely premium reductions for safety devices will follow. Properly installed and maintained, the safety systems will pay for themselves by virtually eliminating personal injury and vehicle property damage settlements.
Why aren't "light beam" infrared safety systems effective for safety sensing?
Even when light beam systems are working correctly, they only provide a very small and narrow coverage area for detecting objects. These systems can be rendered useless by dust, dew, frost, snow, direct sun and misalignment.
Are rubber pads good enough to reduce my liability?
No, rubber pads may be viewed as an admission of a problem you know exists. The gate arm must come in contact with the object and may still cause personal injury, paint scratches and broken gate arms. With SmartGate, sensors, non-contact system, the gate arm can avoid contact- thereby circumventing the problem.
How often should I test my gates to ensure the safety system is working properly?
Installing safety systems should not lull one into a false sense of security. Safety systems on each motorized gate should be tested daily. Scheduled safety checks should be an established routine for on site personnel along with keeping a daily log of safety checks and maintenance.
My home-owners/condominium association exempts itself from responsibility if the gate strikes my vehicle. What happens if the gate strikes a guest's vehicle?
Legally, the guest is not responsible because they are not aware of the rules and policies of the association. Typically, the association agrees to a costly settlement with the guest in an attempt to prevent further dispute and lawsuit potential.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Invisa, Inc., P.O. Box 49376, Sarasota, Florida 34230 USA
Tel: 1.941.870.3950 · Fax: 1.941.870.3945
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