A new industry code of practice designed to reduce the safety risks associated with powered gates and traffic barriers has been published by the DHF – Door and Hardware Federation.
The Code of Practice for the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of powered gates and traffic barriers (DHF TS 011:2016) is the 11th in a series of DHF technical specifications covering the range of industry sectors represented by DHF and is available as a free download from www.dhfonline.org.uk/publications-gates-automation.aspx.
The aim of DHF TS 011:2016 is to give installers, maintainers and owners of powered gates and barriers – and all adherents to the code of practice – a framework to ensure a gate is safe and therefore complies with the law. The new code draws on safety legislation, European standards, and industry best practice.
It sets out the legal and technical requirements for all aspects of powered gate and traffic barrier work. It has condensed and refined information from numerous pieces of European and UK criminal law and over 20 European and British standards in order to provide a precise and clear reference for gate and barrier work, negating the complexity and confusion often caused when attempting to apply information from multi-discipline standards and legislation. The code leans heavily on the requirements for competence and training at all levels in the process. Every gate repair, maintenance procedure or installation will need to have been executed or supervised by someone qualified in the DHF Powered Gate Safety Diploma training scheme.
It is hoped that DHF TS 011:2016 will become the benchmark industry reference document setting the standard for owner and installer stakeholders alike. It will end the current, often confusing, situation within the industry caused by conflicting interpretations of the current standards and many apparent grey areas.
Owner and client stakeholders will be able to demand that gate and barrier works are delivered in accordance with the code. Service providers will be able to assure clients that their work is delivered in accordance with the document so protecting the criminal and civil liabilities of all parties concerned.
Said DHF training officer Nick Perkins: ‘It’s estimated that only 30% of the 500,000 automated gates in service in the UK are safe to use. As an industry we find this completely unacceptable. We’re absolutely determined to do everything we can to ensure no more tragic accidents happen.’
