Safety Features in Modern Gate Automation Systems

Gates protect a property by deterring potential intruders with a physical barrier, and by installing a modern gate automation system, homeowners can further boost security and enhance safety. These systems come with features such as obstacle detection, partial opening and secondary safety input options, ensuring hazards are detected and addressed immediately. At Gates Gates, we offer a comprehensive range of automation kits for single and double swing and sliding gates, each with advanced safety measures. In this post, we explore the safety features of modern gate automation systems and how they protect a property and its occupants.

Obstacle Detection

Obstacle detection is a crucial safety enhancement in modern gate automation systems. The system actively monitors gate movement by combining torque or current sensing technology with optional supplementary sensors such as safety edges and infrared beams. When unexpected resistance arises, be it from a person, pet or object, the gate motion instantly stops or reverses, preventing potentially crushing impacts. This swift response not only protects occupants but also supports adherence to safety regulations, ensuring dependable protection around automated gates.

Slow down facilities on opening and closing are advanced safety features featured in modern gate automation systems to refine gate movement. As the gate approaches its fully open or closed position, its speed is automatically reduced. This gradual deceleration minimises the risk of abrupt impacts that could cause injury or structural damage. In addition to improving safety, it alleviates mechanical stress on components, ensuring smoother, controlled operation. By prolonging the system’s mechanical lifespan, slowdown functions deliver long term reliability and performance.

Modern gate automation systems also offer a partial opening mode, which is an invaluable safety feature, particularly for pedestrian access. By restricting the gate’s travel to a smaller aperture, the moving mass and collision zone are significantly reduced. This controlled opening ensures pedestrians can enter or exit safely and conveniently without full width gate movement. In daily use, partial opening not only enhances safety but also delivers flexible access control, reducing mechanical wear while optimising system performance.

Modern gate automation systems often include override keys, sometimes called manual release keys, for emergency use. During power outages, control system faults or a crisis, inserting and turning the key disengages the motor drive, allowing the gate to be operated manually by hand. This ensures that anyone trapped can be released quickly and that the gate remains functional in worst case electrical or mechanical failures. As a vital contingency measure, override keys guarantee you’re never unable to secure or access your property safely.

Mechanical stops are essential safety features that modern gate automation systems also include. Installed at both ends of the gate’s travel path, these sturdy physical limiters prevent the motor and frame from exceeding their intended range, which could otherwise cause derailment or structural damage. By clearly defining travel boundaries, mechanical stops ensure that the gate operates strictly within its design parameters. Even if electronic controls fail or become misaligned, these devices maintain smooth, reliable movement and protect the system’s longevity.

Modern gate automation systems also come with secondary safety input options that allow you to link multiple sensors and switches, like photocell beams or emergency stop buttons, directly into the gate control unit. This means that if one part of the gate’s security fails or is bypassed, the others can still detect hazards and immediately halt or reverse the gate if needed. By integrating additional safety features through a dedicated safety relay, you ensure a fail safe response under all conditions.

Alongside our modern gate automation systems, which already feature a range of advanced safety measures, we also offer a number of additional safety products that can be added to the gate setup. By adding safety edges that detect and halt on contact, photo beams and towers that sense any interruption to their light curtain, and emergency stop buttons that cut power instantly, you ensure the gates deliver maximum protection in every situation. Below, we explore some of these safety enhancements:

By integrating safety edges, the gate’s contact sensors turn into a proactive defence system. If the gate encounters an obstacle, it instantly stops or reverses to prevent crushing injuries from occurring. This rapid response not only protects the property and the people in it, but also provides added peace of mind.

Photo beams and towers set up invisible light curtains across the gate opening, so the system won’t close if anything interrupts the beam. So if any children, pets, or objects pass through the beam, the system immediately halts any closing motion. This simple yet effective barrier drastically reduces the risk of accidents around automated gates.

At the touch of a clearly labelled emergency stop button, power to the gate drive unit is cut instantly. This allows anyone nearby to halt gate movement in the event of a critical situation. Offering a straightforward manual override, these buttons ensure swift intervention when safety is paramount.

Gates Gates is a leading provider of modern gate automation systems, with a comprehensive range to choose from that are equipped with the essential safety features to keep properties fully protected. We offer solutions for both swing and sliding gates, with single and double gate kits to suit gates of any weight or size. Our systems come complete with advanced safety features, and you can further enhance gate safety with our range of additional gate safety products. For advice on choosing the right automation system for your home or business gates, our expert support team is on hand to help. Visit our website to explore our full range of modern gate automation systems and discover the reassurance our advanced safety features deliver.