Free White Paper: How to specify sliding gates – a guide for architects and specifiers

Procter Contracts has published a new White Paper, Safety requirements for powered sliding gates, that provides a wealth of hints and tips.  The free guide has been written for architects and specifiers who need to be aware of the safety issues relating to automatic sliding gates.

Powered sliding gates can possess considerable momentum when in motion and, unfortunately, they have been involved in a small number of accidents – mostly resulting in injuries but there have also been fatalities.  Because they are potentially hazardous, automatic gates must be CE marked in accordance with the European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.  Compared with its predecessor, the new Directive that came into force on 29 December 2009 is more explicit about the duties of national government regarding enforcement.  Procter’s new White Paper explains the regulatory background to powered sliding gates, as well as listing the most important British and European standards covering design, testing, installation and use.
In addition, the document highlights the mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and other hazards associated with powered sliding gates and gives examples of the measures that can be taken to eliminate these hazards or, where this is not possible, reduce them to an acceptable level.

Powered sliding gates cannot be considered to be fully assembled until they have been installed, hence they cannot be CE marked in accordance with the European Machinery (Safety) Directive 2006/42/EC until installation is complete.  The White Paper, therefore, discusses issues relating to installation and the selection of suppliers.  It also addresses the subject of maintenance, as periodic servicing is necessary to ensure that the mechanical and electrical equipment continues to give good service and, most importantly, the safety features are functioning correctly.

Safety requirements for powered sliding gates contain a wealth of useful advice. This White Paper is available free of charge on request or it can be downloaded from the Free Download section.  Alternatively, email Procter Contracts for more information about powered sliding gates or telephoning 0800 2944177.

Today we will be looking into one of Procter Contracts’ most popular products – Acoustic Fencing, and answering the question… Does acoustic fencing work?

Acoustic fencing, does it work?

First things first, what is acoustic fencing and what does it do? Acoustic fencing is a type of soundproof fencing method used by many industries to reduce unwanted environmental and external noise pollution. Our design engineers at Procter Contracts have developed an array of highly effective soundproofing fences that reduce the acoustic sound pressure of noise pollution going into a person’s ear.

In other words, acoustic fence panels reduce noise. Our acoustic fencing systems can be installed to use against the environmental sound waves that are generated by excessive and unwanted levels of noise vibration – these noise vibrations are typically caused by high volumes of vehicles, people and machinery. Noise pollution can be found in and around many urban UK cities- from excess residential garden noise, ear-splitting commercial & Industrial machinery noise, to extremely loud sports venue, railways, airports and motorway road noises.

Noise pollution is a potential and costly health hazard.
Busy roads and motorways have a large number of vehicles that move simultaneously and can cause an enormous level of noise to surrounding industrial and residential areas. Unbearable noise pollution from whistles and engines of railway trains can be extremely harmful to human ears. As well as noise associated with building construction, mining, road building, industrial and manufacturing. Noise pollution such as these can be associated with and become a health hazard that can lead to hearing loss or at worse deafness.

How effective are our Pro-Acoustic fencing products?
Procter Contracts acoustic fences work by soundproofing and reducing environmental and external noise pollution that would otherwise affect residential streets, commercial & industrial buildings, sporting venues, railway and motorway facilities.

To explain to you how effective Procter Contracts acoustic fences are – when wearing hearing protectors in combination with earplugs and earmuffs, the combined hearing defence would provide a noise reduction rating of approximately 32-decibels – the same noise reduction level as our Pro-Acoustic fencing products.

Reduce the noise with Pro-Acoustic fencing!
By using our Pro-Acoustic fencing systems you would be able to reduce a typical 90-decibel (extremely loud busy road) noise pollution down to a moderate to faint 32-decibel noise level.

Over the years Procter Contracts have designed many acoustic fencing and barrier products that provide up-to 32 decibel attenuation and are designed to satisfy stringent standards – tested and compliant with BS EN 1794-1 and BS EN 1794-2 British Standards.

Using Procter Bros’ 275-year heritage Procter Contracts have engineered, designed and built a number of different types of acoustic sound barrier fencing for an array of prestigious clients. One of our recent acoustic fencing client projects involved BBC Studio – Procter Contracts were commissioned to design, build & install an exceptionally strong, custom-built seven-metre tall – acoustic sound barrier screen. The acoustic barrier fence was built to keep out environmental noise (high winds) as well as external noise pollution (caused by the surrounding people, vehicles & machinery). For more details about our BBC acoustic project and other acoustic fence projects click – Acoustic barrier fence case study – BBC.

Procter Contracts offers a choice of either – timber acoustic fence designs or maintenance-free composite (reinforced recycled fibre – plastic acoustic fencing). And material specifications can be provided in either reflective or absorption noise control.

For a free quote or a copy of our brochure – Call Procter Contracts – acoustic fencing team today!

Procter Bros is a UK national company that operates four business divisions: Procter Contracts, Procter Machine Safety, Procter Supplies, and Procter Cast Stone. With Procter Bros proud 275-year historical heritage you can be sure that Procter Contracts is the company with the knowledge, skills and expertise in manufacturing, designing and installation of acoustic fencing systems.

Procter Bros are delighted to have achieved the recognised government Cyber Essentials accreditation. Cyber Essentials is a government initiative, supported by the national Cyber Security Centre (GCHQ), which helps organisations protect themselves against online threats.

To be awarded the Cyber Essentials certificate, Procter Bros underwent an external evaluation to verify all of it’s computer systems- PC’s, Laptops, tablets and mobile phone devices adhered to the five technical controls:

• Firewalls – ensure secure access to networks
• Secure Configuration – ensure latest security updates
• User Access Control – restrict access to data to authorised users
• Malware Protection – maintain up-to-date virus’ and malware protection
• Patch Management – manage upgrades for software applications

Procter Bros computer devices where robustly tested by an independent auditor, and our systems where scanned for vulnerabilities and successfully passed all the assessments. Showing that Procter Bros is keen to increase data privacy and limit the risk of cyber attacks.

Andrew Davies, Head of IT, Procter Bros, commented – “We are delighted to demonstrate our commitment to cyber security – our rigorous approach to information security has been certified by the Cyber Essentials programme, and will give our customers further reassurance that we are taking great care with their personal data. Our compliance and IT departments have been working diligently over the past months to meet the strict Cyber Essentials requirements and we are extremely pleased to achieve this award”.

Further information about Cyber Essentials can be found here: https://www.cyberessentials.ncsc.gov.uk/

With a proud 279-year historical heritage Procter Bros is a UK national company that operates four business divisions: Procter Contracts, Procter Safety, Procter Supplies, and Procter Cast Stone. You can be sure that Procter Bros is the company with the knowledge, skills and expertise in manufacturing, design and installation of fencing systems, machine safety, access control and cast stone products.

Procter Contracts are delighted to hear that our recent assessment to renew our CHAS status (Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme) was once again successful and we continue to be accredited contractors.

Our requirements to pass CHAS involved stringent health and safety assessment process – an independent CHAS auditor, who assessed our risk assessments, examined us and our working methods to ensure our clients and workforce work in a safety compliant environment.

CHAS certification assists buyers and suppliers in the process of health and safety competence assessment in the UK. Our on-going CHAS safety certificate for Procter Contracts will be assessed yearly to obtain continued CHAS accreditation.

Procter Contracts CHAS accreditation will help our clients (buyers) by reducing the lengthy process of assessing our health and safety standards individually- thus removal of inconsistencies and saving potential buyers time & resources. And it will in-turn help us by reducing the time consumed processing, completing and submitting full details of health and safety processes on each project we compete for.

Hywel Davies, Divisional Director of Proctor Contracts, said – “Our continued CHAS accreditation shows our on-going commitment to health and safety and will be a valuable certificate when competing for new business.”

The Contractors Health and Safety Scheme (CHAS) were incorporated in 1997 to improve health and safety standards in the construction industry across the UK. And Procter Contracts continue to be part of the trusted accredited CHAS contractors’ database.

Please visit the CHAS web site – www.chas.co.uk – for further information about the scheme.

Proud of our 279-year historical heritage Procter Bros is a UK national company that operates four business divisions: Procter Contracts, Procter Machine Safety, Procter Supplies, and Procter Cast Stone. You can be sure that Procter Bros is the company with the knowledge, skills and expertise in manufacturing, design and installation of fencing systems, machine safety, access control and cast stone products.

Automatic gates must be designed, manufactured and installed in accordance with safety regulations and standards, but what are the implications of Brexit?

On 29 March 2019 the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, with a transition period extending until 31 December 2020 or possibly longer. Clearly Brexit has many implications for the UK as a whole and for individual businesses, but one area of concern is how the UK’s current system of safety regulations and standards will be affected. We will look at this now, in particular with regard to automatic and powered gates.

Automatic gates require powerful motors and, as has sadly been proven in a small number of fatal accidents, gates have the potential to cause serious injuries unless they are designed, manufactured and installed correctly. This is why we have safety regulations and standards.

Currently the UK is required to use the EU’s Directives and Regulations, hence automatic gates are classified as ‘machines’ and must be CE Marked in accordance with the European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. The easiest route to complying with this Directive’s essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs) is to apply the relevant Harmonised Standards – though the UK’s dhf (Door and Hardware Federation) has expressed concerns about the standards applicable to gates and has issued its own guidance to supplement the standards with the aim of overcoming the standards’ shortcomings.

But what will happen after Brexit? What will replace the Machinery Directive, and will gate designers, manufacturers and installers have to comply with the same standards? Given the politics surrounding Brexit and the current uncertainty over whether the UK will leave with or without a deal in place, we cannot be sure about what will happen. However, we can be fairly confident about what will happen regarding machinery safety.

The first point to note is that although the Machinery Directive is a European instrument it has been passed into UK law through The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 as amended. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, sometimes referred to as The Great Repeal Bill, will ensure that UK laws currently referencing European legislation will instead become UK law – and this includes The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations. In practical terms, therefore, the legal requirements relating to automatic gates will not change.

There is a question over what will replace the CE mark in the UK. The current plan is that machine builders will still need to CE mark in accordance with the Machinery Directive if they are exporting to Europe, and here in the UK the CE mark will be replaced by something all but identical; the aim is to negotiate mutual recognition of the CE mark and the new UK marking. Consequently, the process of self-certification for most machinery – including powered and automatic gates – will continue. For certain categories of high-risk machinery being placed on the market in the UK, the current UKAS-accredited (and EU-wide recognised) Notified Bodies will be replaced by UKAS-accredited notified bodies that are only recognised in the UK.

In contrast to Regulations, there is no legal obligation to comply with standards. Nevertheless, standards are considered to be indicative of ‘best practice’ and voluntarily complying with standards is usually the easiest and most reliable way of meeting the relevant legal requirements; for example, the current European Harmonised Standards provide a ‘presumption of conformity’ with the relevant Machinery Directive EHSRs. Referring back to the dhf’s concerns, however, for powered and automatic gates it may be necessary to go beyond what the standards specify in order to meet the EHSRs.

Currently the UK has British Standards that have been developed and published solely in the UK and these have a plain BS prefix, and we also have European standards (prefixed BS EN) and international standards (typically prefixed BS EN ISO or BS EN IEC). Over the last ten years or so there has been a trend towards more of our standards being international, so old BS and BS EN standards are slowly being superseded by international BS EN ISO and BS EN IEC standards.

BSI is the UK’s National Standards Body and makes important contributions to the development of European and international standards through its membership of CEN, CENELEC, ETSI, ISO and IEC, which are the European and international bodies responsible for standards development. Most importantly, CEN and CENELEC are not part of the EU; they are independent bodies to which the EC turns to for standardisation.

On 23 November 2018, the General Assemblies of the European standards organisations CEN and CENELEC approved a plan that secures BSI’s full membership post-Brexit, so it appears that BSI will retain a strong voice in developing and maintaining standards while meeting the needs of stakeholders in the UK. As far as standardisation is concerned, therefore, Brexit will not have any impact for automatic gate specifiers, designers, manufacturers or installers.

On a practical note, anyone specifying an automatic gate should still seek a gate bearing the CE mark or the new UK equivalent. Here in the UK, specifiers can have further confidence if they use a reputable supplier that has third-party accreditation under either the Door & Hardware Federation (dhf) Safety Assured scheme or the Gate Safe scheme, both of which are recognised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). They should not rely on just the CE Mark or new UK equivalent, as this is self-certified by the manufacturer and is no guarantee of the gate being either standards-compliant or safe. Furthermore, in most cases the marking process can only be completed after the gate has been installed and commissioned, as the necessary risk assessment, testing, verification and paperwork cannot be completed properly until this point has been reached.

Procter Contracts is a DHF Safety Assured and Gate Safe accredited installer. The company has published a number of Guides and White Papers, all of which can be downloaded free of charge from the website at www.proctercontracts.co.uk. Alternatively, contact the company for more information by means of the Live Chat facility on the website, telephone 0800 294 4177 or email [email protected]

Selecting the optimum type of fencing requires a careful balance to be made between security, aesthetics and cost

Hywel Davies, the Managing Director of Procter Contracts, offers ten tips to help architects and specifiers select fencing that will achieve the optimum balance between aesthetics, security and cost.

Whether the need is for fencing around schools, factories, warehouses, public utilities or other premises, Procter Contracts can advise architects, specifiers, contractors and end users on the optimum specification for every project. Most importantly, the company is committed to providing an exceptional level of customer service.

Specifying fencing may sound easy but there is more to this task than many people realise. Furthermore, there is plenty of scopes to get things wrong and end up with fencing that does not meet the requirements fully or is more costly than necessary, either initially or in the long term due to ongoing maintenance. The following ten tips will help architects and specifiers select the right type of fencing for the optimum balance between security, aesthetics and cost.

1. Understand why you need fencing
​Broadly speaking there are three main reasons for erecting fencing: security, aesthetics and boundary demarcation. In reality, it is often a combination of two of these so that, for example, the fencing provides the necessary level of security but with acceptable aesthetics. Elsewhere, it might be that boundary demarcation with high aesthetics is required, which might lead to bespoke railings being specified.

2. If security is important, conduct a risk assessment
A risk assessment will identify the threats (eg trespass, theft, vandalism and unauthorised access/exit) and the frequency with which a security breach is anticipated, enabling appropriate fencing types to be considered.

3. Select fencing to suit the security levels required

Railings and timber fencing typically provide a relatively low level of security, while palisade and welded wire mesh panels (weldmesh) offer higher security. Beware that although chainlink may look secure, in fact it is quite easy to breach. Remember, also, that a higher fence will offer greater security, and some types of mesh panel (eg Procter Pro-sure 358) offer higher climb resistance and cut resistance than other mesh panels that may appear similar to the untrained eye.

4. Are complementary security measures required?
In many cases erecting a fence provides adequate security, but sometimes further measures are required. This might include toppings (eg rotating spikes or extensions carrying razor wire), electronic intruder detection systems and electrification. Aside from the fencing, it might also be necessary to install CCTV or use security patrols.

5. Consider access at the same time as fencing
​Authorised access for vehicles and pedestrians should be considered at the same time as the fencing, as it is usually best to source fencing and gates from a single supplier, and also have them installed by that supplier. If you are not familiar with specifying gates, talk to suppliers to understand fully the pros and cons of all the options, such as manually operated gates, powered/automated gates, sliding gates (tracked and cantilevered), swing gates, telescopic gates and bi-folding gates (‘speed’ gates). Furthermore, consider the access controls that will be needed, which range from keypads, swipe cards and an intercom, to ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) and inductive loops beneath the roadway. Perimeter security should, ideally, be considered as a whole, which is why it is best not to specify fencing in isolation (for example, it would be unwise to specify high-security fencing and then compromise the site security with poorly controlled access points).

6. Durability and finish
With some applications, such as multi-use games areas and storage yards, the fencing is likely to be subjected to harder use than, for example, a car park behind an office. Galvanising provides durable, long-lasting protection for steel fencing, and a polyester powder coat on top will improve the aesthetic and also be very durable in most circumstances. For coastal environments, stainless steel can be used for railings, though it is strongly recommended that an electro-polished finish is specified rather than the more usual passivation, as electro-polishing provides up to 30 times better protection.

7. British and European Standards
There are numerous British and European Standards relating to fencing and railings, so architects and specifiers should check to see which are applicable to the fencing they are specifying and then quote the standard(s) when requesting quotations. Most importantly, when quotes are received, make sure the products being offered to do, indeed, meet the standards, as it is easy for an unscrupulous supplier (or one not paying attention) to substitute, say, a fence panel made from lighter-gauge wire, which will not provide the requisite security or durability.

8. A fence is only as good as its installation
It would be a mistake to specify good quality fencing or railings, then try to save money by having it installed cheaply. Properly installed, fencing and railings will last for many years with little or no maintenance; poorly installed fencing and railings are likely to need ongoing maintenance that will soon cost far more than the additional cost of installation by specialists.

9. Do you really need the same everywhere?
The chance is there are some areas of the site that warrant fencing that provides higher security or a better aesthetic, but that does not mean it is necessary to install the same fencing everywhere. Considerable cost savings can be made by specifying different types of fencing for various areas, particularly for large sites or those where the threat level varies around the perimeter.

10. Check local planning requirements
Often planning permission will be required before erecting fencing. There may be restrictions relating to, typically, fence height and the use of toppings, so it is worthwhile checking the requirements before specifying the fencing and requesting quotations.

Procter Contracts, a division Procter Bros Ltd, which has a history dating back to the 1740s. The family-owned business has been manufacturing and installing fencing, railings and gates for over 100 years. Procter Contracts has an extensive website with a number of Guides, White Papers and a Fencing Selector that have been developed to meet the needs of architects and specifiers. In addition, the website contains product data, CAD drawings, a gallery, case studies and a wealth of other useful information.  Go to the product range to find out more, or contact Procter Fencing Systems to discuss specific projects by means of the Live Chat facility on the website, email [email protected] or call +44(0)800 2944177.

It is vital to ensure that new powered gates are safe and the best way to do this is to design, manufacture and install them in compliance with current standards, regulations and guidance. The latest development in this field is an amendment to BS EN 13241 (Industrial, commercial, garage doors and gates. Product standard, performance characteristics). The second amendment to this standard (BS EN 13241:2003+A2:2016) was Harmonised to the Machinery Directive by virtue of its listing in the Official Journal (OJ) of the European Union on 9 June 2017.

Although the standard is intended primarily for use by manufacturers, it is also important for architects and specifiers who, for example, want to be certain of the safety of powered gates.

The main changes introduced by the 2nd Amendment to the standard concern the title and scope; these have been made following a request from the European Commission and a series of decisions by the Technical Committee responsible for the standard, CEN/TC 33. Prior to the second amendment, the title of the standard was ‘Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gates – Product standard. Products without fire resistance or smoke control characteristics’. The newly amended scope allows testing of fire-resisting doors and shutters under the Construction Products Regulations 2013. However, we can confirm that the new amendments to BS EN 13241 have no substantive implications for powered and automatic gates; manufacturers simply need to quote BS EN 13241:2003+A2:2016 on the Declaration of Conformity (necessary as part of the CE Marking process).

If you would like to know more about gate safety and standards, Procter Contracts has published a number of guides, white papers and calculators that are all available free of charge via our downloads page. Alternatively, contact us for a free, no-obligation site survey and consultation.

Procter Contracts supplies and installs playground fencing, railings and gates that are designed to RoSPA or PLAYSAFE standards.

Procter Contracts is promoting its ranges of fencing, railings and gates that are suitable for playgrounds and similar locations. The company’s broad portfolio includes bow top railings, mesh panel fencing, steel palisade and planed timber palisade, plus matching swing gates. All fencing, railings and gates for playgrounds are designed to RoSPA or PLAYSAFE standards.

When designing and specifying fencing and gates for areas where there will be children, typically playgrounds, it is important to take into account factors such as fence aperture sizes and crush points at gates. Furthermore, it may well be desirable to finish the fencing and gates in a single bright colour or a combination of colours, and sometimes it is important to consider vandal-resistance. Procter Contracts, through its Procter Fencing Systems division, offers a choice of fencing and railings, as well as different styles of standard gates. UltraBar is the name used for the company’s RoSPA-compliant bow top railing system.

If required, bespoke fencing and gates can be designed and manufactured to order, working from either outline sketches or architects’ detailed drawings. Procter can also undertake a site survey prior to commencing design work. While some playground fencing may be only 1m high, fencing up to 2.4m high can be installed if, for example, there is a greater need to prevent balls from straying or trespassers from entering. Fence panels can be straight or curved, and they can also be manufactured to suit sloping sites.

With its own design and manufacturing facilities, Procter Fencing Systems can supply swing gates that are a perfect match for the customer’s requirements while also fulfilling the safety requirements in terms of, for example, designing-out finger traps and crush hazards.

Steel fencing, railings and gates are typically galvanised to provide long-lasting corrosion resistance, then finished with a tough, low-maintenance polyester powder coat. This powder coating can be in a standard RAL colour or the customer’s choice of special colours, perhaps to match a school’s colours or to suit a playground’s theme.

Fencing, railings and gates are designed in accordance with relevant standards, such as BS EN ISO 1176-1 (Playground equipment and surfacing. General safety requirements and test methods) and BS EN 1722-9 (Fences. Specification for mild steel (low carbon steel) fences with round or square verticals and flat horizontals). They are also designed to be compliant with requirements laid down by RoSPA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), the PLAYSAFE standard and the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act).

Customers can install the fencing and gates themselves, engage their own contractor or use Procter’s installation service. Indeed, this is highly recommended, as Procter Fencing Systems employs accredited installation teams who are skilled and experienced in fence installations, rather than relying on unskilled labour on an as-required basis. Procter Fencing Systems is a Secured by Design (SBD) certified installer for working at schools, with additional accreditations and certifications including Constructionline, Safecontractor, CHAS and Achilles Building Confidence.

For more information about fencing, railings and gates for playgrounds, download datasheets and drawings. To discuss specific projects, email [email protected] or telephone us.