A recent article in Perimeter Systems questioned the applicability of the Machinery Directive to automated gates and the advice given by DHF on this subject.
Following a recent meeting with HSE, the main authority responsible for enforcing the Machinery Directive in the UK, the DHF has clarified the principles underlying their Machinery Directive guidance and confirmed their position.
In summary, powered gates, doors and barriers must comply with the Machinery Directive/SMSR08 when supplied or put into service and that situation is very unlikely to change. The standards are intended to help the industry comply with the Machinery Directive/SMSR08 and must be considered as the minimum level of compliance. Importantly, it is appreciated that the standards are detailed and complicated, hence the value of the DHF Technical Specifications which condense and simplify the contents of the standards.
Procter Contracts opens new office to serve clients in South West England
Procter Contracts’ new office provides a one-stop-shop for the supply and installation of fencing, automatic gates and street furniture for clients in the South West. Procter Contracts has opened a new office in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset to serve its growing client base in South West England.
Architects and main contractors working on projects in the South West can now single-source fencing, railings, automatic gates and street furniture from a regional supplier. Of course, if only one or two of these product types are required, Procter Contracts offers a comprehensive design, supply and installation service for whatever is required.
The last two years have seen an unprecedented growth in business in the South West for Procter Contracts through a combination of loyal existing clients and new ones. Recent contracts have been completed for major construction groups such as Costain, Kier, Morgan Sindall, Willmott Dixon and Midas. Projects have included the supply and installation of standard and bespoke products for a park-and-ride scheme, the Avonmouth Concrete Plant, multi-storey car parks and various education projects.
Procter Contracts’ new office is at The Hive Business Centre in Weston-super-Mare. Steve Spaven, the Senior Business Development Manager, is leading the operation, with Lee Harvey and a team of local staff supporting clients and handling new enquiries. If required, technical and logistical backup is available from Procter’s design, manufacturing and installation teams located in Bedwas (South Wales), Garforth (Yorkshire) and Brentwood (Essex).
Jeremy Procter, Chairman of the Procter Bros Group, comments: “I am delighted that the new office is already thriving, with a growing base of satisfied clients and a wealth of new projects in the pipeline. Previously we have served the South West from our other bases, but having a dedicated office in the South West is proving highly beneficial to our clients in that region.”
Procter Contracts is a business unit within Procter Bros Ltd, which can trace its roots back to 1740. The three areas in which Procter Contracts specialises are fencing, automatic gates and street furniture. As well as offering a range of standard products, Procter Contracts has the design and manufacturing capability to create bespoke products. With all projects, the priorities are quality and customer service.
To find out more about the products and services available from Procter Contracts, contact Procter Contracts to discuss specific projects by emailing [email protected] or telephoning 0800 2944177.
Perimeter fencing plays a vital role in school security but it has to be correctly specified, installed and maintained if its benefits are to be maximised.
1- Security
Perimeter fencing deters casual trespassers and determined intruders. In addition, fencing helps to combat truancy and provides ‘peace of mind’ for parents. The circumstances are different for every school, which is why a risk assessment is so important (see later).
2- Aesthetics
Schools must appear welcoming, not threatening. Welded wire mesh, vertical bar (railing) and palisade fencing all have different visual characteristics as well as providing their own levels of security. Fencing and support posts can be supplied in a wide variety of colours.
3- Cost
When specifying perimeter fencing around a school, it has to be borne in mind that the most secure and most aesthetically attractive options are unlikely to be the cheapest. A balance, therefore, has to be struck between security, aesthetics and cost, while taking into account the results of the risk assessment.
4- Access points
Gates should be sited where they are clearly visible. Most suppliers of fencing offer gates for pedestrians and vehicles, as well as a choice of access control systems.
5- Additional security measures
Depending on the results of the risk assessment, it may be appropriate to bolster perimeter security with access control systems, CCTV, buried fencing or fence extensions.
6- Risk assessment
Before specifying or purchasing perimeter fencing a thorough risk assessment should be undertaken to understand the risks. Note that the risk assessment should be reviewed periodically or in the event of relevant changes to circumstances relating to the school or its environment. For medium- or high-risk schools, it is advisable to seek the services of perimeter security specialists.
7- Installation
A fence must be installed properly if it is to perform as intended. Installing fencing is a skilled job and specifiers should be aware that some fencing contractors hire unskilled labour on a project-by-project basis, rather than retaining a team of properly trained installers.
8- Maintenance
Good quality fencing should need minimal maintenance. However, occasional inspections should be carried out to ensure that trees have not grown to provide an easy means of climbing over the fence, bushes and other vegetation are not blocking the view from CCTV cameras (if installed), and that nothing else is compromising the security. Gate hinges and locks benefit from periodic maintenance.
9- Standards
Fencing materials are covered by numerous British, European and International standards. Specifiers need to be aware of these to ensure that suppliers are offering products that meet the appropriate standards.
10- A free guide to perimeter security fencing for schools
Procter Fencing Systems is the UK’s leading specialist manufacturer and installer of fencing and gates for schools. From its sites in Leeds, South Wales and Brentwood, Procter Fencing Systems offers a comprehensive service to survey, design, manufacture and install fencing and gates nationwide. All products meet the appropriate health, safety and product standards, and installation is carried out by the company’s own skilled installers. ‘Fencing for Schools – A Specifier’s Guide to Perimeter Security Fencing for Schools’ is available as a PDF file free of charge on request or it can be downloaded from the Free Downloads.
Opening Hours Over the Festive Period
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at Procter Contracts. Our opening hours over the festive period can be found below:
- Friday 22nd December 2017 – close at 12.00pm
- Monday 25th December 2017 to Monday 1st January 2018 – closed
- Tuesday 2nd January 2018 – normal office hours (8.30 am – 5 pm)
Following a recent fatal accident and subsequent prosecutions, we are raising awareness of the importance of powered/automatic gate safety, both in terms of correct installation and ongoing maintenance.
In 2013 a woman died after a powered gate fell on her when she opened it manually. The gate fell because safety components had not been fitted when the gate was installed. At a trial in 2016, the installer was found guilty of breaching general duty of care in his work, but the jury failed to reach a verdict on a charge of gross negligence manslaughter. However, following a retrial, in October 2017 the jury returned a guilty verdict and the installer was given a 42-month prison sentence and his employer fined £12,000. At a previous hearing, the company had additionally admitted three counts of failing to comply with a requirement under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations.
Powered gates are machines as defined by the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations, which is the UK implementation of the European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. In order to be safe, the gates should meet certain Essential Health and Safety Requirements; this is normally achieved by complying with relevant standards and guidelines during the design, manufacture and installation. There are also particular requirements relating to documentation, including risk assessments and operating instructions. Once the gate has been installed and commissioned satisfactorily, the CE mark must be applied to indicate its compliance with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations.
There is no ‘CE police’ monitoring the design, manufacture, installation and CE marking of powered gates, as the work is self-certified. However, individuals and organisations purchasing powered and automated gates can have confidence in their supplier if they select one 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).
As with any machine, a powered gate must be maintained properly if it is to continue to perform as intended. Most importantly, the safety equipment must be checked by a competent person to ensure it is still operating correctly; this might include optical sensors, pressure-sensitive edges, sensors for measuring motor torque, and the control system that monitors the sensors and controls the motor(s). Depending on the usage pattern, mode(s) of operation and the level of disruption that would result from an in-service breakdown, powered gates should be serviced at least once every six months.
We have published a series of guides and white papers addressing various aspects of gate safety. We have produced a Risk Assessment Calculator for use with sliding and telescopic gates. All of these can be downloaded free of charge from this website.
We are a dhf Safety Assured and Gate Safe accredited installer. We also offer maintenance contracts on our own gates and those installed by other suppliers (subject to an initial survey).
For more information please contact us via email [email protected] or complete our contact us enquiry form here.
>> Safety for sportsground powered gates
>> All Procter Contracts News
With so many different types of fencing available today, it is essential that the right one is specified in order to achieve the correct performance within the available budget
Sports grounds need fencing, either to stop balls straying or prevent trespassing – or both. However, with so many different types to choose from, specifying fencing is not straightforward. This article provides five top tips to help specifiers select the optimum fencing and stay within budget.
Stray balls interrupt the flow of play and can annoy neighbours, and if there is a road adjacent to the sports field, they have the potential to cause accidents. Consequently, sports such as football – particularly five-a-side football – hockey, basketball, netball and tennis often require perimeter fencing to prevent balls from leaving the playing area. At the same time, sports facilities are expensive to construct and maintain, and there are issues relating to insurance, so it is important that trespassers are kept out when the sports ground is not in use.
1 – What are your goals?
This will depend on the layout of the ground and the playing and training areas within it, the sport(s) being played, as well as the likelihood of trespassing and whether these people will be dog walkers, unauthorised users or vandals. Considering such factors will help to determine the required strength and security of the fencing. But bear in mind that sports grounds need to remain welcoming, so aesthetics should not be forgotten. If the requirement is only for boundary demarcation, then lower-cost fencing or railings may be sufficient.
2 – Don’t buy maintenance headache
For many years chain link was the default option for fencing playing fields, tennis courts and other sports facilities. However, chain link stretches and distorts, so it needs to be re-tensioned or repaired periodically. Today most sports facilities use mesh panel or welded wire mesh (weldmesh), usually galvanised to provide good corrosion protection and then finished with a tough polyester powder coat that provides a good appearance as well as adding, quite literally, an extra layer of protection. Weldmesh needs little or no maintenance and therefore is a far better option than chain link. Our recommended option for most sports grounds is Duo Mesh, a tough welded mesh fence with apertures of 200mm x 50mm. Twin horizontal wires at each intersection give a rigid but flat profile, with additional horizontal wires for the lower 1.2m resulting in a highly rigid fence with even and predictable rebound properties.
3 – How high?
The height of the fencing will depend on many factors, including local planning restrictions, but we can supply and install fencing up to 5m high. If this is not sufficient, we can fit ball stop netting that extends to a total height of 10m, or we can roof over the entire area with netting to ensure balls never stray.
4 – Choose a reputable installer
Fencing is only as good as the installation, and sports ground fencing must be installed correctly if it is to be safe, perform as intended and not fail prematurely. In the worst case, poorly installed fencing could cause injury to players who come into contact with fasteners that have been installed incorrectly, for example. Procter Fencing Systems (part of Procter Contracts) has its own teams of skilled and experienced installers, whereas many other fencing companies hire unskilled labour on a project-by-project basis. Specifiers should seek out installers who are accredited under schemes such as Building Confidence, Achilles Link-Up and UVDB. The workforce should have received CISS health and Safety training and be CSCS certified, supervisors should be at least SSSTS certified, and contracts managers should be SMSTS/IOSH qualified.
5 – Don’t forget the gates
If you are installing fencing, you will also need gates. Procter Fencing Systems can manufacture, supply and install gates to match the fencing or if powered gates are required (sliding, telescopic, swing or bi-folding), we can work closely with Procter Automatic Gates, which is also part of Procter Contracts. Whatever your need for a standard or bespoke gates, whether for pedestrians, vehicles or ground care machinery, we can supply and install it. In addition, we offer benches, team shelters (dugouts), litter bins, cycle racks and other items through Procter Street Furniture, the third part of Procter Contracts.
If you need sports ground fencing, gates or street furniture, contact us for a free, no-obligation site survey and consultation.
Powered gates must be designed, manufactured, installed and maintained correctly in order to be safe
Powered gates offer a number of advantages for sports grounds, but it is essential that they are correctly designed, manufactured, installed and maintained if they are to be safe in use. This article highlights the top five safety considerations.
Sports grounds typically require large gates for access by vehicles, ground care machinery and crowds of supporters. While swing gates were popular in the past, today’s demands for more efficient use of space mean that sliding gates are often preferred. Large gates are too heavy to be moved manually, so they need electric or hydraulic actuation. However, powerful motors or hydraulics have the potential to cause serious injuries – or even fatalities – unless the gates are equipped with adequate safety measures.
1 – Safety equipment
What is required? The supplier must undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment to identify the hazards so that the correct safety equipment can be fitted – such as safe edges, optical sensors and physical guarding.
2 – Access controls
What level of automation is required? Talk to us about your needs and we will help you decide what is appropriate, from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to keypads or intercoms, but bear in mind that safety measures and access controls must be considered together because the wrong combination can be potentially dangerous.
3 – Use a reputable supplier
Ideally select a supplier that can also install the gate, as it is only after installation that correct operation of the safety measures can be verified – whereupon the gate can be formally CE marked in accordance with the EU Machinery Directive (yes, powered gates are classified as ‘machines’). A reputable supplier/installer will be both a DHF Safety Assured Installer and a Gate Safe Aware Installer, and will ensure that the gates are built to the right British, European and International standards, as well as complying with the latest HSE guidance.
4 – Don’t buy cheap gates
A low-cost powered gate is unlikely to have all of the necessary safety equipment, plus reliability may prove an issue – and you wouldn’t want your gate to fail on match day. Beware that some unscrupulous installers may apply a ‘CE’ label to the gate but that is no guarantee that the gate has been properly designed, manufactured and installed, nor that it is safe.
5 – Safe for the future with a maintenance contract
Depending on the gate’s usage pattern, it may need to be maintained every six months or possibly more frequently. During a maintenance visit, the mechanism be checked and, most importantly, all of the safety equipment will be subjected to functional testing. If the gate supplier is unwilling to offer a maintenance contract, ask yourself why not?
Whatever your requirements for a standard or bespoke powered gates – and matching fencing if required – contact us for a free, no-obligation site survey and consultation.
Powered gates that are properly designed, manufactured, installed and safeguarded are safe. But, as recent accidents have demonstrated, substandard gates can be lethal. Powered and automated sliding gates are very popular for schools because they provide excellent security, give visitors the right impression and are very cost-effective. Here are five things to consider when specifying powered sliding gates for schools:
1- Safety equipment
What is required? A suitable and sufficient risk assessment must be undertaken by the supplier to identify the hazards so that the correct safety equipment can be fitted – such as safe edges, optical sensors and physical guarding.
2- Competitive pricing
A safe gate will probably cost more than one that is dangerous, but gates that have been designed from the outset to incorporate the necessary safety features should still be very competitively priced.
3- One-day installation
Procter Automatic Gates assembles and tests its gates in the factory so that they can typically be installed and commissioned at a school in just one day (watch this short video).
4- Get exactly what you want
We offer a range of standard tracked and cantilevered sliding gates, and we can also supply our own swing gates if these are more appropriate for your site. Any level of customisation is possible, including your school’s colours, name, crest or logo.
5- Access controls
Talk to us about the level of automation you want; some schools only need simple controls to open and close the gate at the start and end of the day, while others require more sophisticated access control.
Whatever your requirements for powered and automated gates – and matching fencing if required – contact us for a free, no-obligation site survey and consultation.
Procter Lamp Post Protector is part of our street furniture rage
The Procter Lamp Post Protector is ideal for busy car parks. Designed originally for a major supermarket chain, this post protector will shield lamp posts and other fragile car park furniture from vehicle damage. Often used in and around car parks and vehicle entrances, simple protection is required for columns, pipes and lamp posts etc. Design and construction are usually very simple, though can, of course, takes into account the appearance of other street furniture items in the vicinity.
Manufactured from galvanised mild or stainless steel, the protector sits at a car’s bumper height and is designed to withstand the knocks and bumps that will inevitably occur.
Available ragged only, these barriers can be coated in any RAL colour as required. RAL/BS codes must be specified at the time of order. We can supply and install these for you or can be sold singularly.
For more information contact our friendly team or visit our website at www.proctercontracts.co.uk
Bi-folding gates & Speed Gates are fast with safer access
Bi-folding gates are often used where there is continual or high levels of vehicle traffic, plus where it is also important that the gate closes after each individual vehicle passes through and then quickly opens again for the next one – so perhaps a staff car park entrance.
Bi-fold gates, or speed gates as they are also called, offer advantages over swing gates and sliding gates in certain applications.
- Bi-folding gates can open and close in less time than a swing or sliding gate. So this could be useful where, for example, security requirements dictate that an entrance should only remain open for a minimum period of time.
- Taking up less space when open (so this might be helpful in a solution where there was limited space for the gate to open into – i.e a bi-folding gate will take up approximately half the opening arc of a conventional swing gate)
For more information contact our friendly team or visit our website.
>> Next: New range of Pro-glide telescopic gates
>> All Procter Automatic Gates News