By Rob Williams – Technical and Training Manager, Gate Safe
Sliding gates can present serious safety risks if not installed or maintained correctly. Whether you’re working on a tracked system or a cantilever design, understanding the potential hazards—and how to mitigate them – is crucial.
At Gate Safe, we train installers to spot these risks from the outset, and our IOSH-approved Gate Safety training covers essential guidance on what makes a gate safe. Here’s a breakdown of some key points regarding the safety of sliding gates.
Why Limit Switches Aren’t Enough
Automated sliding gates typically rely on limit switches or encoders to define their open and closed positions. These are often triggered by a flag mounted on the gate. But what if that flag falls off or isn’t secured properly? Without it, the gate won’t stop when it should—and that can lead to a dangerous situation.
This is why physical end stops are vital. These mechanical barriers ensure the gate is incapable of travelling too far, even if the electronics fail.
Top tip:
Secure the actuator flag with a tech screw, not just grub screws, to keep it firmly in place.
End Stops Must Be Fit for Purpose
Not every end stop will do! They must be strong enough to absorb the full force of a moving gate. Therefore, they should be:
• Properly anchored
• Tall or wide enough to prevent the gate from overriding or missing them
• Durable enough to handle repeated impact
Don’t treat end stops as an afterthought—they represent the last line of defence.
The Risk of Single Point Failure
Many sliding gates are supported by a single post with a nylon roller assembly that keeps the gate upright. But if that single component fails—due to wear, impact, or incorrect installation—the entire gate could collapse sideways, potentially onto someone or something nearby.
Always ask yourself:
If this roller fails, what will stop the gate from falling?
To prevent this type of failure, it’s essential to have support structures on both sides of the gate to catch or hold it if something goes wrong.
Watch Out for Derailment
With tracked sliding gates, even something as minor as debris on the track can cause the gate’s V wheels to veer off. If the gate relies on a single support post, derailment can lead to a total collapse – posing a significant danger.
This is why Gate Safe strongly advocates using where possible, a goalpost-style portal frame, ,to keep the gate secure even if other elements fail.
Racking and Overtravel
Another tip for limiting overtravel:
Make sure the rack length is just enough to move the gate to its full open and closed positions – and no more. This way, if the gate tries to travel too far, the pinion will run out of racking, and the gate will stop moving instead of continuing unchecked.
Want to Learn More?
These examples highlight just some of the many things can go wrong if gate systems aren’t properly assessed or installed. But the good news is that these risks can be avoided – with the right knowledge.
That’s why Gate Safe offers IOSH-approved Gate Safety Training for installers like you. We cover:
✅ UK legislation relevant to automated gates and barriers
✅ Risks and how to mitigate them in real life situations
✅ How to conduct thorough risk assessments to identify and mitigate hazards
✅ Navigating the legal implications related to gate safety, protecting both your clients and your business
Take your gate safety skills to the next level
👉 https://www.gate-safe.org/training/
