At Gate Safe, we’re committed to helping installers, specifiers and gate owners better understand the safety features for automated gates, designed to mitigate risks and deliver essential protection. One often misunderstood or overlooked feature – is the safety (also known as pressure) edge.
Let’s break down what safety edges are, why they matter, and the most common mistakes we see in the field.
What is a Safety Edge?
A safety edge is a contact safety device designed to protect against crushing, dragging, drawing-in and shearing on electric gates and barriers. When installed correctly, it will reverse the movement of a gate or barrier upon contact – depending on which phase of operation the gate is in.
It’s important to note: safety edges require physical contact to trigger a response. That’s why they’re considered contact devices – they react after an object or person is touched.
Where Should Safety Edges Be Installed?
Every gate is different, and so are the potential risk areas. We regularly survey gates across the UK and frequently observe the following oversights:
- On swing gates, safety edges are often needed – but not always fitted – at the bottom to both sides of the gate and vertical edge(s) to the end of the gate where feet or limbs could be trapped.
- On sliding gates, it’s important to make sure vertical edges fitted to the gate leaf and the support posts are full-length to avoid creating a potential risk by leaving an unprotected gap underneath them.
Choosing the Right Safety Edge Profile
Size matters. A small-profile safety edge may look neat and tidy but could be completely ineffective if the gate is large, fast-moving or particularly heavy.
Consult the manufacturer if in doubt.
Check the edge is functioning in the right direction
A crucial – but often missed – installation step is ensuring the safety edge functions in the correct direction.
Top tip: Separate the circuits for safety edges to ensure they work only when heading towards an obstacle. If an edge is activated when it’s moving away from you it should NOT make the gate revert towards the obstacle.
Are The Safety Edges Fail-Safe?
Gates are only as safe as their components. Safety edges must be designed to fail safely – which means if something goes wrong with the edge, the gate simply won’t operate.
At Gate Safe, we recommend using resistive safety edges that meet a minimum Category 2, providing a higher level of reliability and fault detection.
What About Contact vs Non-Contact?
Safety edges are just one line of defence – and they only activate after something is touched.
Gate Safe always recommends prioritising non-contact safety as the first line of defence. Contact edges should be employed alongside non-contact safety devices such as photocells, laser scanners or light curtains. This way, the gate can stop before someone or something gets hit.
Conclusion
Safety edges are a critical part of any automated gate installation – they must be:
✔️ Correctly positioned
✔️ The right profile for the gate to provide sufficient absorption of the force
✔️ Installed with appropriate programming
✔️ Designed to fail safe
✔️ Combined with non-contact devices
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