Whether you consider the idea of installing Automatic Sliding Gates or you already have them on your property, there is one question that is more important than the looks and convenience, and this is whether they are safe enough around people and animals that you care about.

Sliding gates are genius and convenient in their security and simplicity. However, they are not only lightweight, they are also heavy and require the right safety measures. Make a mistake and you stand a real danger of being hurt. Make it right and they do not pose a greater threat than any other component of your property.

The Dangers that No One Wants to Consider

To be truthful – a gate with a weight of between 150kg up to more than 400kg, pushing through the resistance with sufficient force on a track, can do a lot of damage. Little children do not always realise that a slow moving object may be dangerous. Pets, particularly inquisitive dogs, may attempt to squeeze through a shrinking hole.

The accidents that most frequently happen when something gets trapped between the post and the gate or entrapment of fingers in the moving sections. Both are not nice things to consider, as the scenarios can be avoided with the proper set up.

The Safety Features That Matter

Automatic Sliding Gates that are used nowadays ought to have a number of safety mechanisms installed. The issue is that they are not fitted correctly by all installers and some of the cheaper systems save on them.

On either side of the opening in the gate are photocell sensors that form a beam that is invisible. knock that beam, when the gate is closing, and it ought to cease, and turn back. They are good with bigger obstacles – people, cars, wheelie bins – but they will not always see a small dog or a child hand.

Pressure sensors are the solution to that. These sense when the gate collides with something that it is not supposed to. When your gate collides with something it halts. Certain systems are more sensitive than others and it is worth enquiring what force threshold your gate at.

There are flashing warning lights that can be added. They provide a warning to all that the gate is going to move. Combine with an audible alarm and you will have a system that warns people before something goes wrong.

What You Can Control

The security levels installed in your gate are not everything. The way you apply it is as important.

When you have young children then, start instilling in them at a tender age that the gate is not a toy. It is self-evident but children do not know that it is dangerous to press the button or play around the moving machinery. Incidentally, make it a rule to keep them clear when it is running.

For pets, training is harder. Dogs which enjoy running through doors may attempt to do the same with your gate. The solution to this is to ensure that they are not in the gate area when you are opening or closing the area and in the first couple of weeks after the installation. They will get used to routine quite soon.

The remote controls should be handled like keys. Do not leave them lying about where they can be snatched by children. Other systems allow you to configure the controls so that you have a specific delay of not pressing a button but making a conscious attempt, to give yourself a moment to verify that the area is clear.

Installation and Maintenance.

Here is one of the things that most often go unnoticed: an improperly installed or not well-maintained gate is also a safety hazard, no matter what it is equipped with. When your gate catches the track, jerks as it travels, or the track can hardly sense obstacles then something is amiss.

Automatic Sliding Gates should be serviced on a regular basis – once or twice a year. This is not a luxury service to ensure that the things run well. It is ensuring that the safety systems are workable at the time they are required. Sensors will become disoriented, pressure sensors may become less sensitive and moving components may be worn.

When you are getting costs to install, you should ask questions. Sensitivity of the obstacle detector? What will be the case when they are caught? Is the gate operated by hand in case of an emergency? In case the installer is not able to answer these clearly get somebody who can.

Making the Right Choice

No one wants to put their property on cotton wool but there is a distinction between being overprotective and sensible. Self-opening and closing gates are convenient and safe, however, when they are designed, installed, and used correctly. The technology is there so it can be safe with children and pets, just ensure it is really attached to your system and it is functioning properly.