There are plenty of design considerations that go into any gate automation project. You need to choose a gate design, figure out the right width and height, choose the right operator, and select the right accessories for your security and access control needs.
But one thing that doesn’t often get the attention it deserves is gate safety.
UL325 is an American safety standard regulation that applies to automated entrance equipment, including gates, and it’s one that is applied to every Western Gate Automation project. Here’s what you need to know about what UL325 is, where it came from, why we need it, and how to ensure your gates are compliant.
What Is UL325?
UL325, or the UL325 Safety Standard as it’s also known, is a set of safety regulations that cover the design, manufacturing and installation of electronic gate operators and similar equipment.
The standards were created and are maintained by UL Solutions, which is a global safety research and standards development organization.
While many people believe that UL325 is a single set of rules, as you can see from this overview, it’s actually made up of several different documents, sections and regulations that govern different types of equipment and situations.
The good news is that good American gate operator manufacturers (and installers like Western Gate Automation) know which regulations apply in which situation, and will help to ensure that your project always stays compliant.
Why Is UL325 Necessary?
Entrance gates of the type that are usually automated tend to be very heavy and often very large. That means that the gate operators we use to move them when opening and closing are designed to move hundreds of pounds, usually ten to twenty feet or more at a time.
As you can imagine, the gate operators that do that are very strong machines with powerful motors, and while that’s good news for your access needs, it also means that if a person, animal or vehicle were to be trapped between the closing edge of your gate and the gate post, pillar or wall, they could be seriously damaged, injured or even killed.
There’s also an area around this kind of gate that is known as the “entrapment zone” or entrapment area. This means that even if it’s not in the direct path of the gate when opening and closing, any person, animal or property that is in that zone during the operation of the gate is at risk of being crushed.
Of course, no one wants injuries, damage, or deaths on their property or because of their entrance gate system, but there’s also a serious legal liability risk associated with that. That also means this is a serious financial risk for any property owner.
UL325 was developed to ensure that gate operator equipment manufacturers and installers take steps and use safety equipment designed to prevent gates from opening or closing when there is anything in those entrapment danger zones, making the gate safe for the public and passersby.
What Are Gate Entrapment Zones?
As mentioned above, automated gates aren’t only potentially dangerous if you’re standing directly in the line of operation. There are other areas near the gate that could cause damage or injury.
Those areas are known as entrapment zones, and they vary based on the type of gate you are installing.
Usually, with a swing gate, the entrapment zone would be anywhere within the swing path of any leaf of the gate, and particularly anywhere near a wall or pillar where a person, animal or object could be crushed.
Entrapment zones for sliding gates would be both in the closing slide path of the gate and in the opening slide path.
How Does UL325 Make Gates Safer?
UL325 has been around for decades, and during that time, the complete set of regulations has evolved and been revised several times. New regulations are added each time to provide better protection, and older regulations are updated and revised.
As you can imagine from something that has been around for such a long time, UL325 affects multiple areas of any gate installation project, such as:
- Encouraging gate operator manufacturers to design products that include things like auto reverse features, which means when a gate runs into an obstacle before reaching its fully open or closed position.
- Designing gates to avoid potential crush areas as much as possible.
- Specifying gate-specific requirements, like ensuring that gates have a flush bottom.
- Installing at least two safety devices on every automated gate.
The last item on this list is actually a relatively new development. Earlier versions of UL325 only required one safety device, but once everyone realized that a single safety system could malfunction and still pose a risk, the requirement was updated to two.
What Kind of Safety Devices Make a Gate UL325 Compliant?
Of course, one of the biggest ways to ensure your automatic gates are UL325 compliant is to install a gate operator from a reputable North American gate automation equipment manufacturer. That’s why Western Gate Automation only buys from reputable, UL325 compliant suppliers like Nice | HySecurity and LiftMaster by Chamberlain.
Then, we ensure that we always specify at least two different safety devices, such as safety loops, pressure sensing edges or infrared eye beams. These accessories are chosen based on the overall gate design and the access and egress needs of the client.
Some gates, particularly those in commercial or industrial settings, might also have visible or audible warning signals, so that it’s easy for anyone to see and hear when the gate is opening and closing.
How to Ensure Your Gates, Entrances, and Exits Are Safe and Compliant
The best way for end users and property owners to ensure that their entrances and automated gates are UL325 compliant is always to work with a professional gate automation company like Western Gate Automation.
It’s also a good idea to schedule regular preventative maintenance on all of your automated gate systems so you can be sure that all safety equipment is properly connected and fully operational.
Whether you’re designing a new entrance or exit, upgrading your existing equipment, or just looking for more information on gate automation safety and UL325, our team is always happy to help. Let’s talk.
