How to Choose the Right Safety Device for Your Gate
- Graft Gate Supply
- Oct 5, 2021
- 4 min read
Gate safety standards in Ontario are clear on one thing: an automated gate that closes on a person or vehicle is a liability. Whether you are installing a swing gate on a residential property, a slide gate at a commercial facility, or a barrier arm at a parking entrance, every automated gate installation requires safety devices that prevent the gate from closing on an obstruction.
Choosing the right combination of safeties — and installing them correctly — protects the site, the end user, and you as the installer. This guide covers our recommended safety devices for swing gate, slide gate, and barrier gate applications.
Keep in mind that every site is different. The recommendations below are starting points. Contact us if your application has conditions that fall outside the standard setup.
Table of Contents
1. Swing Gate Applications
1a. Photocell
1b. Induction Loops
2. Slide Gate Applications
2a. Photocell
2b. Safety Edges
2c. Induction Loops
3. Barrier Gate Applications
3a. Induction Loop
3b. BEA LZR-H100 Safety Sensor
Installation Notes
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Graft Gate Supply supplies safety devices for every gate type
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1. Swing Gate Applications
Swing gates present two main safety risks: closing on a person or vehicle in the gate opening, and striking an object on the outside of the swing path. The following safeties address both.
1a. Photocell
A monitored thru-beam photocell should be installed as close to the gate opening as possible, positioned on the opposite side of the swing path. For an outward-swinging gate, this means the photocell mounts on the inside of the gate. If a person, vehicle, or object enters the gate opening and breaks the beam, the gate will not close.
The photocell must be monitored — meaning the control board checks that the photocell is functioning on every cycle. An unmonitored photocell that fails will not stop the gate from closing.
1b. Induction Loops
Two preformed loops with fail-safe loop detectors — one on the inside of the gate and one on the outside — should be installed as close to the gate as possible without creating interference with the gate movement.
With this layout, the gate will not close on a vehicle that is moving through the opening or stopped in it. A second loop on the inside of the gate can also serve as a free-exit trigger, allowing vehicles to exit without a remote or access credential.
Loop detectors must be fail-safe. A fail-safe detector holds the gate open if the detector loses its signal or malfunctions, rather than allowing the gate to close.
2. Slide Gate Applications
Slide gates introduce additional entrapment zones along the gate's travel path, which means the safety device list expands beyond what is required for swing gates.
2a. Photocell
The same photocell logic applies: a monitored thru-beam photocell at the gate opening, on the inside and/or outside of the gate, prevents the gate from closing on an obstruction in the opening. Position the photocell as close to the gate opening as possible for maximum coverage.
2b. Safety Edges
Monitored safety edges must be installed at all entrapment zones along the slide gate's path. An entrapment zone is any location where the moving gate could trap or crush an object against a fixed structure — the end post, the hardware trolley, or the foundation channel are common examples.
Safety edges should be installed to protect all entrapment zones in both the opening and closing directions. When the gate contacts an object in the entrapment zone, the edge triggers the control board to reverse the gate. Like photocells and loop detectors, safety edges must be monitored.
2c. Induction Loops
The same two-loop configuration used for swing gates applies here: one preformed loop on each side of the gate opening, with fail-safe detectors, positioned close to the gate without interference. A second inside loop for free exit is also an option depending on the site.
3. Barrier Gate Applications
Barrier arms operate differently from swing and slide gates — the arm is shorter, the cycle count is typically higher, and the primary hazard is the arm closing on a vehicle underneath it.
3a. Induction Loop
One preformed loop with a fail-safe loop detector, installed directly underneath the barrier arm, prevents the arm from closing on a moving or stopped vehicle. Position the loop close enough to the arm that any vehicle under it is detected before the close cycle begins.
3b. BEA LZR-H100 Safety Sensor
If your application makes it impossible to install a preformed loop — a heated underground parking driveway is the most common example, where the heating elements in the concrete would damage the loop wire — we recommend the BEA LZR-H100 Safety Sensor as an alternative.
The LZR-H100 provides a 32' x 32' detection field and filters out pedestrian traffic, triggering only on vehicles. It mounts above the lane and requires no cutting into the driveway surface, making it the practical solution for heated or post-tension concrete applications.
Installation Notes
Across all gate types, safety devices must be monitored by the control board. A photocell or safety edge that fails open — meaning it always sends a clear signal — should stop the gate from operating, not allow it to continue cycling. Specify monitored inputs and verify the monitoring function during commissioning.
Document the safety devices installed on every project. If a claim or inspection arises, having a record of what was installed, where, and why protects you.
Get Hardware for Your Gate Project from Graft Gate Supply
We supply safety devices for swing gates, slide gates, and barrier gates across Ontario — including photocells, preformed induction loops, fail-safe loop detectors, safety edges, and the BEA LZR-H100.
If you are working on an installation and need help specifying the right safeties for the site, call or email us today for product recommendations and a quote.
Contact Graft Gate Supply by email at sales@graftgates.com, or call 905-874-3297