Choosing the right safety edge for automated gates is crucial for safety, compliance, and peace of mind. Discover how the right choice can prevent accidents and ensure reliable operation.
What Is a Safety Edge for Automated Gates?
A safety edge is a touch-sensitive strip fixed to the moving parts of an automated gate. Inside the robust rubber profile sits a pressure or resistive sensor that continuously monitors its own circuit. When the edge meets an obstruction, the circuit changes and the controller instantly stops or reverses the motor.
Safety edges can be supplied as factory-moulded units or cut-to-length kits, making them suitable for both new installations and retrofits. Because they form part of the gate’s life-safety system, their performance is governed by European Standard EN 12978, so regular testing and documentation are essential.
Why Safety Edges Are Important for Gates
Automated gates move heavy leaves with enough force to cause serious injury. Accident data shows most incidents involve crushing at the closing edge or shearing at hinge points. A properly installed safety edge detects contact the moment it occurs, stopping motion before dangerous forces build up.
This rapid reaction provides a crucial second layer of defence alongside photocells and light curtains, which only protect defined line-of-sight zones. An edge keeps working in rain, fog, bright sun and areas where sensors may be obscured.
From a legal standpoint, safety edges help installers satisfy the Machinery Directive and the harmonised standards EN 12453 and EN 12445.
These require force measurements during commissioning and set strict limits on impact pressure and stopping distance. A responsive edge makes compliance easier, reduces liability for owners and minimises downtime caused by damage or legal claims.
Wireless transmission options now mean edges can be fitted on sliding or cantilever gates without trailing cables, making them a cost-effective upgrade for commercial, industrial and residential sites alike.
Where Should Safety Edges Be Fitted?
Fit a safety edge anywhere a moving gate leaf can create a crushing or shearing point. Typical positions include the leading closing edge of sliding gates, the hinge side of swing gates where the leaf meets the post, and the bottom rail of rising barriers.
Swing gates that open against a wall may need edges on the rear to protect passers-by during opening. Cantilever and telescopic systems require edges on each moving panel, while vertical edges on open-grille infills guard hand-through hazards. A thorough risk assessment should map every danger zone, then match each location to an edge profile with the right height, over-travel allowance and sensitivity.
Types of Safety Edges for Automated Gates
Resistive edges use a conductive rubber strip whose resistance drops to near zero when compressed. They are simple, affordable and ideal for short residential runs.
Optical edges house an infrared transmitter and receiver inside a hollow profile. Deforming the tube breaks the light beam, allowing long cushions—often up to 10 m—on industrial sliders and hangar doors.
Microswitch edges contain mechanical snap-action switches under a rubber buffer. They offer precise activation and excellent durability in harsh, high-traffic environments such as distribution centres.
Wireless edges embed a battery-powered radio transmitter so sliding or bi-fold gates can be protected without flexible cable loops. Modern low-power protocols give two to five years’ battery life and send low-battery alerts to the controller.
Profiles vary in geometry: slim 25 mm edges suit pedestrian gates, while tall 65–80 mm cushions absorb higher forces on truck-rated installations.
Some models are fully resettable after impact; others use sacrificial foam cores that are simply swapped out. Capacitive edges that sense proximity before contact are emerging, offering an extra safety margin where budgets allow.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing
Begin with a documented risk assessment of the gate, its speed and the people who use it. Match the edge profile’s height and triggering travel to the kinetic energy and stopping distance of the operator, and verify the edge and controller are certified together to EN 12978 performance level ‘c’ or higher.
Plan cable routing early: wireless systems save installation time on sliding gates but require a clear battery-maintenance schedule. Check ingress-protection ratings for wash-down or coastal sites, and choose replaceable rubber covers for high-traffic installations to keep lifetime costs down.
Finally, insist on reputable brands with third-party test reports, and record force-test results in the commissioning file for insurers and future audits.
Our compliance and safety audit programme safeguards every stage of your electric gate’s life-cycle. We perform full inspections, automation risk assessments and routine compliance testing of sensors, safety edges, emergency stops, speeds, control panels and wiring.
