A comprehensive look into automated entry gates, gate injuries, gate maintenance, and gate service providers. How to determine responsibility of involved parties and understand what leads to a claim. Specific technical aspects associated with motor controllers and gate functions are intentionally omitted from this article. This article is not intended to be a training manual for automatic gate operators for the general public. It is derived from many years of personal experience as an installer, service provider, and retained gate expert witness.
Introduction:
Property entry gates that are automatically operated by adjacent motor controllers are responsible for a myriad of different types of claims ranging from vehicular damage to wrongful death.
In this article, generic automated motor controlled devices and related triggering mechanisms will be explained, products and their applications and installations will be examined, and reasons for injuries and property damage will be explored. Requirements for service providers and service contract agreements will be addressed. Personal injuries associated with both defective and properly working gate products will be discussed.
Typical gate injuries and property damage occur in a variety of ways. It is not uncommon to have a swinging, sliding, or pivoting gate come into contact with a vehicle in the gates path of travel. Many personal injury and property damage claims have arisen from physical contact with a PROPERLY operating gate system or the way that the particular gate system is used or abused. Other personal injuries and wrongful death claims have been the result of an IMPROPERLY maintained and malfunctioning gate system.
Two distinct categories of damage and injury claims can result from either PROPERLY operating and functioning systems or IMPROPERLY and unsafely maintained systems.
PROPERLY OPERATING GATE SYSTEMS
Property damage or personal injuries resulting from inappropriate usage of a properly operating gate system. Three examples of different types of incidents that can occur due to poor personal choices.
- Multiple vehicles attempt to exit a parking gate designed for single vehicle function. The subsequent vehicle, sometimes referred to as a “piggy back”, attempts to exit through a gate that is set up to allow only one vehicle to exit with each cycle. The gate closes on the unauthorized car and damages both the vehicle and the gate system.
- A pedestrian attempt to enter an area through an already moving closing gate meant for vehicles only. The gate makes contact with the pedestrian, continues to close and severely injures the person as the closing cycle is completed.
- An uninformed or unaware workman fails to disable a motor controller. An irresponsible action of a person in close proximity to an automated gate or operator mechanism is severely injured, crushed, or killed. Inappropriate entanglement with a properly functioning gate mechanism is usually directly attributable to the personal responsibility of the injured party.
IMPROPERLY OPERATING GATE SYSTEMS
(Defective or deferred equipment)
Cosmetic indications such as peeling paint or worn out hinges are usually good indications that the gate and related hardware are not being properly maintained. This is a superficial observation that often leads to finding more serious motor control deficiencies
If an injury or property damage results from deferred or defective equipment, one or all of the following three reasons may be observed.
Improper choice of product, placement, or installation.
Missing safety devices or required code compliant practices.
Long deferred maintenance of the gate system and associated related products.
Requirements for an initial evaluation:
An unbiased assessment of the site by a qualified gate expert is essential. The most important aspect of a thorough field examination is possessing the trade specific knowledge for all of the possible devices that can be used with the subject gate controller. Secondly, a true gate expert must have the ability to identify all of the equipment components that are present and be able to verify their condition and functional capabilities. It is important to approach each inspection with an open mind. An expert must positively know if the motor controller is properly installed and that all of the products associated with the controller work and are correctly adjusted. It is important to have a thorough understanding of all of the current available safety features, determine if they are in place, verify that they are properly functioning, and appropriately integrated. Maintenance and service records, if available at the time of, or prior to the site inspection, can prove important and be significant in determining the cause of an incident. These records can also help make clear which service entities or owners may be associated with or responsible for the claim.
What makes up a typical gate system?
In any gate system there has to be a gate of some sort. It can be installed to either swing or slide and it can operate horizontally, vertically or in some combination of both motions. Gates can be moved manually or have automatic motor controls. Most vehicular gates operate using some sort of automatic motor controller. They allow an ease of access and are safe to use if properly installed, maintained, and are functioning correctly. If the motor in place is not working and it has been properly disconnected from the gate, manually pushing a rolling or swinging gate can be safe if it was properly manufactured, installed, adjusted, and balanced.
HOW DO AUTOMATED GATES OPERATE?
When gates have installed automatic motor controllers, they require either remote or local activation devices. Some of the most typical activation devices may include hard wired phone lines between a residence or office and the gate.
Architectural pedestals with wall mounted activation keypads or magnetic card readers are common. Other devices with electronic interfaces capable of energizing the controller, such as hand-held or car equipped radio activated remote controls perform the same function as the hard wired command system, only wirelessly.
In this day and age, many smart phones can be used to open and close automatic motor controllers remotely. It is now possible to monitor the function and position of most automatic motor controllers online. An owner can remotely unlock or activate an automated gate from anywhere in the world to allow user access with a few simple commands on their smart phone or computer. Magnetic inductance ground loops are also installed into many automatic gate systems.
Using any single device from the above list causes the gate motor controller to begin operating. Many times, the starting operation of the motor controller occurs without any advance warning once it has received an activation command. In some circumstances, audible or visible alarms indicate that the motor controller is about to become active. These alarms are more common in a commercial setting where cross traffic needs to be made aware of potential gate operations prior to the operator start up. But, in many cases, alarms are a false sense of security and are generally ineffective as there is usually not enough time for reaction when the alarm is heard or seen.
In ground activation sensors:
In high usage systems, in-ground sensors commonly referred to as control loops are frequently placed below the surface of concrete or asphalt adjacent to the gate. These in-ground loops are fabricated from various gauges and configurations of insulated wire that create a magnetic inductance field. The magnetic field is usually controlled and generated through electrically charged modules attached to the gate operator motor control unit.
When a car or truck drives over these ground loops the metal of the vehicles alter the magnetic field of the ground loop. The vehicle presence lengthens the path of the magnetic field to “notify” the motor controller that a vehicle is in proximity to the in-ground loop. In some systems a base line frequency becomes altered by the presence of the now detected metal of the vehicle. Loops are often positioned in multiple locations near the gate and offer several different functions to protect the vehicles as the vehicle transitions from “approaching” the gate, passing over the “threshold” of the gate, and “clearing” the gate. Years ago, pressure sensitive pads were tried as triggering devices. These products were prone to false readings and failed after a short period of installation usage. It is a common misconception that modern control loops are only activated from the weight of a vehicle.
In-ground loops require routine analysis for continuity and condition. Damage due to corrosion by chemical reaction of the insulation of the wire loop and roadbed material can create changes in the activation fields of these magnetic devices or cause them to fail completely. Sometimes, weather conditions are also responsible for improperly working sensor loops. Temperature, snow, ice, and water can lead to defective operation of a deferred control wire loop that has lost insulation qualities. These loops need to be checked using a specific piece of equipment referred to as a “meg” meter that is designed to measure the magnetic inductance. A competent service provider must use this “megohm” resistance measuring equipment and understand what the readings mean. Generally, low or inconsistent readings indicate that the loop must be replaced. Mid-range readings usually indicate a working loop. There are various ranges on the meters which are used to verify the overall loop responses which are chosen depending upon the size, length, and gauge of wire installed in the ground.
Adding safety features:
In addition to the various activation products, there are many different kinds of ancillary safety products manufactured and readily available for automatic gate controllers. At times, wrongfully considered as an optional piece of equipment, these products provide functions designed to protect users from inadvertent gate operations and adverse forces that can be potentially imparted to the gate via the motor control mechanism.
In the most basic motor controlled system an activation command to open the gate is the single “trigger” for the motor. A built-in and field adjustable timer is used to control the closing function of the gate motor control. After the initial activation to open the gate, the timer begins “counting down” until it reaches zero and allows the gate mechanism to close the gate. This type of minimal circuitry is from a time when no safety devices were thought of as necessary, and is currently significantly below acceptable standards for safe gate operators. These products are still in usage throughout the country as the motor controllers are still in operable condition and have not been upgraded.
For purposes of this article, but not universally applicable, gates and their motor controllers are essentially “blind” mechanical devices. Without any added motor controller safety equipment monitoring obstructions in the path of travel of the gate, the potential for serious physical contact between a moving gate and vehicles or pedestrian is probable at some time.
Typically, local codes, national standards, and professional installations require factory available safety accessories be added to the basic motor controller equipment. Some of these products include photo electric beams, the aforementioned in-ground control loops, microwave, infrared and ultrasonic sensors, and auto reverse circuits with adjustable sensitivity.
Built in slip clutch mechanisms are part of some motor controllers which can limit the movement of the driven gate. It is important to understand that “slip clutches” are primarily incorporated into most mechanical devices to protect the mechanism. Slip clutches are not safety devices meant primarily to protect a user. They are in place to keep the mechanical operator from destroying itself when adverse resistive forces are encountered. There are manufacturer notes provided in most installation manuals that clearly state that the slip clutch is not a personnel safety device and should not be used in place of appropriate safety devices that are available and intended for increased safe usage of the operator.
Failing to install any available safety equipment is not acceptable from any professional service provider. Even though many service providers do not do so, every gate that has an automated control system, and is contracted to be professionally inspected, should be brought up to the most current standards available. Safety should always be the paramount consideration when any automatic gate system is professionally evaluated. Gate service providers must inform the owner of every automated gate that any substandard conditions exist, or risk being responsible for potential claims that may arise.
WARNING LABELS & SIGNAGE
Manufacturer designed signage that usually accompanies the gate motor controller is often not enough to inform users of the real potential dangers. That does not make the manufacturers responsible for gate and motor controller injuries in any way. Warning signs provided by the manufacturer are the final attempt by the manufacturer to inform the general public that there are inherent, and generally reasonable acceptable known operating dangers associated with their products operation.
Signage on moving doors and gates goes unheeded by most people. They either do not pay any attention to the information, fail to recognize that they are being instructed and need to pay attention, or simply do not understand the inherent danger of a heavy moving object. In several previous personal injury gate cases, signage has been installed on one side of a gate, and was never seen by the injured party that was on the other side of the gate. Past cases have also included injuries to young children that could not read or understand warning signs even if they had been appropriately and redundantly positioned. Warning signage does not make a moving object safe. Signs offer some advance notice of potentially dangerous conditions, but cannot take the place of vigilant parental supervision of young children or personal responsibility in competent adults. In many gate and motor controller personal injury and wrongful death cases, there is a strong and significant component of responsibility directly linked to the injured party.
How to explain impact force:
Many large wrought iron vehicle gates can weigh in excess of 1000 pounds. Since force equals mass times acceleration, a half ton gate can impart many times its’ own physical weight, due to the properties we should have all learned in basic physics classes. If you calculate the weight of the gate plus the speed of travel provided by a malfunctioning motor controller, you can quantitatively identify the force at impact. These calculations are not always necessary as a claim for defective operations becomes apparent when a vehicle has been dented or a pedestrian has been hit and injured. Why the gate was able to make contact is what matters.
GATE MOTOR CONTROLLERS
Most gate motor controllers function using one of two types of motivating systems
A direct coupled mechanism:
Swinging gates that have arms attached between the motor controller and gate are an example of a directly coupled mechanical system. Often these type of motor controllers utilize a revolving control shaft that has an arm connected to transfer the power of the operator in a linear fashion. Due to the necessity of installation, elbow like joints attached to control arms are needed to allow movement of the gate. Pinch points and crush zones are common as a result of the mechanical movement of these products. Warning labels positioned on the controller housings alert workmen and the general public in proximity that a potentially hazardous condition can occur. It is essential that anyone approaching the gate and operator be aware of the immediate potential for operation without any warning. Failure of workers to take appropriate precautions and “lock-out” or turn off the operator has resulted in severe injuries and death claims. Failure to heed the applied warning labels have resulted in a variety of injury claims by the general public, including death.
It is almost impossible to safeguard these automatic devices beyond warning labels as movements of the arms and motor controller must happen to operate the gate. Strong resistive movements are needed and expected to motivate the gate operation. There are no safety devices designed to counteract forces of the primary gate controller as no personnel should be lodged within the path of travel of the operator mechanism at any time. It is unlikely that an installation with a moving arm can be completely safeguarded. No matter how ingeniously designed the installation, there are still required areas of movement of the motor controlled equipment that can potentially entrap, entangle or crush an unauthorized access of an individual.
Chain driven mechanism:
In general, chain driven equipment is usually installed on sliding gate systems. There are at least two different methods used to convey the gate. In the first system, a small gear rotates engaging the links of the chain. This gear moves the chain back and forth without capturing the links. The chain remains attached to the full width of the sliding gate and is permanently anchored at both ends of the gate.
There are several ways that the position of the sliding gate is determined. A couple of examples are as follows. Tactile or electronic contact limit switches are attached to each end of the moving gate. When either of the two limit switches makes contact with a fixed tab or magnetic plate, the motor control is sent an electrical pulse that turns the motor off. Another way that gate position is controlled has to do with using rotational counter technology. When installed or serviced, the motor controller is set so that there is a certain number of revolutions of the control gear mechanism that are internally counted. This can be set mechanically with positioning collars or electronically with a digital counter.
This threaded rod and the adjustable nylon wheels set the limits of travel in some gate motor controllers.
A second type of chain drive mechanism actually captures, spools and unspools the chain as the gate is moved open and closed. This type of controller is more expensive, complicated and requires more maintenance than the first mentioned product. Travel of the gate is often electronically monitored, and has more precise capabilities for movement and obstructive safety.
Building code revisions:
Over time, and in a reaction to prior crush injury cases, building codes have changed in an attempt to address crush zones and problematic component placement. In some locations and configurations, installations that have been in place and functioning properly for many years, are now considered substandard to current codes. That does not mean that an installation has to be removed and reworked to bring it up to a code standard that did not exist when it was fabricated and installed. This condition is commonly referred to as “Grandfathering”. Unless a complete renovation of the gate system is made, and pending local authority oversight and approval, previous existing conditions are generally left unchanged and remain acceptable. Current building code requirements are usually not the same as current safety standard requirements. Safety standards are generally more quickly adopted and available to trade professionals than building code revisions. Many times, current code compliance has no connection with the type of incident created by the deferred or improperly functioning gate system components.
An example of a type of code change condition involves the placement of a swinging gate hinge point. Gate hinges were once frequently positioned on the centerline of a column for aesthetic reasons. Newer revisions to some building codes attempt to improve or limit a crush point by moving the gate hinge location to the edge of a column. This position change has not always worked as hoped. In certain claims, crush points of code compliant gates have still existed due to inappropriate usage and poor choices made by individuals. As to what is considered a “code compliant or standard compliant installation”, Modern codes do not make all situations safer than older codes. They do not guarantee that strict compliance and observation of the new code will prevent or stop some incidents from occurring.
How gates are usually maintained and professional service providers are hired:
It has been found that large and small organizations such as national store chains and homeowner’s associations rely solely upon a single service provider to inspect, maintain and service their gate systems.
Many service companies entering into a contract with these entities have provided promises, advertised and claimed that they are proficient and have the required expertise to maintain a gate system. However, it is frequently found that the gate service provider has failed to provide quality professional services that meet any professional standards.
Some service providers ignore the potential dangers that are possible with any automated products thinking that the gate operator is a rather uncomplicated device. This is generally due to inexperienced or poorly trained “technicians” who do not understand the complexities of the gate systems. These incompetent workmen make wrong decisions about the condition of the various gate components when they are sent to inspect and provide preventative maintenance service. Their lack of skills and inappropriate training have been recorded in numerous deposition transcripts.
Often, the training that has been given to these workmen consists of little more than following around another workman for a couple of days or weeks. Depending upon the level of training the first worker had, and whether or not the next worker understood what he observed, the subsequent generation of workman may be watching techniques and following procedures that are completely wrong. Those incorrect procedures are than incorporated into the service techniques of the next generation and the next generation of workmen. Using a service provider that has “trained” the workmen in this haphazard manner will not guarantee that the service work is appropriate, trade specific, manufacturer approved or yield a result that is safe for public usage.
In one claim brought against a service provider, he insisted that magnetic loop readings of around “0” were insignificant when determining that in-ground sensor loops were malfunctioning. He boldly and ignorantly continued to support his opinions with additional comments in his deposition that he had seen many low loop readings in other systems, and in his opinion they had worked fine.
An actual reading around “0” means that the loop is not working. The service provider stated that “his company owner had taught him that the loop device was still working properly regardless of the reading when tested. The only real test was to see if the gate opened and closed when he drove his truck onto the loop.”
Part two of this article addresses what a property owner should look for in hiring a gate service provider, examples gate injury claims, and detailed photos with annotations.
