Door Industry Journal - Spring 2012

Also online at: www.doorindustryjournal.co.uk 54 THE door industry journal spring 2012 powered gates FAAC TO REVEAL FIRST HYBRID BARRIER AT IFSEC FAAC will be unveiling its first hybrid powered barrier range at this year’s IFSEC exhibition, Hall 4 Stand C10 NEC Birmingham. Combining the high performance and reliability of hydraulics with the flexibility and safety benefits of a 24v motor, the B680 barrier is ideal for a wide variety of commercial applications with high volumes of traffic. With twice as much power than an electromechanical barrier, the B680 can operate beams up to 8 metres in length and, with fewer moving parts, it is more economical to maintain. An oil-bath lubrication system reduces the wear of the mechanical components, resulting in a longer life span and less operating noise. Helping installers to comply with current European standards, the B680 features an integrated encoder which monitors the position of the beam and instructs the barrier to reverse if an obstacle is detected. The beam speed can be adjusted through the integrated control board, providing precise control over beam movement. For increased safety and visibility, the B680 is available with cabinet and beam dual-coloured LED lights. Also on the stand will be the innovative A140 AIR automatic door system which offers energy savings of up to 40% compared with standard automatic door systems, helping businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and save money. Unlike standard automatic doors, which often stay open much longer than necessary, the A140 uses information from a sensor to optimise opening/closing times, reducing air loss and energy consumed by internal air-conditioning and heating systems. For applications requiring a wider opening, the A140 AIR is now available with telescopic leaves, providing the perfect space- saving solution. In many cases the A140 can be retro-fitted to an existing automatic door system by simply replacing the internal components in the operator. With more than 40 years’ experience, FAAC is a world leader in gate and door automation. The company has manufacturing and development facilities in Italy and Ireland and distributes its products in more than 90 countries. Within the UK, FAAC (UK) based in Basingstoke is the market leader in residential and commercial markets, which it serves through a national network of 800 approved installers, all trained to FAAC’s high standards. SECOND GATE SAFETY CONFERENCE TO EDUCATE THE INDUSTRY It was whilst planning the first gate safety conference in June 2010 that ASO became aware of just how real the danger of un-safe design & installation of gates can be. “I re-call at the time discussing the creation of a schedule for our first safety conference with our UK partner company Easygates, it was then that we heard the tragic news that a young child had been crushed to death by a gate” said Andy Holz of ASO. The result of this tragic incident (and then a near identical fatal accident one week later) instantly changed views within the industry and lead to a completely new approach to the first safety conference’s inception and content. “We found ourselves presented with a huge challenge, to provide balanced and impartial information on legislation and BS-EN standards whilst also giving the attendee’s vital information to help instantly improve safety levels within the industry” said Holz. In October 2010 the inaugural GSC (Gate Safety Conference) was hosted in the Midlands , the event was a great success with over 230 attendees from 150 separate companies all eager to gain as much information & safety knowledge from the event as possible. With the feedback gained from this event it was clear that the Industry required more focused guidance and a representative body to carry things forward. In the months that followed the successful creation of a “Powered Gate Group” within the Industry body Door and Hardware Federation (DHF ) has served to provide the required platform. The focus group has worked hard to create and launch the HSE endorsed “Guide to gate safety” which is now downloadable directly from the DHF’s website and will be distributed to the industry in the coming months. This coupled with the excellent work of the affiliated initiative Gate Safe (Also created in 2010 by Jacksons Fencing) who have designed and launched a CPD for specification, only goes to show how the Industry can and is moving forward. ASO has now decided to organise a second Gate Safety Conference. With so many questions having been raised regarding industry standards, legislation and the HSE`s involvement we feel it is our duty to update you. With presentations from the DHF, HSE and Gate Safe along with an in depth analysis and breakdown of the “guide to gate safety” the conference is an essential event for those wishing to ensure the safe and prosperous future of their business and the Industry as a whole. Registration can be made here http://www.gate-safety-conference.com The guide can be downloaded here http://www.gate-safety-conference.com/downloads/