Door Industry Journal - Winter 2016

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 88 THE door industry journal winter 2016 powered gates First UK Companies Achieve ‘Gates Gold’ Approval from The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) has announced the first approvals under its Gates Approval Scheme, following the launch of the Scheme by the Certification Body in June this year. With a number of tragic accidents in recent years occurring as a result of a shortfall in safety standards in the powered gate sector, four UK companies are now leading the way in their commitment to powered gate safety. A1 Security Systems Ltd (Petersfield), Autogate Systems Ltd (Bolton), Broadsword Security Services (Chipping Norton) and Tremorfa Ltd (Cardiff), are the first companies to achieve the prestigious Gates Gold approval from NSI. Representatives from the four companies were presented with their Certificates of Approval by NSI’s Chief Executive, Richard Jenkins, at Fencex 2016 at Stonleigh Park in Warwickshire on 12 October. Stephen Winter, Physical Security Specialist (Tremorfa) said: “NSI are widely regarded as the best certification body in the security industry, which is why Tremorfa jumped at the opportunity to become one of the first companies to be accredited to the NSI Gates Gold Scheme. Achieving such a prestigious accreditation has added significant value to our company and offers our customers the reassurance that Tremorfa operate at the highest standard within our industry.” Peter Granville, Partner (Broadsword Security Services): “I am proud to have been part of the DHF and NSI pilot programme and consequently achieving the NSI Gold accreditation. We now have processes to audit against, ensuring full compliance of our powered gate installations and most of all, contributing to making powered gates safe for the future.” Steve Broughton, Sales Director (Autogate Systems Ltd): “Achieving Gates Gold approval with NSI sends out a clear message to our customers that safety and quality is of the utmost importance to us. We consider the NSI Gates certification scheme (which draws upon DHF Code of Practice TS 011) as the way forward for the powered gate sector. We hope by achieving this award, it will encourage other companies to follow suit.” Paul Beck (A1 Security Systems Ltd (Petersfield): “Our NSI Gates Gold approval demonstrates our commitment to quality and safety in powered gates. It will provide reassurance to our customers that they are receiving the best possible product and service from A1. I have been hoping for regulation in this sector for years and I’m delighted the DHF and NSI have been working together to establish a Code of Practice and certification scheme which brings real credibility to sector.” NSI’s Gates certification scheme is tailored to professional installers and maintainers of powered gates and barriers. Gates Gold approval (with regular audits by NSI at a company’s premises and site inspections in the field) demonstrates both an organisation’s technical competence, and also commitment to the continual improvement of their management processes and procedures, through their operation of a Quality Management System to ISO 9001. NSI and the DHF worked closely together over two years to develop the DHF Code of Practice TS 011:2016 for the Design, Manufacture, Installation & Maintenance of Powered Gates and Traffic Barriers, which sits at the heart of the NSI Gates approval scheme. Bearing in mind the tragic accidents that have occurred in the UK and Ireland (9 deaths and many accidents), the benefit of a specific sector Code of Practice encapsulating all the mandatory H&S and legal requirements, national and international standards and a certification scheme which can independently demonstrate an organisation’s compliance, has never been more pertinent. The collaborative efforts made by NSI and DHF to help confine powered gate accidents to the history books has been formally recognised, with the two organisations being announced recently as joint finalists in the Best Contribution to Standards in the Security Sector category at this year’s prestigious Security and Fire Excellence Awards, taking place in London on 23 November. Richard Jenkins, NSI Chief Executive: “We are delighted to be able to announce the first four NSI Gates Gold approved companies. We are extremely grateful to them all for supporting and championing this ground breaking certification scheme based on the comprehensive DHF Code of Practice. It demonstrates to their customers their commitment to ‘state of the art’ powered gates installations maintained to highest levels of safety and security, as independently verified.” Left to Right: Peter Granville (Broadsword Security Services), Paul Beck (A1 Security Systems Ltd), Steve Broughton (Autogate Systems Ltd), Richard Jenkins (NSI), Stephen Winter (Tremorfa Ltd)