Gate Safe Launches Campaign to Address Hidden Hazards of School Gates

Gate Safe, a registered charity founded in 2010 to improve safety standards for automatic and manual gates across the UK, has launched its Safe School Gates campaign. The initiative follows nationwide survey findings revealing that many school gate installations—originally fitted to enhance security—present clear physical dangers to pupils, staff, and visitors.

Parents expect schools to provide a secure environment, yet an unsafe gate jeopardises that trust. Under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, automated gates are legally classified as machinery, placing a statutory duty on schools and dutyholders to ensure their ongoing safety. With serious injuries, near misses, and a past fatality already recorded within school settings, the campaign urges school leaders to audit their gate installations and adopt compliant safety protocols before further accidents occur.

To help schools choose the right gates for them, Gate Safe has written a useful guide - Safe School Gates

Strategic Planning and Decision Factors

Before procuring or upgrading a gate system, school administrators must evaluate whether automation is genuinely required or if a manual gate is more appropriate:

• Usage Demands: Low usage (10 or fewer operations per week) typically warrants a manual gate. Moderate usage (10 or more per day) justifies automation, while high usage (50 or more per day) makes automated access ideal for managing traffic flow.

• Pedestrian Segregation: Vehicle and pedestrian routes must remain completely separate. Pedestrians should never use an automated vehicle gate or rising arm barrier; dedicated turnstiles or separate footpaths are the safest options.

• Gate Selection: Swing gates offer a cost-effective option for medium usage but are susceptible to wind loading. Sliding gates—available in cantilevered (for uneven ground) or tracked varieties—provide high security but require adequate run-back space and must be paired with traffic barriers for complete control.

• Budget and Specification: Procurement decisions should look beyond initial installation costs. Schools must budget for corrosion protection, proper physical safety devices, and mandatory routine maintenance (conducted at least every six months).

Critical Safety Risks and Installer Audits

For schools that already operate automated gates, Gate Safe highlights several essential questions that dutyholders must review with their installers to verify legal compliance:

• Fall Protection: Are secondary safety components in place to prevent the gate leaf from falling if a main hinge or component fails?

• Impact and Crush Prevention: Does the gate feature physical safety edges or light curtains that immediately stop and reverse its movement upon contacting an obstruction?

• Draw-in and Shear Risks: Is there sufficient clearance between moving parts and fixed structures (such as support posts, walls, or fences) to prevent individuals from being drawn into gaps during operation?

• Gap Controls: Is the gate installed on level ground to avoid large gaps underneath, and are access control panels located at least 1.5 metres away so individuals cannot reach through the gate mechanism to activate them?

• Emergency Protocol: Does school staff understand the manual release mechanism to operate the gate safely during a power failure or emergency?

DOWNLOAD THE FULL GUIDE HERE

Manual Gate Safeguards

Manual gates also pose entrapment and structural hazards if neglected. Gate Safe notes that unmaintained manual gates leave schools open to liability in the event of an injury. Key guidance for manual gate installations includes:

• Pinch and Crush Protection: Fitting flexible finger guards over hinges and incorporating soft-close mechanisms to prevent slamming.

• Clearance Distances: Maintaining a 12 mm gap between the gate and post to eliminate shear points, and ensuring a ground clearance of 60–100 mm to accommodate ground slopes.

• Structural Integrity: Using tamperproof bolts and designing hinge systems so that a single component failure will not cause the gate to collapse.

• Visibility: Finishing gates in distinct colors to allow pupils and visitors to identify emergency exits quickly.

Routine Maintenance and Support

Both manual and automated systems require continuous oversight. School site teams should perform regular checks to clear debris, snow, and vegetation from track areas and photocell sensors, monitor post supports for wear, and regularly test manual release procedures.

To support educational institutions, Gate Safe offers technical guidance, installer directories, and direct advice via its helpline (01303 840117), email (info@gate-safe.org), and official website (www.gate-safe.org).