Electric gate force testing is the process of measuring the forces a moving gate exerts at its leading edge, closing edge, and hinge zone to confirm they fall within the limits set by BS EN 12445. It is a legal requirement under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, and an installation without documented test results is not a compliant installation.
What Force Testing Measures: Crushing, Shearing, and Impact
An automated gate is, mechanically, a large moving object driven by a motor. When it encounters a person in its travel path, it exerts forces that can cause injury. UK law requires that those forces be measured and limited — not assumed to be safe because the motor is a particular wattage.
BS EN 12445 defines three categories of hazardous force. Crushing force is the static force the gate continues to exert when it has closed against an obstruction and the motor is still running. The legal limit at the main closing edge is 400 Newtons — approximately the force of 40 kg of weight pressing continuously. At secondary closing edges (such as the hinge side of a swing gate), the limit is 150 Newtons.
Impact force is the dynamic force exerted by the moving gate when it first makes contact with an obstruction. The legal limit for dynamic impact force is 1,400 Newtons at the leading edge. Shearing force applies at hinge points and pivot zones, managed through design or by fitting pressure-sensitive edges.
For professional safety testing and maintenance in London, every compliance check in our network includes measurement of all applicable force categories at every risk zone of your specific gate installation.
How Engineers Test Gates: The Impact Testing Equipment
Electric gate force testing is carried out using calibrated electronic force measurement equipment — commonly referred to as an impact tester. The instrument contains a load cell that measures force in Newtons, a data logger that records peak dynamic impact force and sustained static force, and a display showing the engineer the readings in real time.
At each risk zone, the impact tester is positioned at heights of 0.5 metres and 1.0 metre above ground — the two reference heights specified in BS EN 12445. The gate is operated through a full close cycle, and the instrument records the peak dynamic force at the moment of contact and the sustained static force after the motor continues to run against the tester.
If measured forces exceed the legal limits, the engineer adjusts the motor force limitation settings and retests until the forces are within specification. The Door & Hardware Federation trains and certifies gate engineers in BS EN 12445 testing procedures and maintains a list of accredited practitioners.
When Testing Is Required and Why Annual Checks Matter
Electric gate force testing is required at two distinct points: on initial installation and following any modification to the gate or its drive system that could affect the forces generated. On initial installation, testing is mandatory. The Declaration of Conformity issued by the installer must reference the force test results.
Annual testing is not a statutory requirement for residential gates, but it is strongly recommended. Gate force settings drift over time as motor components wear. A gate that tested within limits at installation may exceed them three years later if the motor's internal brake has degraded.
If your gate was installed without force test documentation, or if it is more than three years old and has never had a formal safety audit, leave your phone number in the form above and our team will arrange a fast callback to discuss a compliance test for your installation.
