GATES

ECO Next offers services regarding the installation, certification, periodic inspection and maintenance of manually and automatically operated gates.

In 2010 the obligation to maintain automatic gates has been introduced in Italy, since then it is necessary to check the state of preservation of the systems and carry out routine maintenance, which has to be performed by qualified technicians and requires CE marking on each automatic gate, regardless of the year of installation.

WHY MAINTENANCE

There are two main reasons why gates need to be maintained:

• In order to guarantee the correct functioning of the gate
• In order to respect the law

If not handled properly, the gate will wear out and may become dangerous.

There are different reasons for the blockage of automatically and manually operated gates

• Mechanical blockages due to insufficient maintenance;
• Small animals and insects;
• Short circuits in electronic components;
• Misalignment of photocells or anti-crushing devices;
• etc.

Maintenance is crucial in order to avoid unpleasant inconveniences and keep the gate safe.

TIMING

The installation and the maintenance of automatic gates is ruled by the European standards 98/37/CE and subsequent amendments and supplements and directive 2006/42/CE, also known as “The Machinery Directive”, and require an inspection every six months.

Remember: Don’t wait for the emergency situation or technical breakdown in order to take action but carry out controls and inspections on a regular basis.

WHO CAN YOU TURN TO?

It is advisable to hire a specialised company with qualified personnel for the maintenance of gates, considering that we are always dealing with mechanical and electrical devices that require expertise and proficiency.

With the help of experienced personnel, you can be sure that your automatic systems will be controlled and maintained in an effective manner, even under extreme conditions of use, and will be a device to ensure the safety of disabled and elderly people as well as children.

HOW IS MAINTENANCE DONE

During regular maintenance, the technician proceeds with an inspection, checks the gate and, if necessary, retrofits the sections in accordance with the standards. The inspection will be carried out by using appropriate tools, which can change according to the type of automation: simple swing gate, dual swing gate, sliding gate etc.

The following checks will be carried out:

• Checking of the gate hinges, which must be lubricated and secure;
• Checking of all mechanisms that move the gate in order to avoid signs of deterioration, rust or dirt;
• Cleaning of brackets and pistons;
• Repair and retrofitting of all parts in accordance with the standards.

At the end of the inspection, a control document with a summary of the results will be issued.

PERIODIC INSPECTIONS

On request of its customers ECO Next performs safety tests and inspections on automatic gates and barriers in order to assess their compliance with the safety requirements according to the relevant technical standards such as (EN 14351-1 and EN 13241-1) and also verifies whether EC marking according to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/CE is required.

Thanks to a high level of service quality, we are able to support the owner or operator of the system so that he can fulfil the safety requirements for the gate in its function as a machine.

The legislation on gate automation, that has been updated by the European Union with Directive 98/37/CE, requires that automatic gates are to be considered as real machines and as such they need to comply with very specific safety standards and are therefore subject to periodic safety inspections.

Different types of automation that are referred to as “automatic or motorised gates”:

• Sliding gates;
• Swing gates;
• Rolling gates;
• Up and over gates;
• Sectional gates;
• Automatic doors.

THE INSPECTION INCLUDES:

• ANALYSIS OF THE DOCUMENTS.
• VERIFICATION OF THE PROPER CONDITION AND MAINTENANCE.
• GENERAL CONDITION AND STRENGTH OF THE EXISTING GATE IN RELATION TO THE APPLIED FORCES.
• FUNCTION TEST OF THE COMPLETE AUTOMATION AND OF SINGLE COMPONENTS
• INSPECTION OF THE EXISTING SAFETY DEVICES (SAFETY DISTANCE, MECHANIC PROTECTION, DECAL PICTURES ETC.).
• MEASUREMENT OF THE IMPACT FORCES.

Furthermore periodic inspections are mandatory for automatic gates in order to verify their correct operation in accordance with The Machinery Directive of Decree-law 2010/17. The technical documentation and subsequent inspections are necessary in order to ensure the utmost safety of the automation and to protect the user against any accidents due to the malfunction of the system.