2009 Adult Death

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 EN 12453 Minimum Level of
Protection at the Main Edge

EN 12453 makes additional requirements to the standard provisions

at the main edge because this is the area where persons are invited
to enter through and are most likely to encounter the gate.
Crush and impact hazards at the main edge must be controlled by
one of the following four methods:
1. Hold to run
2. Force Limitation only
(Where automatic closing is not used and when un-trained persons will
not encounter the gate – very few automated gate systems)
3. Limitation of force in combination with photo beams
(Where automatic closing is used or where un-trained persons may
encounter the gate – most automated gate systems)
4. Light curtain/photo scanner

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 EN 12453 Presence Detection Used in
Conjunction With Force Limitation

Photo electric beam:

• Provide additional protection when public are present or when auto
close is enabled
• Provide protection for vehicles
A single horizontal beam cannot be considered to be a safety device in it’s
own right as it can only control the probability of an incident, a safety
device would control the possibility of injury.

SHOULD NEVER BE THE SOLE MEANS OF PROVIDING SAFETY!

Far too easy to defeat by leaning over or standing astride

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EN 12453 Traffic Barrier Hazards Controls

Control with one of:

• Hold to run
• Inherent or safe edge force limitation
• Light curtain or photo scanner etc.

Control finger/hand injury hazards by

removing all sharp edges and protruding
bolt heads etc.

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EN12445 Traffic Barrier Force Test
[Safe edge or inherent]
200mm

Up to 2m
a.g.l.

Stop and reverse on contact:

• Less than 400N
• Back below 150N in 0.75s
• Back below 25N in 5s

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 EN 12453 Photo Beam to Supplement
Force Limitation

Photo beams should be no more than

500mm above the
road and either:
i. One beam
directly under
the boom centre
line or;
ii. Two beams
200mm either
side of the boom
centre line.

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 EN 12453 Linear Light Curtain Used
Without Force Limitation

A photo beam could be used as a light curtain if it occupies all of a narrow

hazard area and does prevent all possible contact.
To achieve safety device status it must also comply with EN 12978.
[EN 954-1 Category 2 or 3]

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 EN 12453 Traffic Barrier With Photo
Scanner

1 x photo scanner:
• Mounted below
the boom.
• Extending an
arms length
[900mm] either
side of the
boom centre
900mm [arms reach]
line.

900mm [arms reach]

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 EN 12453 Traffic Barrier with Dual Photo
Scanners

2 x light grids or 2
photo scanners:
• Ground to 2.5m
2.5m
• 200mm either
side of the boom
• Ideal for
protecting
barriers with skirt

200mm

200mm

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