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EN12445 EN12453
Overview of EN 12445 and EN 12453
According to European laws currently in force, "power-operated automatic gates" are subject to the Machine Directive 89/392/EEC. This means the fitter is required to issue an EC declaration certifying the product's conformity with the safety regulations in force.
In November 2000 the E.U. issued new regulations regarding automatic gates and doors specifically: EN12453 "Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gate - Safety in use of power operated doors - Requirements" provides a detailed outline of the construction requirements and EN12445 "Industrial, commercial and garage doors and gate - Safety in use of power operated doors - Test methods", describes the in-situ test methodologies, and is therefore aimed at fitters.
Of course, mechanical safety issues are connected to the hazardous nature of moving parts and therefore the crushing force generated by the motor, which is precisely why the standard EN12445 details, for each gate typology, the tests which must be carried out to make sure the forces in play do not exceed the prescribed limits.
To this end, the said legislation envisages the use of a specific force gauge (which must meet the requirements of art. 5.1.) and an extremely accurate and detailed measuring procedure: Take the measurement of an ordinary sliding gate, for example: the certification process requires a test involving the measurement of the force in at least 9 points (three horizontal distances from the point of closure, each one measured at three different heights).
What is more, at each measurement point three tests have to be carried out, from which the arithmetic average is then taken to provide the numerical evaluation parameters.
In light of all this, the gauge obviously needs to be as light as possible, and should be manageable, versatile and - above all - simple to use: discover Microtronics™ products!