The statistics behind the number of unsafe gates in operation across the UK are disturbing. In recent years, there have been nine deaths in the UK and Ireland- six adults and three children – as well as several serious injuries and countless near misses in accidents involving badly installed and poorly maintained automated gates and barriers.

The dhf( Door & Hardware Federation) campaign, which started in 2014 and is now in its fourth year, is an all-year round crusade and culminated in a week of activity from 9th – 15th October, with the objective to raise awareness about the dangers of unsafe gates, as well as how to spot a potentially dangerous gate and report it. This year’ s campaign focused on automated gate safety within the school environment.

‘ Gate Safety Week’ traditionally ends with a flurry of activity industry-wide, including interest from press and via social media and this year was no different. Midlands-based organisation

Easygates produced and heavily promoted a video regarding gate safety, national organisation Procter Brothers ran an article highlighting the importance of regular maintenance, and Cova Security Gates offered free gate safety checks to local businesses, producing a gate safety video and dedicated an area of its website to the importance of gate safety. Twitter in particular was extremely active with followers using # safegatessavelives to join the debate.

“ Gate Safety Week shines a light on the very important safety issues that need to be considered when using automated gate systems,” says Tony Daniels-Gooding, Managing Director at EasyGates.“ Gate safety is something we consider on a daily basis when speaking to installers and users of gates. The correct procedures and products are imperative to ensure safe and proper use is carried out. Our team of staff have been on hand to offer free gate safety advice to all who need it.” Karen Deacon, Marketing Manager at Cova Security Gates, said

it was proud to help the dhf raise the awareness of # SafeGatesSave- Lives not only during October, but throughout the year.

Marketing and Business Development Manager, Niall Bishop, of Electro in Ireland, said:“ Powered Gate Safety is an important topic for us. Our team of engineers based across Ireland has seen many non-compliant examples of powered gates on commercial premises and seeks to educate business owners on the potential risks. As members of dhf, our team goes through its gate safety training courses with the aim of reducing the risk of injury caused by powered gates.”

As one of the founding members of dhf, Procter Contracts was also proud to support Gate Safety Week.

These pro-active organisations join other heavyweight organisations in putting their force behind dhf’ s Gate Safety Week campaign. Among them is The Health and Safety Executive( HSE).

“ HSE supports Gate Safety Week 2017, the dhf and all those

involved in ensuring the safety of powered( automatic) gates. By working together in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of safe powered gates, we can reduce the risk of people being hurt,” says Philip White, Head of Operational Strategy at HSE.

With more than 500,000 automated gates believed to be in use, it is estimated that more than 70 % are deemed unfit for purpose. But, as a result of dhf’ s on-going campaigning and training programme, progress is being made. dhf Chief Executive, Bob Perry said:“ The Gate Safety Week campaign has grown significantly since 2014 and through its training programme, Technical Specifications, and collaborative working, the organisation has seen an encouraging

improvement in the quality of gate installations as well as the knowledge of installers in the UK. For example, dhf members must abide by the Code of Practice for the Design, Manufacture, Installation and Maintenance of Powered Gates and Traffic Barriers( DHF TS 011:2016) which provides a framework to ensure a gate is safe and therefore complies with the law.”

For further information about Gate Safety Week, please visit http:// www. dhfonline. org. uk / gate-safety-week. htm; TW: @ gatesafetyweek @ dhfonline. The dhf video regarding gate safety can also be viewed here:

http:// www. dhfonline. org. uk / gsw / gate-safety-week-for-homeownersand-the-public / 19. htm

Bowater Projects’ unparalleled technical advice and knowledge has been critical to the success of Linc’ s commitment to upgrade its residential scheme Llys Yr Efail in Blaenau Gwent.

Llys Yr Efail is a housing scheme for older people and contains 35 self-contained one and two-bedroom flats over three floors, as well as a lower ground floor comprising

communal facilities with a lift to all floors. Over 200 casement windows, from The VEKA UK Group, in the Halo System10 profile were specified for this project, as well as nine doors ¬– all of which deliver several benefits to the end users. For example, the low-level gasket design of the windows avoids the unsightly black border appearance, on similar products, and makes the maximum area of glass visible.

Bowater Projects offers a pilot installation on all schemes, as part of its service, to understand if there are any issues with an installation, agree with the client how the windows will be finished and allow the end users to see how the new fenestration will look.

www. bowaterprojects. com

Polyframe has embarked on a major expansion programme to increase the factory space of its Norwich site by 50 per cent and ramp up production rates by 55 per cent.

The new purpose-built factory will increase Polyframe’ s production space on the site from 48,000 square feet to 72,000 square feet. Operational by the end of October, the enlarged factory will allow the Norwich site to boost production output from 4,500 frames a week to

7,000 frames a week on a 24-hour shift basis.

The expansion is the biggest landmark development at Polyframe since it

became part of Customade Group earlier this year and it will enable the business to comfortably maintain its position as the largest fabricator of Rehau frames in the UK.

The enlarged Norwich site will manufacture the complete range of Rehau PVCu windows and doors, including the new smooth grey on white chamfered profile, which closely replicates the appearance of aluminium systems at a competitive price.

www. polyframe. co. uk