Roller Garage Door Safety Requirements

The safety of roller doors is a concern that should be taken seriously – garage doors are a heavy and dangerous feature of your home life that can be potentially fatal. There are regulations put in place by the government and enforced by trading standards to protect buyers from purchasing a faulty or cut-cost door, which should be acknowledged by those in the industry and customers alike, ensuring that no unnecessary harm is caused by a poorly constructed garage door.

Why are the Regulations Needed?

The regulations have always been in place to ensure the safety of roller garage door users. However, because some garage door suppliers attempted to undercut their competitors’ prices by cutting corners in the production of their doors, the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) produced a further statement to make sure the legislation was clear enough to prevent more companies blatantly flouting the rules.

It is important to note, the disregarding of any safety rules surrounding heavy machinery is a serious offence and a huge indication of the quality of a company. A trusted garage door supplier, such as Rollerdor, would always put the safety of their customers and the quality of their workmanship above their own profits. If the price of a garage door seems too good to be true, it probably is. You should always check that the door you are buying is compliant with the law before purchasing.

What are the Laws?

The main legal documents that are relevant for powered garage doors are known as:

• The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (SMR)
• The Construction Products Regulation 2011 – EU No. 305/2011 (CPR)
• European Standard for Garage Doors (BS EN 13241-1:2003 + A2:2016)

Simply put, these laws require that all new garage doors must be verifiably safe when put on the market.

How do I check my Roller Garage Door is Safe?

There are a number of things you can look for to check your garage door is compliant with the relevant laws:

• Any door compliant with the legal standards will be marked with a UKCA mark
• Ask to see the file that details how the regulations have been complied with – this is required by law to be kept by the responsible person (usually the business owner/roller door retailer)
• Check for hold to run controls, a safety device that can be used to test run the door or issue an emergency stop in case the garage door safety system fails. This should be located in a safe place on the door and in clear sight
• Look for a  presence detection system, such as a sensor on either side of the garage door. This system works by projecting a small beam from a sensor to a receiver to check the pathway is clear for the garage door to close safely. If something was to block the path between the receiver and the sensor, the beam would not complete the circuit and the garage door would not close, thus preventing the door closing on any person or object. Be warned; this system alone is not enough of a safety precaution and must be used in conjunction with one of the other safety features listed here. Some untrustworthy door salesmen will even fit their own sensors, which isn’t safe or legal!
• If the garage door collides with something, does the door stop closing and therefore limit the force it uses on objects in its path? Roller garage doors need to pass this test to be verified as safe to use.

Keeping an eye out for the above criteria and asking to see proof of compliance will protect you from purchasing an unsafe garage door.

Rollerdor Ltd stock a range of quality DIY garage doors, all of which are completely safe and come with at least a two year guarantee. As a leading garage door company within the UK, we pride ourselves on our durable and affordable range of high-standard garage doors. For more information on our range and our services, contact us or call 0800 030 6004; we’re always on hand to offer our assistance.