With the influx of force testing equipment coming in to the UK gate and door industries in recent years, many installers are experiencing some confusion regarding which equipment best suits their needs. To try and demystify things a little, EasyGates Direct have summarised the requirements regarding the two main types of force test standards.
Type Testing (sometimes referred to as Laboratory certification)
Type test force testing for gates and doors is generally carried out to the current recognised standard that assumes compliance with the legislation in force. For doors and gates in the UK this would currently be (*)BS EN 12453:2001 with forces measured in line with BS EN 12445:2001 to achieve presumed compliance with machinery directive MD 2006/42/EC.
Type testing is typically (though not limited to) used to certify a series or line of gates/doors that will all be produced identically in large numbers. Usually a notified body is employed to carry out this testing and provides 3rd party certification for the product. This certification can then be cascaded down the line or series production of those particular gates or doors. Testing to this standard requires that equipment is regularly calibrated and has an X Y plotter capability, typically tests will require between 27-60 measurements to be taken and recorded.
On-site testing (sometimes referred to as “in-situ” testing)
On-site testing, or in situ force testing is usually carried out post installation of a gate or door product and can be used to verify that forces are safe following fitting. It can also apply where an existing product has been upgraded with new or, has had existing force limitation devices such as safety edges replaced. In situ testing can also mean force testing as part of a maintenance schedule. In the case of maintenance, the manufacturer of the gate or door is required to describe the amount and type of force testing recommended. The DHF code of practice TS011:2018 describes such test methods and can be easily adopted by installers and maintenance companies alike. Testing to this standard requires that equipment is regularly calibrated, typically tests will require between 4-22 measurements to be taken and recorded.
Whichever test method is required, EasyGates & partner GTE Industrieel Elektronic provide suitable force test equipment.
KMG-2000 – For full BS EN12445 type testing
- 500 measurement capacity in-built
- Software suite for report creation
- X Y plotter in-built
- USB PC connectivity
KMG-LITE – Ideal instrument for on-site or in-situ testing
- Results recorded manually
- Website www.forcetesttool.co.uk for report creation
- X Y plotter through NEW app (available July 2018)
- Bluetooth connectivity for app (available July 2018)
*BS EN 12453:2017 is due for harmonisation & approval in the UK toward the end of 2018, the requirements for type testing will remain broadly the same with a recommendation of slightly fewer test measurement points.
