Are You UL 325 Certified?

Overview of UL 325 Safety Standard for Automated Vehicular Gates

• UL is a leading third-party certification organization in the US that evaluates products for public safety.

• UL standards are voluntary and establish minimum requirements for a product, developed in an open and non-exclusionary process.

• UL 325 is a safety standard that covers automatic garage doors, vehicular gates, louvers, and windows.

• UL 325 contains basic qualifying factors and methods for testing products related to safety performance.

• UL 325 covers installation of products in accordance with the National Electrical Code and addresses safety concerns for fire and electrical hazards, and the general public.

• Gate operator manufacturers submit their products for testing to nationally recognized testing laboratories to participate in a listing and labeling program.

• UL is not the only laboratory capable of listing and labeling products to the UL 325 standard.

• UL 325 has undergone a review and voting process to obtain additional recognition as an American National Standard.

• UL 325 outlines options for different means of protecting against entrapment and states the minimum quantities of entrapment protection sensors for each type of gate operator.

• The standard requires at least two independent means of protecting against entrapment in each direction of travel for most installations and all installations where there is a risk of entrapment.

• The standard has provisions related to gate operator classifications, gate types, and effects on gate and fence dealers.

• The construction and installation of automatic gates and adjacent fences must conform to ASTM F2200, and a separate pedestrian gate must be provided for all sites where pedestrian access is likely.Installation Requirements for Gate Operator External Entrapment Protection Sensors

• Gate operators must comply with UL 325 safety standards.

• External entrapment protection sensors must be installed in all potential entrapment zones.

• Warning signs and placards must be installed and visible on both sides of the gate opening.

• DASMA TDS-370 and ASTM F2200 provide information on gate construction for compliance.

• Each type of external entrapment protection sensor has specific installation requirements.

• Devices must be monitored and verified for presence during open and close cycles.

• If a device is not present or a fault occurs, the gate must function with constant pressure or be moved manually.

• Monitoring function cannot be bypassed or modified in the field.

• Non-contact sensor devices (Type B1) require placement instructions to reduce nuisance tripping.

• Contact sensor devices (Type B2) must have one or more sensors in all potential entrapment zones.

• Wiring for a wired contact sensor must not be subjected to mechanical damage.

• Controls for continuous pressure activating devices (Type D) must be placed for full view of the gate area, and automatic closing devices cannot be used.

FAQs on UL 325 and Gate Installations

• Compliance with UL 325 is not a national law, but some states have adopted it as a requirement.
• Building inspectors and fire inspectors are responsible for inspecting gate installations for compliance with UL 325.
• Existing gate operators do not need to be upgraded to meet the new UL 325 standard.
• Older operators that do not meet the standard can be repaired, but liability issues should be considered.
• Upgrading to the new standard depends on the product and the manufacturer should be consulted.
• UL 325 operator usage classifications signify specific end-use applications.
• Photoelectric sensors and contact edge sensors are among several acceptable options for entrapment protection devices.
• Both sensors do not need to be installed if one device can meet the entrapment requirements, but each entrapment zone needs two forms of protection.
• Monitored devices like sensors must be connected and operational for the operator to function.
• Controls intended for user activation must be located at least six feet away from any moving part of the gate.
• UL 325 requirements apply to all new construction of gates and existing gates intended to be motorized.
• Guarding or screening is required for horizontal sliding gates, vertical pivot gates, and vertical lift gates, as per ASTM F2200 standard.

FAQs on UL 325 and Gate Installations

• Compliance with UL 325 is not a national law, but some states have adopted it as a requirement.
• Building inspectors and fire inspectors are responsible for inspecting gate installations for compliance with UL 325.
• Existing gate operators do not need to be upgraded to meet the new UL 325 standard.
• Older operators that do not meet the standard can be repaired, but liability issues should be considered.
• Upgrading to the new standard depends on the product and the manufacturer should be consulted.
• UL 325 operator usage classifications signify specific end-use applications.
• Photoelectric sensors and contact edge sensors are among several acceptable options for entrapment protection devices.
• Both sensors do not need to be installed if one device can meet the entrapment requirements, but each entrapment zone needs two forms of protection.
• Monitored devices like sensors must be connected and operational for the operator to function.
• Controls intended for user activation must be located at least six feet away from any moving part of the gate.
• UL 325 requirements apply to all new construction of gates and existing gates intended to be motorized.
• Guarding or screening is required for horizontal sliding gates, vertical pivot gates, and vertical lift gates, as per ASTM F2200 standard.