Why Roller Shutters Need Safety Brakes

How Important Is It To Have Safety Brakes

Roller shutters have become an important element of property security in many regions of Wales. Let’s take a look at why it is important for roller shutters to have safety brakes

They are used on farms, businesses, offices, and industrial buildings to secure the premises, provide insulation, aid Large Access, and help boost energy efficiency.

Whether you’re looking to secure your warehouse from intruders or want to protect your customers, they can be an invaluable asset. These shutters offer protection against fire and theft, as well as many other hazards that could cause harm.

Do roller shutters need a safety brake?

DHF TS011 2019 Explains:

Protection against any single failure of a vulnerable suspension component must be protected such that either:

the door is so light that it will only exert a low static weight of 20kg maximum when measured at the leading edge, in the least favourable position (usually almost closed) with single balancing system components failed, e.g. one single spring, cable, chain or drive unit disconnected,

or,

B. the door will not travel more than 300mm at the point of failure and be prevented from further use.

Acceptable measures include one or a combination of the following measures:

Very light effective static curtain weight at the point of failure (option A)
- Combinations of spring balancing and non-reversing gears (protects against spring or drive failure)
- Torque limiting systems (protects against further use following spring failure)
- Separate centrifugal safety brake (protects against spring or drive failure)
- Integral fall-back protection within the drive unit (protects against drive failure only).

This essentially means that if your door weighs more than 20 kgs (Approx the size of a single pedestrian door) then it needs to have a secondary system to protect users who pass underneath in the unfortunate event should the door fail and fall in a guillotine effect.

What are safety brakes?

A safety brake is a device that slows or stops the motion of an object, typically by applying pressure against one side. This braking system is essential to roller shutters to protect both people and property.

Some larger doors have Direct drive motors with integrated safety brakes.

Most Tube motor shutters and manual shutters require a centrifugal safety brake to be mounted at the end of the shaft to allow it to “catch” the door should it fail.

With this type of protection, you can rest assured knowing your customers/staff will always be safe. There are many different types of safety brakes on the market today and each one comes with its own set of features and benefits.

Are there any circumstances that supersede the need for a roller shutter safety break?

Do people pass under the door?

If there is no pedestrian traffic possible, the risk is lower but how are pedestrians to be eliminated, as both normal use and foreseeable misuse must be accounted for?

It is extremely rare to find a site where there really is no potential for pedestrian traffic and sole reliance on signage, markings and railings etc is rarely sufficient.
If you do find such a door, with a full risk assessment this door can be deemed “Assessed safe” and avoid the need for a new brake.

Is It a legal requirement to have a roller shutter door safety brake?

There are various pieces of criminal legislation that affect both the owner and maintainer of the door depending on the nature of the site and the local jurisdiction.

Regulations 5 and 18 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require that doors at workplaces are safe and subject to a suitable and sufficient system of maintenance (owner or manager responsibility).

Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires that employers and the self-employed as part of their work ensure that systems in their care are safe (e.g. landlords, workplace managers, owners, managing agents, facilities managers and maintenance

contractors).

The Dangers

Roller shutters have caused injuries in the past without having safety brakes. By making regular maintenance appointments, you’ll be able to keep your shutter in good shape. This will allow you to discover any problems early on, avoiding costly one-off repairs or total shutter replacement if your shutter function fails.

This article covers safety brakes. Fitting manufacture, Control systems, safety systems and operation are all separate issues that should be assessed on your roller shutter service by your DHF Competent trained shutter engineers.

For More information on Safety for Roller Shutters please visit: https://www.dhfonline.org.uk/pg/publications/35.htm