A safe working environment is important in sectors where work is carried out at height, such as warehouses and industrial environments.
Safety fencing – including balustrades, mezzanine fencing and warehouse fencing – and tilt gates are important components of an effective fall protection system for working at height. But exactly what safety guidelines must these guardrails meet?
To minimize the risk of falls and prevent accidents, every type of safety fencing must meet strict standards. The most important European standards that apply here are:
EN 14122-3: EN 14122-3 is a European standard that provides guidelines for the safe design and application of railings, balustrades and landings as fall protection at machinery. This standard is part of the broader EN 14122 series, which deals with permanent access to machinery.
What this particular standard is about?
EN 14122-3 focuses on guardrails, handrails and stair landings that must provide protection against falls from height, especially in industrial environments where workers regularly perform maintenance or inspection on or around machinery.
The standard sets clear requirements for the construction, dimensions and application of fall protection. Key points:
When a safety fence is designed and installed according to these standards, it can withstand daily loads as well as unexpected forces such as tripping or leaning. This ensures not only the safety of personnel, but also the integrity of property and facilities.
Complying with the guidelines from EN 14122-3 not only helps prevent accidents and falls, but also ensures:
Tilt gates, such as the Variogate systems, are often used at access points such as mezzanine floors, loading docks or work platforms. They are designed to provide safe passage without the risk of falling. Yet these fences are not always subjected to the same stringent requirements as safety fencing, which can lead to dangerous situations.
High quality tilt gates not only comply with EN 14122-3 and (EN 13374), but also with additional standards such as:
A common problem in industrial environments is the use of uncertified or defective fencing. These give the appearance of safety, but in reality do not meet the desirable standard. This is also called false security.
A non-standard tilt gate may collapse under load, fail to close correctly or provide insufficient protection during unexpected movements. The result: serious accidents, injuries or damage to property. Therefore, it is crucial that tilt gates also meet the same requirements as safety fencing, including balustrades and mezzanine fencing. Only then will the protection be truly effective and durable.
Whether it’s safety fencing on a mezzanine floor, a balustrade along a work platform or a tilt gate at an encroachment point, only certified products that comply with applicable safety guidelines provide true protection.
One of the many tests that a Variogate is subjected to is the Dutch “Glasparel pendulum test” according to NEN 6702. The glass bead pendulum test is a test method used to assess the impact resistance of fences and gates. This test simulates an impact by swinging a heavy bag filled with glass beads against the fence and observing how the structure absorbs and resists the impact. Variogate successfully passed this test:
This way you avoid false security and invest in real security for staff and property.
Want to know more about safe pallet gates and safety fences?
Contact a certified supplier and ensure your workplace complies with all safety guidelines.
A safety tilt fence is essential for creating a safe working environment in sectors where work is carried out at height, such as warehouses, logistics centers and industrial environments. By effectively reducing fall hazards, properly designed and properly installed fencing protects personnel and visitors from accidents. This not only contributes to safety in the workplace, but also ensures compliance with applicable safety guidelines, such as Occupational Health and Safety legislation. In addition, the use of certified solutions helps prevent liability in the event of injury or damage.
Any type of safety fencing must meet strict safety standards to minimize the risks of falls and other workplace accidents. European standard EN 14122-3 is leading in this regard. This standard sets requirements for the construction, height and strength of guardrails used at workplaces at height, such as landings and work platforms. For example, a handrail must be at least 1100 millimeters high, an intermediate handrail at 500 millimeters is mandatory, and a toeboard must be at least 100 millimeters high. In addition, the structure must withstand the load of a person falling or leaning. Complying with EN 14122-3 ensures not only safety, but also the structural reliability of the working environment.
Yes, tilt gates (such as Variogates), like other forms of safety fencing, must meet the requirements of EN 14122-3 and additional standards. These fences are often installed at mezzanine floors, loading docks and work platforms and are designed to safely transport goods without creating a fall hazard. Because tilt gates are a part of general handrail fencing, it is critical that they too meet the same safety guidelines. High-quality tilt fences also often meet additional standards, such as EN 1090-1 for structural reliability, ISO 9001 for quality management, and NEN 6702 for load and strength calculations. Thus, they offer a reliable and certified solution for safe work situations.
The use of uncertified fencing or tilt fences poses the danger of false security. Fake safety means that a fence looks safe, but in reality does not meet the necessary standards and load requirements. This can lead to the fence collapsing under certain forces, not closing properly or providing insufficient protection during unexpected movements. In practice, this can lead to serious accidents, injuries or damage to property. By choosing Variogate’s certified solutions, you avoid these risks and invest in real, structural safety.
The Glass Bead Pendulum Test is a test method used to assess the impact resistance of fencing, among other things. This involves forcefully swinging a heavy bag filled with glass beads against the fencing to test how well the structure can withstand a sudden impact. The Variogate tilt fences successfully passed this test: the structure remained fully intact, no dangerous gaps or loose parts appeared, and the anchoring remained undamaged as well. This shows that the tilt gates not only meet the applicable standards, but are also exceptionally safe and robust in practice.
You can recognize a certified tilt gate by clear documentation showing that the gate meets standards such as EN 14122-3, EN 1090-1 and ISO 9001. In addition, reliable systems often bear a TÜV mark and can provide test reports, for example from the Glasparel pendulum test or strength calculations. A certified tilt gate is solidly constructed, safe to operate and tested for structural load capacity. By choosing a supplier that is transparent about the standards and certifications used, you avoid the risk of faulty or unsafe products.
Certified safety fencing and toppling gates provide demonstrable assurance of safety, reliability and regulatory compliance. They help prevent accidents, increase workplace safety and ensure that companies comply with both European standards and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. In addition, they are designed and tested to withstand intensive use and unexpected forces for long periods of time. Investing in certified solutions from Variogate not only helps protect personnel, but also ensures the continuity and integrity of business processes.
