All hardware in passive fall protection systems eventually wears down and the moving mechanisms and gate closing spring sets in your facility’s gates are no exception. This can lead to gates that are hard to move, won’t hold their tension (making it difficult for them to help catch employees if they fall), and present a fire hazard for staff or visitors trying to leave quickly. As a result, your team will need to regularly monitor and replace these springs to keep them compliant with OSHA requirements. To help your efforts, this guide will help you zero in on the right replacement springs for each of your spring loaded safety gates.
How Springs for Safety Gates Can Break Down Over Time
Make inspecting the individual components on your industrial safety gates a standard part of your safety and fall protection audits for your passive fall protection systems. Some of the most common causes of damage and excessive wear are:
- The springs are strong enough for the weight: Springs need to support both the long-term weight of the gate and the potential forces of a worker leaning against it or catching their balance.
- Unbalanced tension: You may have springs that can support the general weight of the gate but are not strong enough to suspend a long gate that’s 60 inches wide from a single side. Over time, these springs will bend and deform.
- Corrosion or chemical damage: Metals are vulnerable to chemical degradation from salts, corrosive chemical agents, and water. Some metals, such as stainless steel, are resistant to corrosion; other metals may have plating or a protective coating that wears away over time and leaves the metal exposed.
- Mechanical wear and tear: Gates that are frequently used in high-activity areas are more likely to wear out before gates that are used far less frequently. The gates may slam into place, the springs will bend or crack over time, and the springs may stretch out or start to lose their compact form.
- Misalignment: If the springs are even slightly misaligned during installation or knocked out of place, this will place additional stress on the spring, making it break down faster.
Whatever the underlying cause, it’s important to resolve it as soon as possible. Catching the damage quickly may help you salvage the parts, whereas acting too late will lead to more extensive damage.
Considerations for Choosing the Right Replacement Springs for Safety Gates
Once the springs have developed damage, it’s time to replace them. As a rule, springs cannot be repaired. Instead, passive fall protection systems professionals will need to remove them and install a new set. As you shop for replacement safety gate springs, consider these factors to ensure you pick the right types of hardware.
>> Spring Tension
Spring tension is the amount of force a spring can provide when it’s compressed (if it typically has a loose coil) or extended (if it typically has a tight coil). The displacement of the spring directly impacts how much spring tension—and, through it, how much potential force—is contained within the spring.
Ideally, your safety gates will have self-closing springs. These components have enough tension to automatically snap the gate back into a closed position unless someone is applying enough counterforce to push or pull it open. A self closing gate is safer because, when it’s installed in the right orientation, it stays closed when someone accidentally trips or leans against it.
>> Type of Spring
There are many different types and designs of swings. Common options are compression springs, extension springs, and volute springs. Manufacturers also split springs into three classes based on the type of force: linear, variable, and constant. Choose the right type based on your gate’s design.
>> Material
The material your safety gate’s springs are made from matters a great deal in the longevity of the spring, as well as the forces it can generate. Ideally, your springs should be made from an alloy like stainless steel, which offers these qualities:
- Resistance against corrosion and moisture damage
- Doesn’t require plating, coating, or covering to withstand environmental damage
- Excellent material characteristics such as strength, elasticity, and durability
Avoid metals that will quickly corrode or rust.
>> Compatibility With Existing Hardware
One of the most important characteristics of replacement screws is that they are compatible with your gates. They need to be the right length, width, thickness, and build. Your gate manufacturers may provide replacement springs, or they may publish the specifications for springs so you can source them from third-party manufacturers.
>> Ease of Installation
This is a small consideration for many facilities, but it’s still worth keeping in mind. Ideally, your gate’s replacement springs will be easy to install, with little to no need for specialized tools or training. Springs can be dangerous because they’re capable of such high degrees of force and tension, so your teams will need simple, surefire processes for removing and installing springs.
>> Compliance
Ultimately, the self closing gate closing spring mechanisms need to help your gates comply with OSHA regulations. OSHA standard 1910 outlines the requirements in general manufacturing and industrial facilities to have active and passive fall protection and prevention systems. Common areas where these standards apply include around the mezzanine, near loading dock doors, at the top of stairways, and the top of ladder hatches. Self-closing, spring-loaded safety gates play an important role in reducing or eliminating fall risks in your facilities, and the springs you select need to live up to those same obligations. For example, they will need to be able to credibly withstand the weight of the gate and the forces of holding it suspended from one side. They also need to reliably provide that support month after month to prevent fall incidents and help your facility pass OSHA inspections.
Find Your Spring Loaded Solutions at Fabenco
If your facility has multiple raised areas, you likely have multiple gates that must comply with OSHA, CCOHS, or other safety requirements. Anywhere a walkway or access point connects to work platforms or floors of different heights, there should be a safety gate with fully functional springs. At Fabenco by Tractel, we provide passive fall protection systems such as self closing gate products and spring loaded safety gates, as well as gate closing spring sets and replacement hardware compatible with gates like ours. Reach out today for expert assistance finding the right gate closing spring replacements.
