Roller Shutter Regulations

Be in the know...

Classed as machinery, roller shutters have strict regulations that must be complied with to keep doors in good working condition, running smoothly and, most importantly, safely. Ensuring these regulations are met is the responsibility of employers and building managers – the health, safety and welfare of staff and visitors is a legal duty, part of the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations in place in the UK. A person or persons can be convicted if found to violate the legislation.

Do you have a roller door? Or are you looking to install one at your premises? It’s important you understand the regulations and have a reliable partner to complete the necessary compliant installation, servicing, maintenance and repairs of your doors. Enter ABC Doors!

In this article, we’ll breakdown everything you need to know about roller shutter regulations and how ABC can support you in achieving them.

Roller shutters have strict regulations!

Why are roller maintenance regulations necessary?

Roller shutters often see regular or excessive use in the daily activities of a business or building. Improperly maintained, roller shutters can be incredibly dangerous, posing a significant threat to user safety resulting in severe and life changing injuries. The UK government has put regulations in place to safeguard users, helping to prevent such accidents. A key part of meeting the regulations is focussed on maintenance.

What roller shutter maintenance is required?

Having your roller shutter regularly serviced not only prolongs the life of a door, but ensures any potential problems are found early, mitigating risk and reducing the likelihood of potentially dangerous operating faults. Regulation 5 of the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 states that any door, including roller shutters, are to be “maintained in an efficient state” and are “subject to a suitable system of maintenance”.

Regulations state that roller shutters should be “checked at regular intervals, as appropriate, by inspection, testing, adjustment, lubrication, repair and cleaning”. The frequency of these checks is not specified and is dependent on the manufacturer’s stipulations and the frequency the door is operated. The general recommended guidelines for maintenance schedules for doors is as follows:

  • Up to 12 cycles per day (every 6 months)
  • Up to 30 cycles per day (every 4 months)

What regulations must be met for powered roller shutters?

Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, abbreviated to PUWER, focusses particularly on powered doors which includes powered roller shutters. Demonstrating that the roller shutters' powered safety system is functioning optimally, providing reliable and safe operation is essential - regular checking and testing of the sensing system that stops the door upon detecting an obstruction is required.

Designed to “ensure work equipment does not deteriorate to the extent that it may put people at risk”, the regulation works much the same as the maintenance requirements. Again, the legal responsibility to ensure that powered roller shutters are regularly inspected, as per manufacturer’s guidelines, falls to the business owner or building manager. However, an extra stipulation to meet the PUWER regulations is needed. A detailed maintenance log must be kept evidencing any work undertaken and should be kept up to date by the employer.

Who can carry out maintenance and repairs?

All roller shutter inspections, maintenance and repairs must be carried out by qualified engineers who can undertake specialist, compliant and high-quality work. You should never attempt to service or repair a roller shutter yourself, this would be in violation of the regulations, and you could face heavy charges in court. You could also be badly injured in the process.

The DHF (the Door and Hardware Federation) has a great resource of information available on guidance for owners and managers. Download a copy of the DHF's 'Code of practice for the safety of industrial doors, garage doors, powered gates & traffic barriers' document here.

ABC, your perfect partner...

ABC Doors, a planned preventative maintenance and repairs partner you can rely on!

ABC has years of experience installing, maintaining and repairing roller shutters around the UK. We have processes in place to effectively manage your maintenance and repair needs, creating detailed asset registers to allow for swift resolution of any servicing or repair requirements.

And, this level of service doesn’t have to cost the earth. Starting as low as under £100, ABC offers several planned preventative maintenance packages that can be tailored to your business’s specific requirements. Choose a company you can count on to have the knowledge, expertise and resource to see you meet the UK’s roller shutter regulations.

Talk to ABC, we can help you with your new or existing roller shutters!

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ABC, your perfect partner!

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Contact the ABC Doors' national helpdesk and our team will be happy to be your door experts!

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The best solution for you...

Why choose a roller shutter from ABC?

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Professional service

Unrivalled service and support, together with expertly selected products, provides you with performance, efficiency and longevity.

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Quality products

ABC manufactures within its group of companies and also source products from specialist supply partners providing you with the best solution every time.

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Expert engineers

The perfect partnership - expert teams of mobile engineers alongside dependable support services and advice ensures fast and cost-effective outcomes.

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Competitive prices

From new installations, emergency repairs to annual servicing and planned preventative maintenance contracts, ABC Doors is always competitive.

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