01
Select a system, not just a force rating.
A motor belongs to an assembly: gate leaf, guides or hinges, supports, control, power and protection. Swing and sliding gates have different space and movement constraints. First describe the actual gate and surroundings, rather than filtering a catalogue by maximum stated weight.
Mass does not describe mounting geometry, wind exposure or usage intensity. Have the installer survey the constraints and justify the proposed reference. Link each choice to a known input, manufacturer condition and planned check. An unknown remains an open item, not a value to guess.
02
Document four parts separately.
Scroll the table horizontally to compare all three columns.
| Part | Survey questions | What is insufficient |
|---|---|---|
| Swing gate | Leaf count, individual dimensions, posts, hinges and swept area. | A total weight without mounting geometry or mechanical condition. |
| Sliding gate | Travel, side clearance, guidance, supports and movement surroundings. | An opening width without available run-back space. |
| Control and information | Remote control, intercom, permissions, schedules and specified state feedback. | An app showing the last command without position sensing. |
| Protection of people | Users, hazardous areas, pedestrian access and assessed protective functions. | A pair of photocells or a component marking alone. |
03
Five surveys for the selection brief.
Identification and mechanics
Identify the gate, type and dimensions. Have relevant masses, geometry, guides, supports and fixings assessed. Report previously observed friction or defects without provoking movement to demonstrate them. Do not propose a stronger motor to conceal a mechanical defect.
Use and operating pattern
Describe access periods, arrival peaks, regular and occasional users. Distinguish an opening/closing cycle from a passage or peak hour. Duty and thermal limits must follow the operator’s documentation, not a generic “heavy duty” label.
Environment and circulation
Provide privacy-respecting site and circulation views. Record wind, rain, dust, slope and nearby accessible areas. Have pedestrian movement and possible trapping areas assessed. The survey describes context; it does not independently select protection.
Power and degraded operation
Have available power, routes and responsibility for electrical work identified. Request the expected behaviour during an outage and manufacturer instructions for authorised people. An optional battery guarantees neither runtime nor unlimited access; do not publish site release procedures in a general quotation.
References and scope
Separate operator, controller, mechanical accessories, protection and interfaces. Compare document revisions: if parts of a data sheet state conflicting limits, request written clarification instead of choosing the more favourable value. Identify included, excluded and unresolved preparation work and tests.
04
A plausible proposal can remain unapproved.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
Fictional brief P-01: a two-leaf gate is to be automated. The document gives width per leaf but only an estimated mass. Equipment is proposed without a complete survey. The following observations are invented; no movement test has been performed.
Do not fill gaps with assumptions
Width appears to fit the sales sheet, but mass, post geometry and mounting constraints are unconfirmed. Selection remains unqualified. Do not automatically combine every maximum on a page as though all were permitted together under every condition.
Keep the mechanical defect unresolved
The brief reports known friction and no separate pedestrian route. These points require competent review and decisions. Adding a motor or photocells does not close them. The quotation must identify necessary repair and assessment, without inviting users to test the gate with their bodies.
Do not invent a closed state
The supervision mockup records “close requested”, but no state feedback is documented. It must retain “state unconfirmed” rather than display “closed”. Future acceptance must verify the specified function and its limits; the command alone is not proof.
This case sizes no motor and approves no protective function. Findings must be resolved on the actual site before commissioning; an interface simulation is not a safety test.
05
Plan evidence before commissioning.
Records and responsibilities
Request identification of the installed assembly, applicable records and design, installation and acceptance owners. Separate performed tests, results and outstanding issues; a commercial signature does not replace evidence.
Functions and intended situations
The professional programme must cover assessed functions and authorised use, not merely one opening and closing. Record access-control interfaces and displayed information separately. Do not personally perform force or obstruction tests described in a report.
Handover and follow-up
Plan understandable instructions, authorised people, defect tracking and maintenance suited to manuals and site. Intervals and services need confirmation in the dossier; this guide promises no maintenance contract or response time.
06
A clear enquiry avoids false equivalence.
Send Inovexia the gate type, confirmed inputs, use, interfaces and open questions. Request a role-based equipment list with selection conditions, not merely a kit price. Distinguish existing references from new equipment and preparation work assigned to the chosen contractor.
Inovexia is the distributor: the commercial response and installation assessment have separate scopes. Compatibility, availability and services require confirmation for the actual proposal. Preparation notes help compare offers without hiding assumptions or turning a document selection into safety approval.
07
Questions before requesting a reference
Does a stronger motor fix a sticking gate?
No. Have the mechanical fault assessed. More power or changed settings to conceal it replace neither repair nor safety assessment of the assembly.
Are photocells enough to make a gate safe?
Their presence alone does not establish this. Assessment must address site risks and assembly functions. Each device has a role and limits; a kit checkbox is not acceptance.
Is Internet needed to open the gate?
It depends on the control method. Describe local control and remote app separately, then confirm their dependencies. The label “connected” does not establish offline behaviour.
Does reversal on obstruction establish certification?
No. One observed response does not approve every area or situation. Professional tests and records must match the actual system and applicable requirements; this guide grants no certification.
Can maintenance wait until after ordering?
Define the follow-up owner, instructions and terms in the brief. Frequency depends on installation and use; it requires confirmation, not a copied generic rule.
Technical sources
External reading references. These documents explain principles; they do not certify catalogue products or their combination.
- Exavia Star — Selection inputs and document limits requiring reconciliationSomfy · Sources consulted on
- Gate Automation — Swing and Sliding GatesSomfy · Sources consulted on
- Ensuring powered doors and gates are safeHSE — United Kingdom · Sources consulted on