Training Manual

• Why they were created
• How they simplify safety without lowering standards
• Installer-led accountability

• Manual release, auto-close delay, force limits
• NC safety sensor inputs and testing
• Power disconnect, surge protection
• Functional checklist items

• Frame rigidity and structural integrity
• 4-inch bottom clearance and 2.25" gap rule
• Travel stops, fall protection, and guarding of rollers/pinch points

• How to verify and record each requirement
• Installer declaration and documentation
• Communicating with AHJs

• Sample installation issues and how to address them
• What to expect from the multiple-choice exam
• Tips for passing and applying the knowledge in real life

• 50 multiple-choice questions
• Covers both TGM-500™ and TGM-501™ content
• Passing score required: 80% or higher
• Administered online after training completion
• Certificate of completion issued by Fence University

•  Manual Release: Every operator must have a clearly labeled manual release that does not require tools. This allows emergency access or disengagement of the gate system during power outages or malfunctions, keeping users and responders safe.

• Auto-Close Delay: TGM-500™ requires a minimum 5-second delay between activation and the start of gate movement if auto-close is enabled. This delay helps prevent unintended entrapment and gives time for pedestrians or vehicles to clear the gate path.

• Force Limits: The gate must not exceed 40 lbs of continuous force and no more than 75 lbs of startup force for 1 second or less. This requirement ensures the gate won’t apply excessive pressure that could cause injury or property damage.

TGM-500™ requires that operators support universal, relay-style safety devices using Normally Closed (NC) inputs. This allows for safe, reliable detection of sensor faults and disconnections. Installers must test both opening and closing safety inputs in the field using standard photo eyes or safety edges. If the circuit is opened—either by obstruction or by disconnection—the gate must stop or reverse. This setup ensures real-time, verifiable safety without requiring proprietary, monitored devices.

TGM-500™ was built around the use of universal, Normally Closed (NC) safety sensor inputs. However, to ensure broader industry participation and compatibility, an exception is allowed for gate operators that use monitored safety inputs, only if the following conditions are met:

• The operator must stop or reverse immediately when a safety device is triggered or fails.

• The system must allow field verification of both open and close direction safety devices.

• The operator must not require proprietary sensors that restrict safety functionality to a specific brand.

• All other TGM-500™ performance requirements (force limits, auto-close delay, manual release, etc.) must still be met.

This exception is designed to allow commonly used systems to participate in the TGM standard without sacrificing the field accountability, testability, and safety performance that TGM was created to uphold.

A TGM-500™ compliant operator must stop or reverse motion immediately when a safety sensor is triggered or when the gate encounters an obstruction. This ensures that the gate responds in real-time to prevent entrapment or injury. Installers are expected to test this behavior during installation using safe, soft objects and verify that the system reacts appropriately in both opening and closing directions.

TGM-500™ requires every gate operator to include a clear and accessible power disconnect, such as a plug, switch, or breaker. This allows safe servicing, emergency shutoff, and electrical isolation when needed. Additionally, operators must either include built-in surge protection or support external surge suppression. This protects sensitive components from electrical spikes caused by lightning, power outages, or unstable power sources—reducing the risk of damage and ensuring long-term system reliability.

 These are the specific safety features that must be tested and confirmed in the field during installation for the TGM-500 standard only:

1. Manual Release
   Must be labeled and accessible without tools.
    
2. Auto-Close Delay
   Minimum 5-second delay before gate begins moving after trigger.
    
3. Force Limitation
   Continuous force must not exceed 40 lbs.
   Startup surge must not exceed 75 lbs for more than 1 second.
    
4. Safety Sensors – NC Inputs
   Photo eye or edge sensor installed on both opening and closing directions.
   Sensors must function on Normally Closed (NC) relay input wiring.
    
5. Reversal/Stop Behavior
   Gate must stop or reverse immediately when obstruction is detected by sensors or during force testing.
    
6. Power Disconnect
   Operator must include a serviceable disconnect (switch, plug, or breaker).
    
7. Surge Protection
   Either internal surge suppression or external support must be present to protect electronics.
    

These checklist items are verified by the installer on-site during installation using a field checklist. They ensure the gate operator functions as intended and complies with the real-world safety goals of the TGM-500™ standard.

TGM-501™ requires that the gate frame be built using durable, load-bearing materials capable of withstanding the forces of automated operation. The frame must resist sagging, bending, or twisting under normal use. This ensures long-term structural performance, reduces the risk of gate failure, and contributes to consistent safe operation in the field. A rigid frame also helps maintain sensor alignment and prevents shifting that could compromise safety.

TGM-501™ requires that the bottom of the gate be no more than 4 inches above the finished grade throughout the gate’s full travel path. This rule exists to prevent people—especially children—or small animals from slipping under the gate while it's moving. It also reduces the risk of someone getting pinned between the bottom of the gate and the ground. Maintaining this clearance consistently is essential for protecting against entrapment and ensuring the gate operates safely in real-world conditions.

 TGM-501™ requires that no part of the gate allow a sphere larger than 2.25 inches to pass through—whether between pickets, in the tail section, or between the gate and adjacent structures. 

This rule is critical in preventing body parts, especially small children’s limbs, from becoming trapped. It also helps mitigate risks of climbing, reaching, or falling through the gate during operation. Gates must be measured and evaluated along the full travel path to ensure compliance with this safety clearance. 

All moving mechanical parts such as rollers, hinges, arms, and chains must be guarded to prevent hands, fingers, or clothing from getting caught. Sharp edges within 8 feet of the ground must be capped or eliminated to reduce injury risk.

These are the field-verifiable construction features installers must confirm for a gate to be considered compliant:

1. Frame Strength and Rigidity (resists sagging and collapse)
2. Bottom Clearance (no more than 4 inches above grade)
3. 2.25-Inch Gap Rule (no gaps that allow a 2.25" sphere to pass through)
4. Tail Section Infill (prevents climb-through hazards)
5. Travel Stops (required at open and closed positions)
6. Fall Protection (gate must not tilt beyond 45° in failure)
7. Roller Guards and Pinch Point Protection (all moving parts shielded)
8. Sharp Edge Mitigation (no exposed sharp hardware below 8 feet)