Parapets and balustrades

Frequently, near the mountain stations of cable cars or at the boarding areas of car lifts (montauto), access ramps are only protected by mobile barriers, improvised gates, or, even worse, systems completely lacking any certification.

In the specific case of these access points, it must be clarified that the barriers must be constructed with materials that fully guarantee their specific function: safeguarding individuals from falling into the void and allowing them to lean on them in complete safety.

For greater clarity on the subject, below is a list of the main legal regulations and calculation standards governing the construction and supply of railings or balustrades:

Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011.
Decreto Ministeriale 17/01/2018 – Update of the Technical Standards for Construction (NTC 2018 – ITALY).
Circolare Ministeriale 21 January 2019, n. 7 C.S.LL.PP. (ITALY).
Eurocodes: Eurocode 0 (UNI EN 1990) – Basis of structural design; Eurocode 1 (UNI EN 1991) – Actions on structures; Eurocode 3 (UNI EN 1993) – Design of steel structures; Eurocode 8 (UNI EN 1998) – Design of structures for earthquake resistance.
UNI Standards from No. 10805 to No. 10809.
General Standards UNI EN 1090 parts 1 and 2.
Decreto Ministeriale 31/07/2012 (ITALY).
Decreto Ministeriale 14/06/1989, n. 236 (ITALY).

Specifically, balustrades and railings must have a minimum height of 110 cm from the ground and must be designed so that a sphere with a 100 mm diameter cannot pass through them.

AVANTGATES is a mobile closing system capable of guaranteeing certification as a protective railing, in full compliance with the regulations listed above.

Thanks to its unique engineering features and the use of hydraulics, it is the only closing system unaffected by extreme temperature variations, capable of operating in severe climate conditions. The viscosity of the oil ensures perfect system operation at temperatures below -40°C. Unlike standard electromechanical motors, sub-zero temperatures do not compromise its operational efficiency.

As an example, the AVANTGATES system was installed some time ago at the mountain station of the Lagazuoi Cable Car in Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy), at an altitude of 2,732 meters above sea level.

In this case, the cable car operator, in collaboration with the system manufacturer Agudio, chose the AVANTGATES closing system not only because it guaranteed compliance with safety regulations and operation at extreme temperatures, but also for its other key advantages: