Quick answer
Safety beams are infrared transmitter/receiver pairs across the gate opening: if something breaks the beam while the gate is closing, the gate stops or reverses. Loop detectors are wire loops cut into the driveway that sense a vehicle's metal mass, used for safety, auto-open on exit, or holding a barrier open.
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Shop all gate products →Key takeaways
- Safety beams protect people and vehicles in the gateway.
- Loop detectors sense vehicles, not people.
- Misaligned or dirty beams are a top cause of gates that won't close.
- Never bypass safety devices to 'fix' a gate.
01How they protect the opening
Safety beam logic
Beam transmitterone side of the opening
Beam receiverother side
Beam broken while closing
Controller
Gate stops / reverses
02Beams vs loops
Safety beam
Infrared across the opening
Detects people and vehicles
Main safety device
Loop detector
Wire loop in the driveway
Detects vehicles (metal)
Auto-open on exit, holds barriers open
03Common beam problems
- Beams knocked out of alignment
- Dirt, spider webs or plants blocking the lens
- Direct sunlight into the receiver
- Water in the housing
- Broken cable
WarningNever bridge out or disconnect safety beams to make a gate work. That removes the protection against injury.
04Frequently asked questions
Why won't my gate close but opens fine?
Very often a blocked or misaligned safety beam. Check for obstructions and dirt on the beam lenses.
Do I need loop detectors?
Not always. They're useful for barriers, busy estate gates and auto-opening on exit.
Can beams detect a small child?
Beam height and positioning matter. A second pair of beams at a lower height improves protection.
