EN 17352: what the standard requires of powered turnstiles and speed gates
Quick answer
EN 17352 is the European safety-in-use standard for power operated pedestrian entrance control equipment: turnstiles, swing gates and retractable gates. It sets requirements and test methods so the equipment does not injure people passing through. When buying, ask for the declaration of conformity and evidence that the model was assessed against it.
What it is
EN 17352, "Power operated pedestrian entrance control equipment — Safety in use — Requirements and test methods", was published at European level in 2022 and has been adopted in Spain as UNE-EN 17352 (standard record). Until then, this equipment was assessed against standards written for automatic doors or directly against the general requirements of machinery legislation.
What equipment it covers
Powered pedestrian equipment whose job is to let people through one at a time:
- powered turnstiles;
- swing-panel lanes;
- retractable or sliding-panel lanes.
It covers both normal use and installation on escape routes and emergency exits.
What it leaves out
According to the published scope, among others:
- automatic pedestrian doors (which have their own standards);
- mechanical turnstiles that are only unlocked electrically;
- vertically moving equipment;
- platform screen doors;
- equipment manufactured before its publication.
In other words: a classic tripod that the person pushes with their body and is only released electrically is outside this standard; a lane with motorised glass panels is inside it.
What kind of risks it addresses
The full text is paid-for and we do not reproduce it, but its purpose is well known: hazards of crushing, impact, shearing and trapping by moving panels or arms; behaviour on faults and loss of power; and the information the manufacturer must provide for installing, using and maintaining the equipment.
What it means if you are buying
- Ask for the EU declaration of conformity for the model and check which standards it cites.
- Ask about the sensors that stop panels striking a person, a child or a wheelchair.
- Ask what the equipment does without power and on an alarm signal (evacuation).
- Require the installation and maintenance manual — in Spain it must be supplied in Spanish; ask whether an English version exists too.
- Do not modify the equipment (speeds, disabled sensors) beyond what the manufacturer allows.
What it means if you already have one installed
Safety in use does not end at purchase: it depends on installation following the manufacturer's instructions and on the specified maintenance being done (what to check). Responsibility for the equipment's condition lies with its owner.
How it relates to other rules
- Machinery legislation (Royal Decree 1644/2008 in Spain) is the legal framework behind CE marking.
- The Spanish Building Code governs the building's evacuation and accessibility, which the equipment must respect.
- Vehicle barriers fall under different standards: see parking barriers.
Questions about a specific unit? With our turnstile and speed gate installations we hand over the manufacturer's documentation.
Frequently asked questions
Is EN 17352 mandatory?
What is mandatory is meeting machinery legislation in order to place the equipment on the market with CE marking. Applying the standard is the usual way to demonstrate that. To know whether a given model was assessed against it, check its declaration of conformity.
Does it affect turnstiles I already have?
The standard does not apply to equipment manufactured before its publication. Even so, the owner must keep them in a safe condition.
Sources
This guide is for information only and is not a substitute for legal advice or for the technical design of each installation. Regulations change: always check the current text at the official source.