Safety gates.
Always-protected pallet drop. Pivot, slide, and self-closing swing gates that keep the loading edge guarded at every stage of the transfer. No moment where the worker stands at an open edge.
The edge stays always protected.
A pallet drop is the worst spot on a mezzanine. The forklift is below, the pallet is above, the worker has to push the pallet into a 4-ft gap in the guardrail. Old-style swing gates open in both directions and leave the worker standing at an unprotected edge while the forklift retrieves.
Always-protected gate design solves that. One side of the gate is always closed. When the pallet is on the deck, the deck-side opening is closed. When the forklift is loading, the lift-side opening is closed. The worker never stands at an open edge.
416 spec's the right gate per drop location based on pallet size, fork geometry, and traffic frequency.
- Pivot GateMost common. Self-balancing pivot keeps one side closed at all times. No power, no maintenance.
- Slide GateFor high-throughput drops. Horizontal slide on bearing track. Manual or pneumatic.
- Self-Closing SwingLighter-duty drops + secondary egress. Spring-loaded return to closed. 42" tall.
- Powder-coat safety yellowHigh-visibility per ANSI Z535. Galvanized finish on request.
- OBC Section 3.4Integrates with the mezzanine 42" guardrail. Same height, same mid-rail, same toe-board.
Three gate types.
Always-protected pallet drop
Counterbalanced pivot — pallet pushed in rotates the gate, closing the deck-side and opening the lift-side. Forklift retrieves. Gate rotates back. Worker never at open edge.
High-throughput option
Horizontal track. Slide-open during transfer, slide-closed during pick. Manual or pneumatic actuation. Best for high-frequency drops in distribution operations.
Secondary egress + lighter use
Spring-return swing. Used for personnel egress points + low-frequency loading edges. Always closes behind the worker.
Spec'd to your pallet.
Sized to your pallet + fork
Gate opening matches your pallet footprint + fork swing geometry. Standard 48"x48" pallet drop is one spec. Oversize, slipsheet, or container drops get a different one.
42" guardrail integration
Gate rails match the surrounding mezzanine guardrail height + mid-rail + toe-board. No height discontinuity, no gap below the gate.
Structural steel + bearings
All gate hinges + pivots use sealed bearings rated for the install environment. Cold-storage rated bearings available.
Bolt-on, not weld-on
All 416 gates bolt to the mezzanine frame. Field-adjustable, relocatable, replaceable. No on-site welding — no fire-watch, no permit hold.
Pallet drop in your mezzanine spec?
Send your pallet size + fork geometry + traffic frequency. We'll spec the gate type + size in the mezzanine submittal.