New Building Codes for Gates Will Save Lives
Efforts Spearheaded by Parent, Industry, & Code Experts
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ready, Set, Safe! welcomes the International Code Council’s (ICC) approval of four code change proposals that strengthen safety gate standards and maintenance requirements across residential, commercial, and public settings.
This milestone follows more than a year of collaboration among Ready, Set, Safe!, the American Fence Association (AFA), industry leaders, and code experts. Eric Quanbeck, co-founder of Ready, Set, Safe!, began advocating for stronger gate safety standards after a 400-pound gate fell on and killed his seven-year-old son, Alex, during recess at his elementary school. He soon learned that Alex's death was one of more than two dozen gate-related fatalities nationwide.
After helping secure improved gate safety requirements in Marin County, California, where Alex died, Quanbeck partnered with Catherine Mills-Reynolds, AFA's Director of Government Relations and Industry Standards, to bring concerns about gaps in gate safety standards to ICC leadership and stakeholders.
The ICC model codes are used throughout the United States and in approximately 100 countries. As jurisdictions adopt future editions of the codes, the approved changes have the potential to improve safety in schools, apartment communities, parks, commercial properties, and other public spaces worldwide.
“These safety measures represent an important step forward in helping prevent serious injuries and fatalities caused by unsafe gates,” said Eric Quanbeck, Ready, Set, Safe! co-founder. “After losing our son Alex, we committed ourselves to making sure stronger safeguards exist for other families. We are deeply grateful to the ICC, the American Fence Association, and the many industry professionals who worked collaboratively with us to make these improvements possible.”
The approved proposals update multiple model codes to incorporate recognized ASTM safety standards for horizontal slide and swing gates (ASTM F1184 and F900 respectively), and strengthen maintenance expectations for existing gates. The changes affect the International Building Code® (IBC), International Residential Code® (IRC), International Existing Building Code® (IEBC), and International Property Maintenance Code® (IPMC).
The approved proposals to the 2027 model International Codes (I-Codes) include:
Expanding requirements for IBC Section 3110 to include national safety standards for manual sliding gates (ASTM F1184) and manual swing gates (ASTM F900), alongside the existing requirements for automatic gates.
Requiring existing gates to comply with the updated IBC when the gate is being altered, repaired, or replaced.
Updating the IRC Appendix to also incorporate F1184 and F900.
Adding gate definitions and safety requirements to the IPMC to strengthen ongoing maintenance expectations on existing gates.
“The American Fence Association is proud to have worked alongside Ready, Set, Safe!, ICC representatives, and industry experts to advance these proposals,” said Catherine Mills-Reynolds, Director of Government Relations and Industry Standards, American Fence Association. “Incorporating recognized ASTM standards into the codes helps create greater consistency around gate safety, installation, and maintenance practices and reflects the industry’s commitment to protecting the public.”
“The ICC code development process is transparent, consensus-based, and inclusive. The process is open to involvement from everyone – not just building safety professionals,” said Kevin McOsker, Vice President of Technical Resources, International Code Council. “These approved proposals to the 2027 I-Codes will enhance gate safety provisions across multiple model codes and will help protect the lives of over two billion people globally.”
Ready, Set, Safe! continues to advocate for stronger safety standards, regular safety assessments, and greater awareness of hazards affecting children in schools, parks, and communities. Additional educational resources, multimedia content, and awareness initiatives are planned in coordination with Gate Safety Awareness Month this October.
About Ready, Set, Safe!
Ready, Set, Safe! is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing injuries and fatalities caused by infrastructure and facility-related hazards where children learn and play. The organization was founded following the death of seven-year-old Alex Quanbeck, who was killed when a large gate fell on him during recess at his elementary school.
