How to Install a Saftidor Retractable Security Gate

Saftidor Security Gate Installation Guide

Installing your Saftidor security gate is straightforward when the gate is positioned correctly and the lock is aligned before all fixings are fully tightened.

This guide covers the standard Saftidor installation process, including hinge fitting, wheel installation where required, fixing the gate to the frame, setting the slam lock, fitting the wall bracket and installing the handle.

Installation video:

Before You Start

Check that the gate fits your opening and that you have a suitable fixing surface on both sides.

Saftidor gates can be installed inside a door or window opening. For window installations, the original Saftidor guide recommends a minimum depth of approximately 1.5 inches / 38 mm between the glass and the front of the window frame.

If the gate cannot be fitted inside the opening because of a mullion or another obstruction, additional posts may be required so the gate can be face-fixed instead. Instructions-How-to-install-Saf…

Before drilling, temporarily position the gate in the opening and check that it sits square and operates comfortably.

Tools You Will Need

Screwdriver
Pencil
10 mm spanner
4 mm wood drill bit
4 mm steel drill bit
Drill
Tape measure
Level

You will also need the screws, nuts, bolts, hinges, lock components and other fittings supplied with your Saftidor gate.

Step 1 — Fit the Hinges to the Gate

Start with the upper hinge.

Position the hinge approximately 10 mm below the top track.

Mark the fixing holes and drill four holes using a 4 mm steel drill bit.

Attach the hinge to the gate using the supplied No. 2 screws.

Repeat the same process for the lower hinge.

Make sure both hinges are correctly positioned before continuing.

Step 2 — Fit the Wheel

Important: The wheel is supplied with Ref C gates and larger.
Ref A and Ref B gates do not have a wheel.

Close the gate and place the wheel into its correct position at the bottom of the gate.

Mark the fixing points.

Drill the holes using a 4 mm steel drill bit.

Attach the wheel using the supplied No. 2 screws.

If your gate does not have a wheel, continue to Step 3.

Step 3 — Position the Gate

Place the gate into the opening with the hinge side against the surface where it will be mounted.

For gates with a wheel, place approximately a 5 mm spacer under the wheel while positioning the gate. The installation video demonstrates this using a magazine.

Check the position of the gate before drilling.

The gate should sit correctly within the opening and follow the door or window frame.

If the floor or opening is slightly uneven, adjust the position of the gate before fixing it permanently. The installation guidance recommends checking the gate in its extended position so that it sits square and evenly across the opening. How to install saftidor

Step 4 — Fix the Gate to the Wall or Frame

Start with the top hinge.

Using a 4 mm wood drill bit, drill a pilot hole through the top fixing point of the upper hinge.

Secure the hinge with one supplied No. 3 screw.

Use a level to check the position of the gate.

Move to the lower hinge and drill a pilot hole through its upper fixing point.

Insert another No. 3 screw.

At this stage, do not install every hinge screw.

Keeping only the initial fixing screws in place allows the gate position to be adjusted while the lock is being set. The original installation guide specifically recommends leaving the remaining hinge screws until the locking position has been confirmed. Instructions-How-to-install-Saf…

Step 5 — Check the Gate Alignment

Extend the gate across the opening.

Check that:

the gate opens and closes smoothly;
the wheel, where fitted, runs correctly;
the gate follows the frame;
the gate is not leaning excessively;
the locking side meets the opposite wall or frame correctly.

Use your level and make any necessary adjustments before proceeding.

Do not fully tighten the installation until the locking system has been tested.

Step 6 — Fit the Lock Keep

Place the lock into the lock keep.

Position the lock keep on the gate.

Mark the fixing points.

Drill the holes using a 4 mm steel drill bit.

Attach the lock keep to the gate using the supplied No. 2 screws.

Step 7 — Assemble the Lock and L-Bracket

Connect the lock and the L-bracket using the supplied No. 1 nuts and bolts.

Snap or position the lock keep onto the lock as shown in the installation video.

The lock and bracket can now be used to determine the correct final position on the opposite side of the opening.

Step 8 — Mark the L-Bracket Position

Extend the gate fully across the opening until it reaches the opposite wall or frame.

Hold the gate in its normal closed position.

Position the L-bracket against the mounting surface.

Use a pencil to mark the location of the bracket.

Take time to make sure the gate is sitting correctly before marking the fixing position.

Step 9 — Remove the L-Bracket

Undo the No. 1 nuts and bolts connecting the L-bracket to the lock.

Remove the L-bracket while leaving the gate and lock assembly in place.

The bracket can now be fixed directly to the wall or frame.

Step 10 — Fix the L-Bracket to the Wall

Position the L-bracket over the marks made previously.

Secure the bracket to the wall or frame using the supplied No. 3 screws.

Make sure it is firmly mounted.

Once the bracket is secure, position the lock back onto the L-bracket.

Reconnect it using the supplied No. 1 nuts and bolts.

Step 11 — Set and Test the Slam Lock

Extend the gate into its closed position and push the slam lock onto the receiver.

The lock should engage easily without having to lift, pull or force the gate excessively.

Unlock the gate and test it several times.

If the lock does not engage smoothly, adjust the receiver or bracket position slightly and test again.

The original Saftidor guide recommends initially fixing the receiver with only one screw, testing the lock, making any necessary adjustment, and only then installing the remaining fixing screw. Instructions-How-to-install-Saf…

A small drop of oil on the receiver pins can also help keep the locking action operating smoothly. Saftidor Spare Parts NZ | Locks, Keys, Castors & Fixings

Step 12 — Secure the Remaining Hinge Screws

Once you are satisfied that:

the gate is correctly aligned;
the wheel runs smoothly where applicable;
the gate extends correctly;
and the lock engages and releases easily;

drill the remaining pilot holes and install the rest of the supplied No. 3 screws in the hinges.

The gate can now be fully secured.

Step 13 — Fit the Handle

Position the supplied handle against the gate at approximately a 45-degree angle.

Clip the handle into position.

Check that the handle is secure and comfortable to use when opening and closing the gate.

Final Check

Before completing the installation, open and close the gate several times.

Check that:

the hinges are firmly secured;
the gate opens and retracts smoothly;
the wheel runs correctly on wheel-equipped models;
the gate remains correctly aligned;
the lock engages without excessive force;
the lock releases correctly with the key;
the receiver and L-bracket are securely fixed;
the handle is firmly attached.

If everything operates smoothly, your Saftidor installation is complete.

Important: Do Not Overextend the Gate

Choose the most suitable Saftidor size for your opening rather than unnecessarily stretching a smaller gate across a large opening.

As a retractable gate extends, the diamond openings become larger. The Saftidor guidance therefore recommends avoiding excessive extension where possible. How to install saftidor

A correctly sized gate provides a tighter security barrier and better overall operation.

Inside Fixing or Face Fixing

There are two general ways Saftidor gates can be installed.

Inside Fix

Where there is sufficient space, the gate can be mounted between the sides of the door or window opening.

This is generally the simplest configuration because the hinges and locking side can be secured directly to the surfaces inside the opening.

Face Fix

If the gate cannot be mounted inside the opening, it may be installed across the face of the opening.

Additional mounting posts may be required to provide suitable fixing surfaces for the hinges and locking side. Instructions-How-to-install-Saf…

Installing a Saftidor with a 206 Locking Post

Some Saftidor gates may use a 206 locking post rather than the standard slam-lock receiver.

The receiver for the locking post is positioned in a similar way.

Extend the gate with the receiver post attached and locked to the gate.

Mark the position of the receiver against the opposite mounting surface.

Unlock and separate the receiver from the gate.

The original installation guide instructs the installer to position the receiver approximately 1/8 inch / 3 mm higher than the initial mark, insert one screw, and then test the locking action.

Adjust the receiver up or down if necessary.

Once the lock engages correctly, insert the remaining fixing screws. Instructions-How-to-install-Saf…

Important: Do not install a screw into the hole that receives the locator pin. Instructions-How-to-install-Saf…

Adjusting the Height of a Saftidor Gate

In some installations, the height of the gate may need to be reduced.

The Saftidor installation guidance states that when height reduction is necessary, material should be removed from the top of the gate rather than the bottom.

The bottom of the gate is intentionally retained because removing material from this area can affect the way the lower part of the gate resists leverage. How to install saftidor

Because cutting permanently modifies the gate, confirm your required dimensions carefully before making any alteration.

Saftidor Installation Video

Prefer to follow the installation visually?

Watch the full Saftidor installation video:

How to Install a Saftidor Security Gate

Or download the PDF instructions here

Need Help With Your Installation?

If you are unsure about your opening, gate size, mounting position or installation method, contact DIY Xpanda before making permanent modifications to the gate.

When contacting us, it is helpful to provide: