Foreword

Publishing information

This British Standard is published by BSI Standards Limited, under licence from The British Standards Institution, and came into effect on 28 February 2018. It was prepared by Technical Committee B/201, Fences and gates. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

Supersession

This British Standard supersedes BS 5709:2006, which is withdrawn.

Information about this document

Walking, cycling and riding have continued to increase since the first edition of this British Standard was published in 1979. Recent thinking and legislation have focused on the need for less able-bodied and disabled people to be able to access the countryside.

This revision notes the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 [1] and the safety of path users, taking account of the needs of land management. The experience gathered from the many years of use of this British Standard has been applied to clarify meaning and wording throughout.

More recently, the trial of bridle gates in York (see A trial of self-closing bridle gates [2]) has informed the incorporation of functional attributes into this standard, which improve the safety and the ease of use of these structures.

Use of this document

It has been assumed in the preparation of this British Standard that the execution of its provisions will be entrusted to appropriately qualified and experienced people, for whose use it has been produced.

Presentational conventions

The provisions of this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its requirements are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “shall”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

Where words have alternative spellings, the preferred spelling of The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is used (e.g. “organization” rather than “organisation”).

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

BS 5709:2018

Gaps, gates and stiles. Specification

Current

Published:

28 Feb 2018