Description
Safetech Gravity Latch – Single Sided – SLV-X1
The Safetech SLV-X1 Viper is a premium single-sided gravity gate latch designed to provide reliable, secure and easy-to-operate latching for pedestrian gates.
Unlike conventional gravity latches that rely on guided hooks which can become obstructed by dirt, leaves and other debris, the Safetech Viper uses two independent latching hooks without traditional guiding slots.
This innovative design helps reduce the chance of the latch jamming before the hooks engage the latching bar, providing dependable gate latching in demanding outdoor environments.
The SLV-X1 is key lockable, adjustable horizontally and vertically, reversible for left or right-hand gate installations and manufactured from durable engineered polymers with rust-resistant stainless-steel components.
🔒 Single-Sided Viper Gravity Latch
The SLV-X1 is the single-sided version of Safetech’s Viper gravity latch.
The operating latch is installed on one side of the gate, providing a straightforward solution where latch operation from both sides of the gate is not required.
For applications requiring latch operation from both sides, Safetech also offers the SLV-X2 double-sided Viper.
🪝 Dual Independent Latching Hooks
One of the standout features of the Viper is its dual independent latching-hook design.
Rather than relying on a single conventional gravity hook, the Viper incorporates two independent hooks that engage the latching bar.
This provides reliable positive engagement as the gate closes.
🍂 Designed to Reduce Jamming
Traditional gravity latches can use guiding slots to direct the latch hook over the striker.
Over time, dirt, leaves and other debris can become trapped within these guides and interfere with correct operation.
Safetech designed the Viper differently.
The two independent latching hooks operate without conventional guiding slots, eliminating an area where debris can become trapped and prevent the hooks from engaging.
This helps provide reliable operation in outdoor environments.
🚪 Simple Pull-to-Open Operation
The Viper is designed to be simple and intuitive to operate.
Simply pull the latch mechanism to release the hooks and open the gate.
When the gate returns to the closed position, the gravity mechanism allows the hooks to engage the latching bar.
🔑 Key Lockable
The SLV-X1 incorporates a key-operated locking mechanism for additional gate security.
Once locked, the latch provides controlled access through the pedestrian gate.
This makes the Viper particularly suitable for residential side gates, boundary gates and other areas where additional security is required.
🔐 Two Keys Supplied
Safetech supplies two keys with the SLV-X1.
This allows one key to be retained as a spare or provided to another authorised user.
🏠 Can Be Re-Keyed to Suit Your House Key
Safetech advises that the Viper gravity latch can be re-keyed to suit a compatible house key.
This can provide the convenience of using the same key for both the gate and compatible household locks rather than maintaining a separate gate key.
Re-keying should be carried out by a suitable locksmith before the latch is installed.
🔄 Reversible Left or Right-Hand Operation
The SLV-X1 can be configured for either left-hand or right-hand gate installations.
Safetech’s patented backplate system allows the mounting brackets to be changed from one orientation to the other without screws.
This means the same latch can accommodate a wide variety of gate configurations.
↔️ Horizontal Adjustment
The SLV-X1 provides horizontal adjustment to assist with accurate alignment between the latch and latching bar.
This allows the installer to compensate for variations in:
- Gate-to-post spacing
- Gate alignment
- Hinge positioning
- Gate construction
- Installation tolerances
Correct alignment helps ensure both latching hooks engage reliably.
↕️ Vertical Adjustment
The Viper also provides vertical adjustment.
This allows the latch components to be accurately aligned after installation and provides useful adjustment if the gate and post are not perfectly positioned.
The combination of horizontal and vertical adjustment makes the SLV-X1 particularly installer friendly.
📏 Flexible Gate Gap
Safetech specifies an ideal gate gap of approximately 20mm for the single-sided Viper.
The latch provides an approximate gate-gap range of:
- Minimum Gap: 14mm
- Ideal Gap: 20mm
- Maximum Gap: 34mm
This provides useful installation flexibility across different gate and post configurations.
🔧 Fast & Simple Installation
The SLV-X1 has been designed for straightforward installation.
Because this is the single-sided Viper, installation is simpler than the SLV-X2 double-sided model.
There is no slave latch or connecting rod passing through the gate post.
The mounting brackets are positioned and aligned before the latch body is secured into its final position.
🧱 Engineered Polymer Construction
Safetech manufactures the Viper using high-grade engineered polymer components.
The polymer construction provides excellent resistance to outdoor exposure while avoiding many of the corrosion issues associated with conventional unprotected metal gate latches.
🔩 Rust-Resistant Stainless-Steel Components
Safetech combines the engineered polymer construction with rust-resistant stainless-steel components.
This combination provides a strong and durable gate latch suitable for long-term outdoor use.
☀️ UV-Resistant Construction
Safetech designed the Viper to withstand prolonged outdoor exposure.
The high-grade polymer construction resists UV degradation while the stainless-steel components provide resistance against rust and corrosion.
This makes the latch particularly suitable for gates continually exposed to Australian weather conditions.
💥 Built to Handle Everyday Gate Use
Pedestrian gate latches are repeatedly subjected to impacts as gates close.
Safetech designed the Viper’s rugged polymer housing and stainless-steel components to withstand regular gate slamming and everyday operation.
This makes it suitable for frequently used residential and pedestrian access gates.
🏠 Suitable for Multiple Gate Materials
Safetech specifies the SLV-X1 for use with a range of common gate materials.
Suitable applications include:
- Aluminium gates
- Steel gates
- Timber gates
- Vinyl gates
The horizontal and vertical adjustment allows the latch to be accurately aligned across different gate constructions.
🚶 Ideal for Pedestrian Gates
The SLV-X1 is an excellent general-purpose pedestrian gate latch.
Typical applications include:
- Residential pedestrian gates
- Side access gates
- Garden gates
- Boundary gates
- Aluminium gates
- Steel gates
- Timber gates
- Vinyl gates
- Pet enclosure gates
- Public and private enclosures
🐕 Helps Secure Pets & Enclosed Areas
The gravity latching mechanism makes the Viper suitable for gates used to control access to enclosed areas.
When combined with suitable self-closing hinges, the gate can automatically return to the closed position and allow the Viper to engage.
This can be particularly useful for residential yards and pet enclosures.
🔗 Ideal with Safetech Self-Closing Hinges
The SLV-X1 can be combined with compatible Safetech self-closing hinges where automatic gate closing is required.
Suitable hinge types may include compatible:
- TopKLIK adjustable-tension hinges
- AlfaHinge fixed-tension hinges
- AlfaWide fixed-tension hinges
- CoilKLIK self-aligning adjustable hinges
- MegaKLIK heavy-duty adjustable hinges
The correct hinge should always be selected according to the gate weight, dimensions and required closing performance.
🆚 SLV-X1 vs SLV-X2
Safetech offers the Viper gravity latch in single and double-sided configurations.
SLV-X1:
- Single-sided operation
- Dual independent latching hooks
- Key lockable
- Two keys supplied
- Horizontal and vertical adjustment
- Reversible left or right-hand mounting
- No through-post connecting rod required
SLV-X2:
- Double-sided operation
- Latch operation from both sides
- Dual independent latching hooks
- Key lockable
- Horizontal and vertical adjustment
- Uses a connecting arrangement through the gate post
Choose the SLV-X1 where latch operation is only required from one side.
Choose the SLV-X2 where convenient latch operation from both sides of the gate is required.
📐 Approximate Dimensions
Safetech lists the single-sided Viper at approximately:
- Width: 100mm
- Depth: 72mm
- Height: 145mm
- Weight: Approximately 0.6kg
The compact body provides a robust locking and latching system without requiring a tall vertical latch assembly.
🎨 Black Finish
The SLV-X1 is available in a black finish that complements common powder-coated aluminium and steel gates as well as timber and vinyl fencing systems.
🛡️ Limited Lifetime Warranty
Safetech backs the Viper gravity latch with a limited lifetime warranty.
This reflects the durable engineered-polymer and stainless-steel construction used throughout the latch.
Warranty coverage remains subject to Safetech’s applicable warranty conditions and correct installation and use.
📦 What’s Included
A standard SLV-X1 set includes the components required for a typical single-sided Viper installation.
Typically supplied with:
- 1 × Safetech SLV-X1 Viper Gravity Latch
- Matching latching bar / striker components
- 2 × Keys
- Mounting components
- Installation hardware as supplied by Safetech
Package contents may be subject to manufacturer revision.
Key Features
- Genuine Safetech Hardware product
- Viper gravity latch range
- Model SLV-X1
- Single-sided operation
- Dual independent latching hooks
- Gravity-operated latching
- Designed to reduce jamming from dirt and debris
- No conventional hook guiding slots
- Simple pull-to-open operation
- Key lockable
- Two keys supplied
- Can be re-keyed to a compatible house key
- Reversible left or right-hand installation
- Patented backplate design
- Horizontal adjustment
- Vertical adjustment
- Ideal gate gap approximately 20mm
- Approximate gate-gap range 14–34mm
- Fast and simple installation
- Engineered polymer construction
- Rust-resistant stainless-steel components
- Resistant to UV degradation
- Corrosion-resistant design
- Rugged outdoor construction
- Black finish
- Suitable for aluminium gates
- Suitable for steel gates
- Suitable for timber gates
- Suitable for vinyl gates
- Limited lifetime warranty
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Safetech Hardware
- Product Range: Viper
- Model: SLV-X1
- Product Type: Single-Sided Gravity Gate Latch
- Latching Mechanism: Dual Independent Gravity Hooks
- Operation: Single Sided
- Locking: Key Lockable
- Keys Supplied: 2
- Re-Keyable: Yes, subject to compatible key profile and locksmith assessment
- Handing: Reversible Left or Right
- Adjustment: Horizontal & Vertical
- Ideal Gate Gap: Approximately 20mm
- Gate Gap Range: Approximately 14–34mm
- Approximate Dimensions: 100 × 72 × 145mm
- Approximate Weight: 0.6kg
- Materials: Engineered Polymer & Rust-Resistant Stainless-Steel Components
- Colour: Black
- Suitable Gate Materials: Aluminium, Steel, Timber & Vinyl
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Compatibility
The Safetech SLV-X1 Viper is designed for compatible pedestrian swing gates where single-sided latch operation is required.
Suitable gate materials include:
- Aluminium
- Steel
- Timber
- Vinyl
Typical applications include:
- Residential pedestrian gates
- Side access gates
- Garden gates
- Boundary gates
- Pet enclosure gates
- Public enclosures
- Private enclosures
- Self-closing pedestrian gates
For installations requiring latch operation from both sides of the gate, consider the Safetech SLV-X2 Double-Sided Viper Gravity Latch.
⚠️ Please Note
The SLV-X1 is the single-sided version of the Safetech Viper gravity latch.
For gate installations requiring latch operation from both sides, select the SLV-X2 double-sided model.
Safetech advises that the latch can be re-keyed to a compatible house key. Re-keying should be performed by a locksmith before installation.
Safetech’s installation instructions specifically advise not to insert the key into the lock until installation is complete.
Correct horizontal and vertical alignment is essential to ensure both gravity hooks reliably engage the latching bar.
The ideal gate gap is approximately 20mm, with Safetech specifying an approximate usable range of 14–34mm.
After installation, repeatedly open and close the gate to confirm that the latch engages securely and the key-locking mechanism operates correctly.
Do not use petroleum-based lubricants such as WD-40 on Safetech polymer components. Safetech advises that petroleum-based lubricants can cause deterioration of the polymer over time.
If you are unsure whether the Safetech SLV-X1 is suitable for your gate, contact our Technical Support team on 1300 733 066 before ordering.
