Garage Door Safety Features That Protect Your Family
A garage door is the heaviest moving object in most homes, weighing between 60 and 200 kilograms depending on size and material. Without proper safety mechanisms, a closing garage door can cause serious injury or death. Understanding and maintaining your door's safety features is not optional; it is a critical responsibility for every homeowner.
Photo-Eye Safety Sensors
Modern automatic garage doors are equipped with photo-eye sensors mounted on either side of the door opening, approximately 15 centimeters above the ground. These sensors project an invisible infrared beam across the opening. If anything breaks the beam while the door is closing, the door immediately stops and reverses direction. Test these sensors monthly by placing an object like a cardboard box in the door's path while closing it. If the door does not reverse, the sensors need realignment or replacement immediately.
Auto-Reverse Mechanism
In addition to the photo-eye sensors, garage doors should have a mechanical auto-reverse feature. This causes the door to reverse if it encounters physical resistance while closing, such as an object that is below the sensor beam height. You can test this by placing a flat board on the ground in the door's path. The door should reverse within two seconds of contacting the board. If it does not, the force settings on your opener need adjustment, which is a task best handled by a professional.
Manual Release and Emergency Operation
Every automatic garage door has a manual release, typically a red cord or handle hanging from the trolley carriage. Pulling this release disconnects the door from the opener, allowing manual operation during power outages or opener malfunctions. Every family member old enough to operate the door should know where the release is and how to use it. Practice the release procedure at least once per year so it becomes second nature in an emergency situation.
Tamper-Resistant Bottom Brackets
The bottom brackets on a garage door connect the lifting cables to the bottom panel. These brackets are under extreme tension and should never be adjusted or removed by anyone other than a trained professional. Modern doors use tamper-resistant bottom brackets that require special tools to remove, preventing well-intentioned but uninformed homeowners from accidentally releasing stored spring energy, which can cause catastrophic injury.
Keeping Safety Features Current
If your garage door was installed more than 20 years ago, it may lack one or more of these modern safety features. Upgrading an older door with current safety technology is straightforward and relatively affordable. Contact a licensed installer to assess your existing system and recommend upgrades. In Jamaica, where building code enforcement on existing residential structures can be inconsistent, taking personal responsibility for garage door safety is essential.
