GARAGE DOOR OPENERS - FRIEND OR FOE?

	The garage door is the heaviest piece of moving equipment in a house.

Daniel T, 10 years old, of Roseville, Minnesota decided to ride his bike on October 5, 1988.

Similar tragedies have occurred at least 68 times in at least 28 states during the last twenty years.

Untold injuries have also occurred according to a recent report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In the last decade, there have been an average of 5 deaths per year in the United States.

Statistically, some would argue that such a small number is insignificant. It is, however, very real and significant to the families affected. And very avoidable.

There are an estimated 20 to 50 million garage door openers in use in the United States. Underwriters Laboratory (UL) first established standards for garage door openers in 1973. Those standards were upgraded in 1975 and again in 1982. Manufacturers say that 95% of the 1.5 million openers now sold each year meet the 1982 standards. Others, (the State of Minnesota for one), claim that as many as half of those sold do NOT comply.

Even more of a problem, according to some safety experts, is that many manufacturers claim to have a safety feature that "prevents accidental entrapment, injury and death." This refers to an automatic reversing device. It requires maintenance, proper adjustment and regular testing to assure dependable operation in an emergency. There is no back-up protection should this device fail. When did you last test your garage door opener?

The garage door is the heaviest piece of moving equipment in a house. If balanced properly it feels light when manually opened. However, an automatic opener exerts a force to close the door that often exceeds the weight of the door itself. The CPSC staff called for an upgrade of the standards in 1980, recommending a back-up safety device to be required for all garage door openers. The recommendation was not enacted. Such a back-up device is now available as an option from some manufacturers and we strongly recommend it. The most common device is an electronic eye which detects an object in the path of the door and stops the door before contact is made.

What should you do? If you are about to buy an automatic garage door opener, make sure it is UL approved and includes the optional electronic eye to detect obstructions.

If you already have a garage door opener, test it regularly. Once a month, placer a one inch high block of wood on the garage floor, in the path of the door, and close the door. It should reverse direction within 2 seconds after striking the wooden block. If it doesn't, disconnect the opener and operate the door manually.

An alternative test is to grab the door handle as the door is going down and attempt to reverse its motion by pulling up. This should not require more than a firm tug to accomplish. The test is risky, however, since you could strain yourself or, with a light door, derail the door and cause other problems.

If your opener is more than ten years old, you should consider replacing it with one that complies with the more current safety standards.

No matter what age your opener, here are some other safety tips:

never allow children to operate the opener

only operate the door after checking for obstructions

always watch the door until it is fully closed

keep any remote control units in the glove compartment and away from children

be sure any wall mounted switch is out of reach of children

In 1984, 4 year old Jennifer H came home from shopping with her mother in Mesa, Arizona. She lingered in the yard to play with a friend. Her mother hit the garage door button and went inside. Less than three minutes later her mother found Jennifer pinned under the door. The pressure had cut off the oxygen to Jennifer's brain. Today, Jennifer is crippled and unable to talk.

If you enjoy the convenience of a garage door opener, please prevent a nightmare; test it regularly and, if possible, install a back-up safety device.

Criterium Engineers, Copyright © 1999

Close Articles of Interest