Each year, garage doors are the cause of an alarming number of injuries and fatalities. Garage doors are one of the largest, heaviest pieces of machinery used in a family’s everyday life, and the convenience of remote control means that they are used often by every member of the family. Smart attention to basic safety and correct installation of garage door systems can protect family members (especially children) from the risk of injury or death.
According to the Canadian Consumer Products Safety Commission, entrapment under mechanically-closing garage doors has caused more than 60 deaths in Canada – and the number of related non-fatal injuries requiring medical attention is around 20,000 annually. Many of these injuries are the result of older garage door systems that were installed before the uniform safety standards adopted by the government to address potential hazards.
Today, Mechanical Openers Are Required By Law To Include Safety Improvements Such As Quick Release Mechanisms Or Safety Clutches.
A quick-release handle is designed to detach a garage door from its mechanical opener in an emergency situation, while an auto-stop safety clutch will stop the direction of the door automatically if a solid object blocks the door’s downward path.
While these basic safety improvements are valuable, newer, higher-tech mechanisms are far preferable. For safety, older systems and mechanisms should be replaced. The newest mechanical openers have safety reversing mechanisms instead of just auto-stop. This addresses the problem of children and pets becoming trapped beneath a stopped door. Another essential improvement is a sensor system that will reverse the door’s downward motion if anything passes by the sensor.
For these and other required safety mechanisms to work properly, mechanical garage door openers must be correctly installed and maintained. Knowledgeable, experienced professional installers know what features are required to meet safety standards, what type of system will give you the safety features you want most, and how to install and maintain your system for optimum safety and effectiveness.