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Floor- Checked for cracks, settlement and proper sloping.
Firewall
& Ceiling- Inspected for damage and penetrations.
Ventilation- Checked
for proper ventilation.
Door
to Living Space- Inspected for proper type.
Exterior
Door-
Hardware, weather and jamb inspected.
Vehicle
Door-
Hardware and door inspected.
Automatic
Opener-
Auto reverse, open and close functions tested and it is inspected for proper
wiring.
Electrical- Inspected
for proper wiring.
Automatic Garage Door Opener and Garage Door Safety  & Maintenance Guide
Garage Door System Safety - An
Automatic Decision
A garage door is the largest moving object in the home. They are often
operated by electric door openers. Proper installation, operation, and
maintenance and testing are necessary to provide safe, trouble-free
operation. An improperly adjusted garage door or automatic opener can exert
deadly force when the door closes. This could lead to serious injury or
death from being hit by a closing garage door or from being trapped under
the door.
Safety
is Everyone's Business
A few simple precautions can protect your family and friends from potential
harm. Please take a few minutes to read the following safety and maintenance tips. Refer to your garage
door and opener's manual for details specific to the model you own. Then
check the operation of your garage door and automatic opener.
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 Garage Door
Openers are not Toys
Do Not stand or walk under a moving door! Do not let children or
adults play "beat the door". It is dangerous and can result in
serious injury or death. Adults should set a good example. Know how to use
the emergency release, in case someone is pinned by the door.
Do Not let children play with or use the transmitters or remote
controls. Always place and store them out of the reach of children.
The pushbutton wall control should be out of the reach of children (at
least 5 feet from the floor) and away from all moving parts. Mount and use
the button where you can clearly see the moving garage door.
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Teach Your Children About Garage
Door and Opener Safety
Garage door openers are not toys. Carless
operation and allowing children to play with or use garage door opener
controls can lead to tragic results. Discuss garage door safety with your
children. Explain the danger of being trapped under the door.
When using the pushbutton or transmitter, keep the door in sight until it
completely stops moving. Teach children never to play under or near an open
garage door.
Teach children to keep their hands and fingers clear of section joints,
hinges, tracks, springs and other door parts. Contact with a moving door or
its hardware could cause serious injury. These injuries can also happen
with garage doors that don't have automatic openers.
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Routine Maintenance Can Prevent
Tragedies
Take a few minutes to inspect and test your complete garage door system.
Make monthly inspection and testing a part of your regular routine. Safety
is everyone's business. Make garage door and garage door opener safety
automatic in your home.
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Monthly Maintenance Checklist
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Garage
Door Opener
- Reversal Test
- Force Setting Test
- Additional Safety Devices
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Garage Door
- Visual Inspection -
Springs, Rollers, Pulleys, Cables, and Track
- Lubrication
- Door Balance
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Consult owner's manual for additional recommended maintenance for your
models of door and opener.
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 Testing and
Maintaining the Garage Door Opener
There are routine safety and maintenance steps that you should follow once
a month. Review your owner's manula for the door
opener. If you do not have an owners manual, look for the opener model
number on the back of the power unit and request a manual from the
manufacturer.
Reversal Test
Make sure your opener has a reversing feature. If a reversing feature is
not present, it should be replaced. Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety
features which comply with the latest U.L. 325 standards: Contact your
manufacturer or installer for additional information.
Test the reversing feature every month.
- First, test the balance of
the door (see "Testing and Maintaining The
Garage Door."). If the door is properly balanced, then proceed.
- With the door fully open,
place a 1-1/2" thich piece of wood (a
2"x4" laid flat) on the floorin
the center of the door.
- Push the transmitter or
wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes
the wood. (Note that the bottom part of "one piece doors"
must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing.)
- If the door does not have
reverse, have it repaired or replaced. Have a qualified individual
adjust, repair or replace the opener or door.
Force Setting Test
Test the force setting of your garage door opener by holding the bottom of the
door as it closes. If the door does not reverse readily, the force may be
excessive and need adjusting. See your owners
manual for details on how to make the adjustment. Test the revesring feature after any adjustment.
Additional Safety Devices
Many garage door openers can be equipped with additional safety devices.
Consider adding a photo eye or edge sensor as an extra measure of safety to
prevent against entrapment. Keep in mind that adding more safety devices
will not make an old opener meet current U.L. standards.
Make sure the additional safety devices, such as photoeyes
or edge sensors, are properly installed and adjusted (see owner's manual).
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Testing and Maintaining the Garage
Door
Perform routine maintenance steps once a month. Review your owner's manual
for the garage door. If you don't have a manual, look for the model number
on the back of the door, or check the lock handle, hinges, or other
hardware for the manufacturer's name and request a manual from the
manufacturer.
Visual Inspection
Look at the garage door springs, cables, rollers, pulleys, and other door
hardware for signs of wear. If you suspect problems, have a qualified
person make repairs.
Warning - Springs are under high tension. Only qualified persons should
adjust them
Garage door springs, cables, brackets, and other hardware attached to the
springs, are under very high tension and, if handled improperly, can cause
serious injury. Only a qualified professional or a mechanically experienced
person carefully following the manufacturer's instructions should adjust
them. The torsion springs (the springs above the door) should only be
adjusted by a professional. Do not attempt to repair or adjust the torsion
springs yourself.
A restraining cable or other device should be installed on the extension
spring (the spring along the side of the door) to help contain the spring
if it breaks.
Never remove, adjust or loosen the screws on the bottom brackets of the
door. These brackets are connected to the spring by the lift cable and are
under extreme tension.
Lubrication
Regularly lubricate the moving parts of the door.
However, do not lubricate plastic parts such as plastic rollers and plastic
idler bearings. Consult the door owner's manual for the manufacturer's
recommendation.
Door Balance
Periodically test the balance of your door.
- Start with the door closed
- If you have a garage door
opener, use the release mechanism so you can operate the door by hand
when doing this test
- You should be able to lift
the door smoothly and with little resistance. It should stay open
around three or four feet above the floor. If it does not, it is out
of adjustment. Have it adjusted by a qualified service person.
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Garage Door Opener Safety - An
Automatic Decision
This important information is provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission, the National Safety Council and the Industry Coalition for
Automatic Garage Door Opener Safety.
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