Garage Door Child Safety

Our Mission

To provide home owners with the most comprehensive residential garage door and opener safety risk assessment available.

Top 10 Garage Door Dangers

A garage can be a dangerous place for a child.

This website is designed to raise awareness about garage door use and potential dangers, in a deliberate effort to safeguard children and their parents. Child Safety is very important.

Those dangers including the following:

• the problem of children riding a garage door.
• Lead Paint Concerns entrapment issues.
• the ever-present risk of a garage door spring.
• dangers of a falling garage door.
• shedding light on possible photo eye concerns.
• how over insulating and sealing a garage door can make the garage a time bomb.
• product quality and door installation concerns.
• oh those little fingers!  Getting your fingers caught in a section joint is a growing problem.
• the dangers of carbon monoxide in the garage.

---

Report/Submit Injury

Garage Door Incident Report

image alt=”Consumer Product Incident Report”

www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

You can report any injury or death involving garage doors to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The information is collected by authority of 15 U.S.C. 2054. No names or other personal information will be disclosed without explicit permission by you.

Report It https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

Submit Your Incident to us

Falling Garage Door

Problem & Solution

Risk

Falling Garage Doors — A Crushing Concern

Four hundred pounds is a lot of weight.

Enough weight that few people can lift it.

Safety experts from the Consumer Products Safety Commission claim that the average garage door on an American Home weighs more than 400 pounds.

Pit a person against a falling 400-pound plus garage door and the door will win every time.

It doesn’t take a background in science to see the damage a falling garage door can cause.  It would break most bones and potentially crush anything in its path.  It has been proven to be fatal in too many cases.

Imagine the impact on a child?

Unfortunately the danger of a falling garage door continues to show up in the obituary sections.

A door can fall due to a number of factors ranging from broken springs, old or relaxed springs that have lost some of their tension, an inappropriate disconnect of the pull cord with people in the door’s paths, improper installation, a poor track or other extenuating circumstances.

Sometimes garage doors are accidentally hit by an automobile and are repaired improperly.  Doors in disrepair, with broken lift cables or even broken springs are propped up because someone is in a hurry to get to work. This may create a potentially risky situation if the door prop is moved or slips.

Solution

Controlled Descent Device

News & Articles

Falling Garage Doors A Crushing Concern

Four hundred pounds is a lot of weight.

Enough weight that few people can lift it.

Safety experts from the Consumer Products Safety Commission claim that the average garage door on an American Home weighs more than 400 pounds.

Pit a person against a falling 400-pound plus garage door and the door will win every time.

It doesn’t take a background in science to see the damage a falling garage door can cause.  It would break most bones and potentially crush anything in its path.  It has been proven to be fatal in too many cases

Imagine the impact on a child?

Unfortunately the danger of a falling garage door continues to show up in the obituary sections.

A door can fall through a number of factors ranging from broken springs, an inappropriate disconnect of the pull cord with people in the door’s paths, improper installation, a poor track or other extenuating circumstances.

We Want Answers

We want answers,’

say Kolton’s parents

ST. CATHARINES – The parents of a three-year- old boy killed in a tragic garage door incident say they want answers about his death.

In a statement released yesterday, Kyle and Frances Tkachuk of St. Catharines said they are “very devastated” by what has happened and “want answers (as) to how this happened.

“This tragedy should never have happened,” they said in the short release.

Described by neighbours as a cheerful, happy child, Kolton Kyle Tkachuk had just celebrated his third birthday last weekend.

He was with his mother and baby sister, Felicia, in the driveway of their Cherie Road home when he was hit by the garage door coming down Wednes – day morning around 11:30 a.m. He was rushed to a St. Catharines hospital and later airlifted to McMaster, where he died shortly before 2 p.m.

“He was so special as he brought our family, parents, grandparents and so many others in the community so much joy and life,” the family said. “This has taken a piece out of each one of our hearts.”

The family said Frances was standing in front of the garage with Felicia on one side and Kolton on the other. Workers had arrived to repair the garage floor and Frances arrived short – ly after and opened the door from an outdoor keypad.

Police said a worker went into the garage to disconnect the door opener. When the door was released, the weight of it was too much to hold and it fell closed.

Kolton was hit by the falling door.

Early yesterday afternoon, the police tape that had blocked off the garage door had been removed and the light – coloured door was shut. Several cars were parked at the detached, two – storey, family home.

Neighbours say the family has been living in the house for about two years and are a friendly couple.


SPECIAL TO THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR

Kolton Tkachuk, 3, brought special joy to his family and community,

Kolton could often be found outside with his parents, said one neighbour, who asked not to be identified.

“I loved this little guy. I’d see him all the time,” he said.

Anita Pizycki, co- owner of Concrete Finishes Niagara, the company which was doing the job, said yesterday they were “in absolute shock and dis – traught” about what had happened.

“It really … hasn’t even been processed yet in our brains,” she said. “We’re just horrified and feel so bad for the family.”

Four workers were on site when the accident occurred.

Pizycki said she had seen each one of the workers yesterday and a counsellor was coming in later in the afternoon.

When finishing floors, it’s standard to disconnect the garage door opener so the door can be put on supports and air can flow through the area, she said.

Niagara police said they are now working in an assistive role to the coroner, whose office is investigating the little boy’s death.

dbrown@thespec.corn

905-526-4629

http://www.koltontkachuk.com/

9-year-old boy dies in accident at home

At approximately 4:20 p.m. Friday, the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Patricia Tinklenberg of 19741 State Highway 64, Akeley, reporting her 9-year­old foster son was found pinned beneath a large garage door.

Upon arrival, responders and officers found out the child, John Garrison Ploof, had returned from a field trip with his foster dad and had apparently gone to an unattached garage to retrieve something.

He attempted to pry up the large garage door, which eventually fell as he was crawling underneath it, causing his death, according to Hubbard County Sheriff Gary Mills.
The 9-year-old was the legal foster child of Elmer and Patricia Tinklenberg.

An autopsy was ordered and scheduled at the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office in St. Paul. Mills said the investi­gation will continue.

Responding to the call along with sheriff’s deputies were members of the Akeley First Response Unit, Walker Ambulance, North Ambulance, North Memorial Air Care, troop­ers from the Minnesota State Patrol and personnel from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Boy Dies After Being Pinned by Garage Door

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Dec 14, 2007 at 11:29 AM CST

Story Updated: Dec 14, 2007 at 11:29 AM CST

WAUKON (AP) – A 14-year-old boy died after he was pinned by a garage door at his family’s construction business, officials say.

Ty Riehm was riding an all-terrain vehicle out of the business on Tuesday when a large industrial overhead door closed down on top of him. That’s according to Deputy Clark Mellick of the Allamakee County sheriff’s office.

Riehm was pinned between the door and the ATV. Mellick says the boy was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Mellick says Riehm was the only person at the building.

He says it’s not believed the overhead door malfunctioned. The investigation is continuing.

Taken from KCRG TV 9 website
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/12507471.html

CPSC Report Shows Falling Door Dangers

The dangers of a falling door are easily illustrated by several tragedies, which occurred in the U.S. within the past five years.

The tragedy is not an isolated incident. A CPSC report detailing accidents and close calls with falling garage doors since 2002 also contains details of the following incidents:

–a two-year-old girl was killed in Prince Georges County Maryland after being struck in the head by a falling garage door. 

–an infant, 13 months of age, was killed in Pipersville, PA.  when a garage door fell, hitting him on the back of the head.  He died from the injury.

–an Upper Marlboro, Maryland youth thought the red and white cord on a garage door looked like a jump rope and pulled it, causing the garage door to free fall on his brother.  His brother died as a result of the accident.  The youth accessed the cord by standing on a sofa.

The safety group’s report also details a number of smaller injuries or close calls that resulted from a free-falling door.  The report is eight pages long. 

The CPSC numbers show that up to 20,000 people are injured or killed in garage door accidents annually in the U.S.  Approximately one third of those victims are children.  This data is collected through the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a 100 U.S. hospital sampling.

Commercial Garage Door Falls, Fatally Crushing Worker

SUMMARY:
A 32 year-old male lumber yardman died after being struck by a 1,200 pound steel commercial garage door. The victim was closing the garage door at the time of the incident and was standing directly beneath the door. Shortly after he activated the door, the door free-fell and crushed him.
The Nebraska Department of Labor evaluator concluded that to prevent future similar occurrences, employers and overhead door manufacturers/installers should:

• Ensure that operating controls for overhead doors are designed and located to prevent workers from hazards of malfunctioning doors.

• Develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive safety program that includes, but is not limited to, training in hazard recognition.
• Consider developing commercial overhead door regulations/industry standards which would provide minimum standards for safe operation.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE:
The goal of the workplace investigation is to prevent work-related deaths or injuries in the future by a study of the working environment, the worker, the task the worker was performing, the tools the worker was using, and the role of management in controlling how these factors interact.
This report is generated and distributed solely for the purpose of providing current, relevant education to the community on methods to prevent occupational injuries.

INTRODUCTION:
On August 19, 1994, a 32 year-old lumber yardman died when a commercial garage door fell on him. The Nebraska Department of Labor was notified by telephone on August 19, 1994, by the local police department that responded to the incident scene. The FACE evaluator accompanied an OSHA investigator to the incident site on August 22 and 23, 1994, and interviewed the employer, witnesses to the incident, the police officer responding to the incident and the county coroner.
The employer is a building supply company that has been in business at the incident location for 25 years, employing 15 personnel at this particular store. This was the first occupational fatality in the history of the company. The company had a written safety program and a designated safety officer. The safety officer performed other primary duties and was not present at the site at the time of the incident.

INVESTIGATION:
The victim had worked a full workday and was closing one of four overhead metal doors in preparation for closing the store for the day. The metal door, 18 feet wide by 15 feet high, weighing approximately 1200 pounds, is raised and lowered electrically. An electric motor drives cable reels which wind two cables, one on each side of the door, attached to the door’s lower panels. A counterbalancing coil spring is mounted on the cable reel shaft. The controls to activate the door are located directly beside the door rails. As the victim was beginning to activate the door controls someone outside of the building yelled at him and he stuck his head through the door opening to answer. Witnesses said at this point the door was closing and had traveled about two feet when they heard a snap and the door free-fell, striking the victim on the back of the head doubling him over, and pinning him to the ground. Medical help was immediately called and arrived on the scene within 5 minutes. A co-worker lifted the door off the victim with a forklift prior to the medical personnel arriving. The victim was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead in the emergency room.
The door involved in the incident had been struck by a forklift three months prior to the incident. The forklift struck the overhead support rails and damaged them causing the door, which was in the open position at the time, to fall. The door maintenance company was called out to repair the door. The support rail on the left side and the top two panels of the door were replaced after that incident. Approximately three weeks before the fatal incident the door malfunctioned when one of the take-up cables came off one of the take-up reels. (There are two cables – one on each side of the door.) The door caught in the rails askew after the cable came off the reel. The door maintenance company came out and replaced the cable.
During the investigation after the fatal incident the brackets to which the door cables were attached were both hanging freely, attached to the cable but separated from the door. The bolts which connected them to the bottom door panels had been sheared.
Exactly what happened to cause the bolts to shear is unknown but a couple of scenarios are feasible. The victim could have pushed the down button on the door and then, when he heard his friend yell at him, he could have immediately pressed the up button. This sudden reversal of the door travel could have stressed the bolts enough to shear them. The bolts were 1/4 inch, grade two bolts. The brackets the cables are attached to are flat steel and are bolted flat against the lower inside of the bottom garage door panels. The two brackets on the incident door each had 10 holes which appeared to have had bolts in them prior to the incident. Two of the ten holes on each bracket appeared to have been drilled subsequent to original door installation, which was in 1969. The other three garage door cable brackets all had just eight holes.
Another possible scenario was that the door or cables were binding in someway and the motor continued applying force on the cables until the bolts sheared. The door did not have a sensor on it, like those required on residential garage doors, that reverse the door when resistance is detected.

CAUSE OF DEATH:
The cause of death, as determined by the coroner, was massive head trauma.

RECOMMENDATIONS/DISCUSSION:
Recommendation #1: Ensure that operating controls for overhead doors are designed and located to prevent workers from hazards of malfunctioning doors.
Discussion: If a “deadman” control had been physically separated a sufficient distance from the door (in this case approximately 20 feet), this victim could not have been in a position to be struck by the door. Of course, all others must remain clear of the door during operation also. The “deadman” controls would allow the operator to immediately stop door operation if anyone entered the area of door operation.

Recommendation #2: Develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive safety program that includes, but is not limited to, training in all hazard recognition.
Discussion: A comprehensive safety program should address the hazards involved with all machinery. Written guidance should be available and enforced concerning staying clear of all operating machinery to include garage doors. This guidance should be covered initially with all new personnel and periodically with all employees.

Recommendation #3: Consider developing commercial overhead door regulations/industry standards which would provide minimum standards for safe operation.
Discussion: If standards were developed and enforced for commercial garage doors, the potential for fatal injuries could be greatly reduced. The following areas should be addressed:

• As stated in recommendation #1, physically separate controls from the door and install “deadman” controls.

• Consider requiring an audible warning which would sound several seconds prior to door activation to warn any persons in the door area.
• Consider requiring sensor switches on door drive motor which would reverse door direction when resistance is detected.
• Consider redesigning brackets to which the drive cables are attached. A “U”-shaped bracket that would wrap around the bottom of the door would provide much greater strength and lessen the possibility of shearing the bolts connecting the bracket to the door. Also, consider requiring a higher grade bolt to withstand the stresses applied.
• Consider requiring periodic inspections (at least annually) by competent technicians to assess proper operation and condition of equipment.

To contact Nebraska State FACE program personnel regarding State-based FACE reports, please use information listed on the Contact Sheet on the NIOSH FACE web site Please contact In-house FACE program personnel regarding In-house FACE reports and to gain assistance when State-FACE program personnel cannot be reached.

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Non Reversing Garage Door Openers A Hazard

CPSC Document #523

Homeowners with automatic garage door openers that do not automatically reverse should repair or replace them with new openers which do reverse to prevent young children from being trapped and killed under closing garage doors.

According to reports received by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 60 children between the ages of 2 and 14 have been trapped and killed under automatic garage doors since March 1982. This is approximately 4 such deaths per year. Other children have suffered brain damage or serious injuries when the closing door contacted them, and failed to stop and reverse its direction.

CPSC urges consumers to check the condition and operation of their garage door and the opener. A properly operating garage door will be “balanced.” This means that the door will stay in place when stopped in any partially opened position. A severely unbalanced garage door could unexpectedly crash to the floor possibly striking someone under the open door.

To check the garage door, the garage door opener must be detached from the door while in the closed position.On most openers manufactured since 1982, a “quick-release” mechanism is provided which permits the opener to be detached from the door.

To avoid amputation or crushing injuries, homeowners should be careful when manually operating the door not to place hands or fin-gers between door sections or near pulleys, hinges, or springs. The door should not stick or bind when opened or closed. If doors are not “balanced,” or if they bind or stick, they should be serviced by a professional.

Once the garage door is operating properly, homeowners should check to see that the garage door opener’s force and limit settings are adjusted according to manufacturer’s instructions. Check the garage door operator owners manual for any instructions on testing the safety features. One quick test is to place a 2×4 on the floor of the garage in the door’s path. If the door does not properly reverse on striking the 2×4 then the garage door opener should be disengaged until the unit is either adjusted according to the instructions in the owners manual, repaired, or replaced with a new garage door opener. A professional garage door service should be contacted if the homeowner is not comfortable with performing these tests, repairs and adjustments.

All homeowners should disconnect all garage door openers that have not been certified as meeting the requirements of the voluntary ANSI/UL standard 325-1982.The standard calls for a number of safety features not found on earlier openers, and also subjects new openers to more stringent safety tests.

CPSC cautions consumers that not all devices that open and close the garage door are necessarily safe. Some old openers are equipped with a mechanism that only stops the closing door when it strikes an object, not reversing the door in the process. Other pre-1982 openers have a device intended to reverse the closing door when it strikes an object, but for reasons related to age, installation and maintenance, these products may not be safe enough to pre-vent entrapment of a child. These openers cannot be adjusted or repaired to provide the automatic reversing feature found on later devices.

The CPSC requires that all garage door operators manufactured or imported after January 1, 1993, for sale in the United States be outfitted with an external entrapment protection system.This system can be an electric eye, a door edge sensor, or any other device that provides equivalent protection. If an electric eye is used, it should be installed at a height of 4 to 6 inches above the floor.

Consumers should inspect garage doors and operation of the door opener every 30 days to verify that the system is functioning properly. Hardware and fittings should be checked to keep the door on track at all times. Should a hazard exist, homeowners should disconnect the automatic opener from the door as specified in the owner’s manual, and manually open and close the garage door until needed repair/ replacement is completed.

Lastly, homeowners should relocate the wall switch in the garage as high as practical above the floor in an effort to restrict children’s use of the automatic garage door. Remote control door operating devices should be kept locked in the car and away from children. Parents should also tell their children about the potential hazard.

‘Freak occurrence’

‘Freak occurrence’ leaves Arlington Heights man pinned by garage door

By Lee Filas | Daily Herald Staff An Arlington Heights man was injured Thursday morning when his garage door slammed shut on him, pinning him beneath it. Police and rescue officials were called to the 1500 block of Windsor Drive with a report that a middle-aged man was trapped under the garage door in the residential neighborhood, Arlington Heights police officer Doug Hajek said. Upon arrival, fire officials saw the 51-year-old man trapped under the door with his legs and feet sticking outside of the garage, and his torso and head still inside. “He told officers that he slipped on some loose gravel and the door came down on top of him, pinning him,” Hajek said. “It was definitely a freak occurrence.” A female jogger who was passing by heard the man crying for help and approached, but couldn’t lift the heavy garage door off him, Hajek said. A neighbor was then called and, with the combined strength of the three people, the garage door was lifted. “I’m not sure if it was one of those single-piece heavy garage doors or if it was a three-piece door that was just extremely heavy,” he said. “But, it took three people to lift it.” The man was taken from the scene with nonlife-threatening injuries to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald Story

Riding The Door

Problem & Solution

Riding The Garage Door

Risk

Taking Kids For A Ride, Not A Good Idea

It looks like a lot of fun, for kids, far too often.

Riding a garage door up and down has become a sport for some children.  Unfortunately the sport turns to disaster, far too easily.

For example, 10-year-old Nick Green was returning home from his fourth-grade class when he made a costly error while opening his home’s garage door.

Neighbors say the Columbus, Ohio, boy grabbed hold of the lowest fold in the door and rode it up as it opened, dropping off at the last second. When he repeated the stunt, he didn’t let go in time

As the boy’s motionless body dangled in the driveway, 16-year-old Jason Reed rushed to his aid from his nearby home. Reed held Nick’s body up to relieve pressure on his neck until paramedics freed him.

When they arrived on the scene, Columbus Fire Division paramedics forced the garage door down enough to remove Nick. The boy suffered a severe head injury, as a result.

Others are not as lucky.

The following YouTube video shows children and teens riding and playing with the garage door. There are major advantages to a new system, being offered by Martin, which features soft touch reverse—meaning an opener shuts down if 20-25 lbs are added to the door—making it very difficult for any child to hitch a ride.  Some opener manufacturers make and offer openers that have up and down force adjustments that can be cranked up so high a teenager can ride the door up.

Solution

No Place To Ride

Garage doors can come with special finger protection, to potentially make it impossible for a child to ride a garage door up or down.

News & Articles

Taking Kids For A Ride, Not A Good Idea

It looks like a lot of fun, for kids, far too often.

Riding a garage door up and down has become a sport for some children.  Unfortunately the sport turns to disaster, far too easily.

For example, 10-year-old Nick Green was returning home from his fourth-grade class when he made a costly error while opening his home’s garage door.

Neighbors say the Columbus, Ohio, boy grabbed hold of the lowest fold in the door and rode it up as it opened, dropping off at the last second. When he repeated the stunt, he didn’t let go in time

As the boy’s motionless body dangled in the driveway, 16-year-old Jason Reed rushed to his aid from his nearby home. Reed held Nick’s body up to relieve pressure on his neck until paramedics freed him.

When they arrived on the scene, Columbus Fire Division paramedics forced the garage door down enough to remove Nick. The boy suffered a severe head injury, as a result.

Others are not as lucky.

Most accidents occur when a child is crushed under a door as it is closing.

Garage door gives boy, 9, a scary ride

By Joe English, KATU News and KATU.com Staff

Story Published: Mar 31, 2009 at 9:42 AM PDT

BEAVERTON, Ore. – A Beaverton boy is laughing about it now and will have a good story to tell in the future, but his narrow escape from a rising garage door recently put his life in jeopardy.

Tony Quatraro, 9, said his shirt has gotten caught on a handle on the outside of the garage door before, but this time, he could not work it loose in time.

The motorized garage door kept rising, picking him up and bringing him up towards the top of the opening – and then tried to pull him through.

But he was just a bit too big.

His mother, Tiffanie Quatraro, said she and Tony’s sister, Talia, came running when they heard his cries for help, but they also could not get Tony down.

Tiffanie held him by his feet he was pinned against the top of the garage door.

Meanwhile, the garage door opener continued trying to open, cinching Tony’s shirt ever more tightly around his waist as it did.

His mother said his waist was squeezed down to about as big around as a cantaloupe as he struggled to get free. Tony still has marks on his body from where the shirt tightened around him.

Sister Talia ran to several neighbor’s houses, looking for anyone who was still at home that could help. Tiffanie dialed 9-1-1 and tried to explain the unusual predicament to the dispatcher.

On tape, she can be heard calmly telling the dispatcher that Tony’s circulation was getting cut off – at the waist.

Finally, a neighbor arrived with some heavy-duty shears and cut through Tony’s shirt, freeing him.

An ambulance arrived and Tony was taken to the hospital, where he was checked out and deemed uninjured except for some abrasions from the coiled shirt.

Tiffanie Quatraro then called the company that makes the garage door opener to ask why there was no safety sensor for the door when it is going up.

Most all modern garage door openers have a safety sensor that reverses direction if the door hits something (such as a small child) but only when it is closing.

The person Quatraro talked to also told her that people should not stand near the garage door while it is opening.

Tony said he is hanging onto his favorite shirt as a souvenir despite it being all cut up.

Older Garage Doors Can Be Dangerous

Older Garage Door Models May Need Replacement

Nov. 19
Nick Green was returning home from his fourth-grade class when he made a costly error while opening his home’s garage door. While the mistake landed the 10-year-old in critical condition, safety experts say Nick’s horrific story isn’t unique.

While Nick remains in critical condition, other kids do not survive similar mishaps.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it has received reports indicating that nationwide, at least 60 children between the ages of 2 and 14 have died in accidents involving garage doors since 1982.

However, most recorded incidents differ from Nick’s since they occurred while doors were closing.

In Nick’s case, neighbors say the Columbus, Ohio, boy grabbed hold of the lowest fold in the door and rode it up as it opened, dropping off at the last second. When he repeated the stunt, he didn’t let go in time

As the boy’s motionless body dangled in the driveway, 16-year-old Jason Reed rushed to his aid from his nearby home. Reed held Nick’s body up to relieve pressure on his neck until paramedics freed him.

Reed’s mother, Geri, tried to figure out what they should do in a frantic call to 911.

Geri Reed: “We have a child whose face is stuck in an automatic garage door.” 911 dispatcher: “Is the child able to breath?” Geri Reed: “No. He’s turning blue. He’s limp.” 911: “Are there several neighbors there?” Geri Reed: “Myself and my teenage son.” 911: “Have you tried to move the door up or down?” Geri Reed: “We’re afraid to move him.” 911: “OK. One of you is going to have to hold the kid and the other go move the door up a little bit.” Geri Reed: “It’s up as high as it’ll go &”

When they arrived on the scene, Columbus Fire Division paramedics forced the garage door down enough to remove Nick. The Reeds say they were frightened by what they saw next.

“They pulled down the garage door and he just fell into my arms. He was all limp and his face and ears and fingers was all blue,” Jason Reed said.
Nick has remained in critical condition at Children’s Hospital with a severe head injury since the Nov. 4 accident. Good Morning America’s home improvement editor, Ron Hazelton, says Green’s story, and hundreds of others, should serve as warnings for homeowners who have old garage doors. Hazelton says that most accidents occur when a child is crushed by a door as it is closing.

Federal law now requires that newer garage doors reverse while closing if an infrared beam is broken or they meet resistance. But garage doors manufactured before 1992 were not required to have a photo-electric eye and an automatic reverse mechanism, and many did not.

The automatic reverse system prompts the garage door to go back up if it meets resistance, such as an arm, leg or a tricycle in the door. Some doors also have a backup system in which the door reverses if it runs for 30 seconds or more.

The very latest garage doors have microprocessors that make door openers smarter. They learn how much effort is required to open and close the door normally and if any additional resistance is sensed, the door stops and reverses. Springs, pulley and cables are eliminated or enclosed.

Hazelton’s Tips:

Perform a monthly test on your garage door by inserting a 2-by-4 under the door and operating the closer, to make sure that the door pops back up when there is something blocking it from closing. Teach kids not to play around opening and closing doors. Even with automatic reverse doors, a child’s fingers can still be broken or severed if they are inserted into holes in the door track. Cover openings with duct tape to avoid this. Make sure that garage door controllers are out of childrens’ reach.
Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

Older Garage Doors Can Be Dangerous
Nov. 18, 2003 | Good Morning America
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Hazelton/story?id=128196&page=1

… Garage; Door; Danger; Hazelton; Home Improvement; Good Morning America; Garage … Older Garage Doors Can Be Dangerous … his home’s garage door. While the mistake landed the 10-year-old in …

Finger Safety

Problem & Solution

Finger Safety

Risk

Fingers In Danger With Some Garage Doors

It is the most common accident associated with a garage door.

A finger or hand gets caught in the section joint of a garage door far too easily, statistics from the Consumer Safety Product Commission show.  Approximately 20,000 people are injured each year in garage door or garage door opener related problems.  Most of those accidents involve fingers or hands getting caught in a garage door.

Given a moving door, the result can leave a hand or finger, broken, crushed or severely bruised.

The CPSC first raised concern about finger dangers in the garage door industry in the late 20th century.  Since then several garage door companies have responded by offering doors with protective joints, which keep fingers from getting in the door.

Amazingly some door manufacturers continue to produce and sell doors without that built in protection.

The following YouTube video shows a person getting their finger worked on at the hospital after getting it caught in their garage door: (Graphic Content)

Solution

FingerShield by Martin Garage Door

There’s an easy solution to the problem of finger protection.

Insist the garage door you buy have some sort of protection system in place for the section joints.

The technology to protect fingers and hands near a garage door has been available for more than a decade. 

For example, Martin offers FingerShield™ Garage Doors providing safer garage door section joints, special Roller Shields™ over moving rollers, smaller holes in the tracks, Lock-on torsion springs, Reverse Angle Shield™, etc.  Most Martin Garage Doors have the complete Finger Shield™ system.

Many door companies offer some finger protection. Even today, many manufacturers make wood doors and modern glass residential garage doors without any section joint finger protection.

As time has shown, with thousands of finger and hand injuries a year in a garage door, it’s an option no homeowner should be without.

News & Articles

Fingers In Danger With Some Garage Doors

Toddler’s finger re-attached after garage door accident

It is the most common accident associated with a garage door.

A finger or hand gets caught in the section joint of a garage door far too easily, statistics from the Consumer Safety Product Commission show.  Approximately 20,000 people are injured each year in garage door or garage door opener related problems.  Most of those accidents involve fingers or hands getting caught in a garage door.

Given a moving door, the result can leave a hand or finger, broken, crushed or severely bruised.

GRAPHIC IMAGE

The CPSC first raised concern about finger dangers in the garage door industry in the late 20th century.  Since then several garage door companies have responded by offering doors with protective joints, which keep fingers from getting in the door.

Amazingly some door manufacturers continue to produce and sell doors without that built in protection.

CO Poisoning

Problem & Solution

Risk

Sealing The Garage Can Present New Danger

Carbon monoxide in a closed garage is a deadly combination.

In an area where combustible materials are readily present and used, proper ventilation becomes a key component of safety.  Ventilation, not insulation, becomes critical.  This is especially the case in an attached garage area.

Inspectors warn against insulating a garage like a home, because of the issue of carbon dioxide from combustible materials.

Solution

Is It Simple…

The solution to potential carbon monoxide poisoning may seem too simple to believe.

All you have to do is properly ventilate a garage, following existing building codes, and avoid the temptation to treat the garage like a home—-with insulation to make it snug.

Garage door insulation can be a misapplied value, because there should be proper ventilation in any area where combustible materials may be stored or used.

News & Articles

Sealing The Garage
Can Present New Danger

Carbon monoxide in a closed garage is a deadly combination.

In an area where combustible materials are readily present and used, proper ventilation becomes a key component of safety.  Ventilation, not insulation, becomes critical.  This is especially the case in an attached garage area.

Inspectors warn against insulating a garage like a home, because of the issue of CO2 from combustible materials.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death.

Where is CO found?
CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned by breathing it.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. High levels of CO inhalation can cause loss of consciousness and death. Unless suspected, CO poisoning can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other illnesses. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms.

How does CO poisoning work?
Red blood cells pick up CO quicker than they pick up oxygen. If there is a lot of CO in the air, the body may replace oxygen in blood with CO. This blocks oxygen from getting into the body, which can damage tissues and result in death.

Who is at risk from CO poisoning?
All people and animals are at risk for CO poisoning. Certain groups — unborn babies, infants, and people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or respiratory problems — are more susceptible to its effects. Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized due to CO poisoning. Fatality is highest among Americans 65 and older.

How can I prevent CO poisoning from my home appliances?
Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
 
Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters (catalytic) indoors. Although these heaters don’t have a flame, they burn gas and can cause CO to build up inside your home, cabin, or camper.
 
If you smell an odor from your gas refrigerator’s cooling unit have an expert service it. An odor from the cooling unit of your gas refrigerator can mean you have a defect in the cooling unit. It could also be giving off CO.
 
When purchasing gas equipment, buy only equipment carrying the seal of a national testing agency, such as the American Gas Association or Underwriters’ Laboratories.
 
Install a battery-operated CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall.

How do I vent my gas appliances properly?
All gas appliances must be vented so that CO will not build up in your home, cabin, or camper.
 
Never burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t vented.
 
Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year. Chimneys can be blocked by debris. This can cause CO to build up inside your home or cabin.
 
Never patch a vent pipe with tape, gum, or something else. This kind of patch can make CO build up in your home, cabin, or camper.
 
Horizontal vent pipes to fuel appliances should not be perfectly level. Indoor vent pipes should go up slightly as they go toward outdoors. This helps prevent CO or other gases from leaking if the joints or pipes aren’t fitted tightly.
 
How can I heat my house safely or cook when the power is out?
Never use a gas range or oven for heating. Using a gas range or oven for heating can cause a build up of CO inside your home, cabin, or camper.
 
Never use a charcoal grill or a barbecue grill indoors. Using a grill indoors will cause a build up of CO inside your home, cabin, or camper unless you use it inside a vented fireplace.
 
Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal — red, gray, black, or white — gives off CO.
 
Never use a portable gas camp stove indoors. Using a gas camp stove indoors can cause CO to build up inside your home, cabin, or camper.
 
Never use a generator inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window, door, or vent.

How can I avoid CO poisoning from my vehicle?
Have a mechanic check the exhaust system of my car every year. A small leak in your car’s exhaust system can lead to a build up of CO inside the car.
 
Never run a car or truck in the garage with the garage door shut. CO can build up quickly while your car or truck is running in a closed garage. Never run your car or truck inside a garage that is attached to a house and always open the door to any garage to let in fresh air when running a car or truck inside the garage.
 
If you drive a vehicle with a tailgate, when you open the tailgate, you also need to open vents or windows to make sure air is moving through your car. If only the tailgate is open CO from the exhaust will be pulled into the car.

Taken from http://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm#gas

Entrapment

Problem & Solution

Garage Door Entrapment

Risk

Garage Door Traps

It’s a trap, with no upside.

When a photo eye system functions improperly it can lead to entrapment.  Older garage door systems without photo eye sensors may even pose even a greater risk.

While there is some security in sensors that automatically reverse a garage door operation, when crossed while the door in moving up or down, there are drawbacks to those as well.

Improperly installed, the photo eye sensors can be easily compromised, adding a safety risk to use of the garage door.

The risks of entrapment with a garage door and opener are perhaps best told in this television report, involving a child

‘Freak occurrence’ leaves Arlington Heights man pinned by garage door By Lee Filas | Daily Herald Staff

Solution

Entrapment

Too few manufacturers have adequately addressed the question of entrapment.

Entrapment under a garage door claims a number of lives every year.  It doesn’t need too.

Some entrapment cases have been linked to broken garage door springs, which leave the homeowner propping up the door with a 2 x 4 or other item, which invariably can fail under most circumstances.

Martin Garage Door and opener systems, for example, come with a device that helps stop a door from free falling. They also come standard with a heavier-than-industry standard cable. The U.L. Listed system, which operates with or without photo eyes, reverses upon 15 pounds of resistance—helping to safeguard even the most vulnerable of young.

Wayne Dalton has a similar U.L. Listed door and opener system without photo eyes.

In addressing this safety concern, it is best to look beyond just the opener. A garage door and opener system need to work in harmony, to mitigate this potential risk. Safety mechanisms, like the controlled descent device offered by Martin, can function, where an opener might fail. 

At minimum, a homeowner should seek to find a U.L. listed/ U.L. 325 compliant garage door opener.

News & Articles

Garage Door Traps

It’s a trap, with no upside.

When a photo eye system functions improperly it can lead to entrapment.  Older garage door systems may not even have the photo eye sensors, and pose even a greater risk.

While there is some security in sensors that automatically reverse a garage door operation, when crossed while the door in moving up or down, there are drawbacks to those as well.

Improperly installed, the photo eye sensors can be easily compromised, adding a safety risk to use of the garage door.

Falling Garage Door Causes Child Death

South Milwaukee resident crushed against beam

By AMY BOEREMA

of the Journal Sentinel staff

Tuesday, May 22, 2001

A 76-year-old South Milwaukee man was killed over the weekend when his head became caught between a garage door and an I-beam support, according to police reports.

Kaiser Boyajian, who lived in the 2900 block of S. 8th Ave., was on a ladder in his garage painting the garage door when the door opener activated. The door moved upward, pushing his head into a beam. It was not known how the opener was activated, the reports say.

Boyajian’s death was the second local death caused by garage doors in the past four years. In 1997, a 6-year-old Whitefish Bay …

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-6887942.html

Boy killed when garage door falls on his neck

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jul 17, 2008 at 2:57 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 17, 2008 at 2:57 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Police say a 13-year-old Indianapolis boy died when a board used to prop open a garage door gave way and the door came down on his neck.

A police spokesman said Terry Lee Barnett was tinkering with an electric car when the two-by-four dislodged about 11 a.m. Thursday and he became pinned under the door.

Sgt. Paul Thompson says Barnett was trapped for as long as 15 minutes before a relative found him on the floor of the family’s garage on the city’s west side.

Barnett was taken to Riley Hospital for Children and pronounced dead a short time later.

Thompson says the door had no spring mechanism and relatives told investigators it was prone to falling.

http://www.wsbt.com/news/regional/25575794.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 1989
Release # 89-029

36 Children Fatalities: Parents Hold The Key To Garage Door Deaths

WASHINGTON — Citing the deaths of 36 children trapped under automatic garage doors since 1982, government safety experts are warning parents to take steps to prevent children from operating the garage doors.

According to the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission the children who died were between the ages of 2 and 14, and some of them were believed to have been playing “the garage door game” when the accident occurred. In the game, children activate the control for the raised garage door, then dart under as it closes. The children died when they were pinned under the doors.

CPSC urged parents to keep remote control door opening devices secured in the car’s glove compartment at all times. Wall-mounted push-button controls should be relocated so they are inaccessible to children. Prohibiting youngsters from playing in the garage is also recommended.

Homeowners, particularly parents and grandparents, should replace any garage door opener that does not have an automatic reverse function. Homeowners should install an opener equipped with an automatic reversing feature that had been certified as meeting the 1982 industry standard (Underwriters Laboratories 325 standard for door, drapery, gate, louver, and window operators and systems).

Homeowners having a garage door opener should test the automatic reverse feature every 30 days according to instructions in the owner’s manual. A two-inch wooden block can be placed on the floor in the path of the descending door; if the door doesn’t reverse on striking the block, the opener should be repaired or replaced with one certified as meeting the 1982 standard.

CPSC said garage door fatalities involving children have been reported in 21 states over the last seven years.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC’s fax-on-demand service, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information or report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.

Woman dies after being pinned under garage door

02:09 PM PDT on Saturday, October 3, 2009

KTVB

A Caldwell woman died from her injuries after being pinned underneath this garage door at the County County Paramedics building Thursday.

CALDWELL — A Caldwell woman has died from her injuries after being pinned last night under a garage door at the Canyon County Paramedic building in Caldwell.

Caldwell Police say that 35-year-old Melissa Farris attempted to go under the door as it was closing after an ambulance left the building. The call came into police at 11:25 p.m.

Farris became trapped and was not conscious or breathing when officers arrived on the scene. Police worked to get the door raised and were a ssisted by firefighters and paramedics.  Once freed, Farris was transported to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, where she later died from her injuries.

The Canyon County coroner has listed the cause of death as ashyxiation.

The officers, paramedics, and firefighters that worked to get Farris free and revive her all knew her.

Investigators say her vehicle was located in a parking lot across the street and it appears she waited for the ambulance to leave before trying to gain entry to the building.

Farris is a former employee of Canyon County Paramedics, but her visit last night was not expected. On-duty personnel were not aware of her presence.

Investigators are still trying to determine why the safety mechanisms on the door did not engage. www.nwcn.com

South Jordan boy’s life saved by police officer’s swift action

South Valley Journal

By Kristin Sokol

A nine-year-old South Jordan boy owes his life to a fast acting police officer after being trapped under his family’s automatic garage door.

Police haven’t released the name of the boy who they say came home from school with his cousin recently to find the garage door open partway.

“The cousin went in the residence to hit the button to open the door, but the door shut for some reason instead of opening. The boy was crawling under the door at that exact moment and got trapped,” South Jordan Police Officer Holden Rockwell said.

Police say no adults were present but a neighbor noticed the boy in distress and called 911.

“I thought he was gone when I got there. He was face down and not breathing,” Rockwell said. “I tried to lift the door off of him, but it was locked from the inside. So I ran in the house and manually disengaged the locking mechanism inside the garage and lifted the door off of him.”

Police estimate the boy was trapped under the door for at least 10 minutes and was not conscious or breathing when they arrived.

“Even though he wasn’t breathing, his heart was still beating. I just cleared his airway for him and then heard the fire truck’s sirens coming down the road. It all happened really fast,” Rockwell said.

After paramedics arrived, the boy was transported via Life Flight to the hospital. Officers say he sustained traumatic injuries to his lungs as a result of the incident, but is expected to make a full recovery.

“I spoke with his grandmother on phone, to find out how he was doing. She said they expected him to make a full recovery, and that he is responding well to treatment,” Rockwell said.

Police officers warn other residents to teach their children about garage door safety and remind residents to inspect garage doors periodically to ensure they are functioning properly.

“One of the problems here was the bounce back laser that would trip the door to go back up was aimed too high and was over his back when he was on the ground. There is another pressure release that should make the door go back up if it feels too much pressure in one spot. People should test that to make sure it is working properly,” Rockwell said.

Rockwell has been nominated to receive the Life Saving medal from South Jordan City. The medal is awarded to those who in the course of their duties perform an act that greatly contributes to the saving of another human life.

“Our officers are committed to these people. They truly are public servants. Bless this man. If this were my son or your son, this is exactly the man I would want to show up,” South Jordan Councilmember Leona Winger said. “This is just a great example of how our officers every day are serving the people.”

Caption: South Jordan police remind parents about the safety hazards caused by leaving a garage door partially open after a recent incident where a South Jordan child was crushed after crawling underneath a door. South Valley Journal

Garage Door Photo Eyes

Problem & Solution

Risk

Photo Eyes: Biggest Pain For Garage Door Dealers

They present the single biggest hassle for a garage door dealer.

Photo eyes are heavy maintenance and are the biggest single service issue related to garage door dealers at any level, a number of sources concede.

The reasons vary from things as simple as cobwebs, to a bump against a sensor. Dust from cleaning out the garage, or a bit of paint can easy obstruct or skew the signal beams and cause the door to be inoperable.  And morning or afternoon sunlight on a sensor can be debilitating as well.

In an informal survey with installers and some builders, one company was able to identify 17 different problems customers have encountered with photo eyes.

These issues have resulted in poor decisions to improperly install or even move the photo eyes to an unsafe / unapproved location.

Solution

Smart Technology Eliminates Photo Eyes

A variety of manufacturers have come up with a solution to faulty photo eyes.  Most recently a technology without photo eyes, sometimes call smart or profiling technology, has made its way into the industry.  The compelling feature of this advance is it operates much the way an elevator door functions—immediately reserving itself upon any sign of pressure.

Besides negating the issue of photo eyes, the safety features of this system makes it difficult to ride a door up or down.

For example, Martin Door Manufacturing recently introduced soft-touch reverse technology, without photo eyes that will reverse off a balloon.  It reverses on meeting 15 pounds of pressure in the down cycle and 25 pounds of added weight/pressure on the up cycle, making it difficult for a child to ride a door up or down.  Underwriters Laboratory has “listed” this door system under U.L. 325 compliance.

News & Articles

Photo Eyes:
Biggest Pain For Garage Door Dealers

They present the single biggest issue for a garage door dealer.

Photo eyes are heavy maintenance and are the biggest single service issue related to garage door dealers at any level, a number of sources concede.

The reasons vary from things as simple as cobwebs, to a bump against a sensor. Dust from cleaning out the garage, or a bit of paint can easy skew the signal beams and cause the door to be inoperable.  And  sunlight on a sensor can be debilitating as well.

In an informal survey with installers and some builders, one company was able to identify 17 different problems customers have encountered with photo eyes.

Photo Eyes Prove Defenseless In Fatalities

A Florida boy was killed in a unique garage door accident involving an opener with photo eyes.

The young boy’s father, a contractor, put photo eyes on his garage door up towards the ceiling, in order to avoid the hassle that comes with many photo eye problems.  He could not have foreseen that in moving the sensors, the resulting loss of safety would claim his son. John Murphy of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, who helped

initiate a more thorough investigation of the fatality, verified the account in an Oct. 15, 2008 conversation with Antone Clark of Martin Door Manufacturing.  There is another other fatality Murphy knows of personally involving a girl, killed when photo eyes were installed more than two feet off the floor, due to high concrete footings.

Proper installation of photo eyes is three to five inches off the floor, according to guidelines provided by Underwriters Laboratory (UL).

Dave Martin, chairman of Martin Door Manufacturing, has argued that installers often over adjust garage door openers on the home, to avoid potential callbacks, or in some extreme cases, even mitigate the potential safety aspects of such a system, by installing the photo eyes close together, up near to the ceiling, etc.

The issue of tampering with photo eyes becomes especially relevant given recent discussion in Congress earlier this year about a potential mandate for photo eyes, at the expense of contact technology, such as Martin Door’s UL-listed soft-touch reverse non-photo eye system.  The mandate was not ratified as part of a CPSC reform act enacted this year.Martin’s new soft-touch reverse technology system has no adjustments, and automatically adjusts itself to the weight resistance of each door.  The system reverses itself on 15 pounds of resistance in the down cycle and stops on 25 pounds of resistance in the up cycle.  It cannot be adjusted or defeated by installers or homeowners.

A properly installed photo eye, as shown at left, is 3-5 inches off the floor as established by Underwriters Laboratory.  The photo eyes above shows a flagrant disregard for proper installation guidelines, and shows them installed above the door opener.

Briquel Haslam picks up her pink balloon after it  forced a Martin Garage Door to reverse, highlighting soft-touch reverse technology.  The technology cannot be adjusted or defeated by installers or homeowners

Spring Dangers

Problem & Solution

Garage Door Spring Dangers

Risk

Don’t Mess With The Torsion Spring System

A torsion spring adjustment is not something to be left to an amateur or the faint of heart.

The built up power of a spring can easily cut off a limb, if it comes loose.  Always err on the side of caution when dealing with a spring, leave to a trained professional.

Several manufacturers have introduced new safety measures dealing with springs.  They can provide some protection, in case of an accident.

Connected to the spring is a lift cable. Inside lift cables or cables concealed between the door and the track are difficult to access. However, outside lift cables, readily found on low clearance or low headroom type garage doors can be attractive to curious children. The potential risks are obvious, especially if the door is in motion.

image

Like A Helicopter Blade Gone Bad

One blogger said there are only two things to fear in the world:  nuclear war and garage door torsion springs.

It may seem like a bit of a stretch to put a spring in that category, but the potential dangers of a torsion spring gone bad, cannot be overemphasized.

When all of that torsion lets loose, a garage door spring can almost be a helicopter blade off its moorings.

It is one area of garage door repair and maintenance best left to a qualified technician or installer.

Stretch springs too, are a concern, since a child can easily get hurt in playing with them. \

Splitting Lumber

Splitting lumber can be the first visible sign of a potential problem with a garage door spring.

image

When a torsion spring is center mounted on a garage door, the impact can eventually compromise the stability of the spring and lead to splitting wood.

Solution

Spring Safety

The technology is available within the industry, to mitigate many of the dangers associated with a garage door spring.

A variety of manufacturers have recently introduced some sort of containment system, to defuse potential disasters present if a spring is attached to a support system in the traditional way.

For example, Martin Garage Doors are engineered with a self-contained spring system.  The system eliminates the danger of a spring being uncoiled with torsion pressure liken unto a helicopter blade gone amuck.

Martin Door’s springs also come with a lifetime warranty, which means they have been engineered to last and not be replaced every five years, as many other springs with a much smaller lifespan require.

This is one safety feature you can’t afford to take a risk on.

The first problem regarding child safety for the spring system is to make sure the springs on your garage door are no where near the floor, where a child could have access to them. These are commonly called “Stretch” or “Extension” springs.

Most doors can be retrofitted to install torsion springs above the garage door. The second problem is to make sure there are no “outside” lift cables. These are still common on doors where installation clearance or headroom is limited.

For example, Martin offers only “inside” lift cables and lock-on, side mounted torsion springs, mounted above the door.

News & Articles

Don’t Mess With The Torsion Spring

A torsion spring adjustment is not something to be left to an amateur or the faint of heart.

The built up power of a spring can easily cut off a limb, if it is comes loose.  Always err on the side of caution when dealing with a spring, leave to a trained professional.

Several manufacturers have introduced new safety measures dealing with springs.  They can provide some protection, in case of an accident.

Garage Door Spring Safety

Are you aware that after 6-8 years some parts on your garage door will begin to wear and possibly fail? Do you know what can happen? Our family found out the hard way, when our entire garage door collapsed down like a large roof over our indoor garage space one evening. Luckily, no one was in the garage at the time, and I can only imagine how my two little girls would have been crushed and possibly killed had they been standing underneath.

We had to call an emergency garage door service to come lift the door back onto the tracks so we could at least close and lock it for the night. When I asked the service technician what caused it to come off of the tracks and collapse, he said the springs gave out. Our garage door is eight years old.

Many home owners are not aware, and the garage door manufacturers certainly do not post any warnings, that after five years the springs become worn, and when they give out, severe damage to your home, and or yourself or another person, can occur. Springs should be replaced at five or six years – don’t wait until a major accident to decide to have your garage door parts looked at and serviced. If you are aware, you can protect your family and prevent a possible tragedy! Here are some helpful tips:

1. Does the door have the adequate protection designed to prevent the personal injury or property damage that could be caused by breaking springs?

SAFETY TIP: Check your door carefully to make sure the springs are either enclosed by a metal tube, use a safety containment cable or both. All Clopay extension sprung doors incorporate an exclusive, patented safety containment cable which prevents a snapping spring from flying free and causing injury or damage. On all Clopay torsion sprung doors, the spring is installed around the torsion shaft so that, if a spring should break, it cannot snap free and cause damage or injury.

2. Are your able to loosen the bottom brackets of the garage door?
SAFETY TIP: Garage door bottom brackets are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury if deliberately or accidentally loosened or removed by someone inexperienced in garage door installation or maintenance. All Clopay garage residential steel doors feature our patented Safety-T Bracket which, under normal circumstances, cannot be removed while the door is under tension, thus significantly reducing the risk of serious injury.

3.Have you checked the spring on your garage door ?
SAFETY TIP: Beware of old springs, keep in mind that garage door springs are actually tightly wound and under high tension, and this is why they can be the source of accidents. Eventually, all springs will wear-out and break, even high quality steel springs like those used by Clopay. A breaking spring that is not properly contained could lash out and strike property or people. If you have an older garage door, be certain your springs are inspected and replaced by a professional installer and replace if needed. If your door has two springs, replace both, even if one is not broken. This will not only prevent any damage caused by the breaking of the second spring, but also keep your door working efficiently.

Tags: safety, garage, door, warning, home, children
In response to assignment: iReport for CNN

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-25605

What to look for

Time Bomb

Problem & Solution

Garage Door Time Bomb

Risk

Taking A Closer Look At Being Too Snug In A Garage

If you live in a colder climate, the issue of how much insulation value your garage door has may seem like a big issue.

Take a closer look.

With some manufacturers hyping R or U values, one key issue of safety is being ignored.  Proper ventilation in a garage is critical.  It can be a matter of life and death.

R-values may give you a sense of being snug and secure, but a different value should be applied to the garage.  A garage, especially one that houses anything potentially combustible, should not be insulated like a home.  If anything, proper ventilation is among the most critical of items.

There has been a measurable trend of garage explosions throughout the U.S. in the past few years as combustible materials and various appliances are installed or used in sealed off garages.

image

Solution

Don’t Seal The Garage

There is an easy solution to a potentially explosive problem in the garage.

Don’t seal off the garage.

All you have to do is properly ventilate a garage, following existing building codes, and avoid the temptation to treat the garage like a home—-with insulation to make it snug.

Garage door insulation can be a misapplied value, because there should be proper ventilation in any area where combustible materials may be stored or used.  Combustible materials in a sealed off place can be explosive.

Garage Explosion Caught on tape

FAMILY LEFT HOMELESS AFTER GARAGE EXPLOSION

News & Articles

Take A Closer Look
At Being Too Snug In A Garage

If you live in a colder climate, the issue of how much R-value your garage door has may seem like a big issue.

Take a closer look.

With some manufacturers hyping R-values, one key issue of safety is being ignored.  Proper ventilation in a garage is critical.  It can be a matter of life and death.

R-values may give you a sense of being snug and secure, but a different value should be applied to the garage.  A garage, especially one that houses anything potentially combustible, should not be insulated like a home.  If anything proper ventilation is among the most critical of items.

There has been a measurable trend of garage explosions throughout the U.S. in the past few years as combustible materials are used in increasingly sealed off garages.

A Time Bomb Waiting To Explode In The Garage?

A Time Bomb Waiting To Explode In The Garage?

Expert: R-Value or Home Safety?

Can R-value be too much of a good thing?

Insulating the garage and trying to seal off the flow of outside air seems like a logical thing for a homeowner to consider.  After all increasing the R-value of an insulated garage can only make it more snug.  In cold weather regions, this may seem especially appealing.

However, a snug garage can be a time bomb waiting to explode, according to some experts.

Ralph Rangel, a senior technical staff member of the International Code Council (ICC), says proper ventilation of the garage is very important.  He suggests that investing in a garage door or anything that seals up the garage is a “misapplied value. “

The remains of a Utah garage and home are nothing but rubble, as illustrated in this May 2005 photo. An explosion in the garage of this particular home blew the garage doors off this structure into the neighbors yard. Experts warn about the dangers of sealing off the ventilation in the garage.

“If it’s going to be sealed, this can create some problems,” Rangel said of the garage. 

Based in Chicago, the ICC is a membership group dedicated to developing codes that create better building safety and fire prevention for commercial and residential buildings, including homes.

Other experts agree with Rangel.

Dr. Greg Linteris, of the National Institute for Standards and Technology, describes the garage as a tremendous ignition source.    He said how much a garage leaks air, would be a factor in how combustible a garage could be.

The ventilation of the garage appears to be gaining some momentum, as far as potential safety and fire standards.  The state of California’s mechanical code calls for ventilation requirements for any garage that has a fuel-burning appliance.  It is especially stringent for new home construction—which is described in the code as “unusually tight.”

All of which negates claims by some manufacturers in the residential garage door or window business, for example, that having a high R value, with thermal breaks, double seals, or high-insulated value windows etc. is a benefit for the homeowner.

Unusually tight too often translates into potential carbon monoxide danger. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists a number of cautions, involving the garage, in handouts outlining the dangers of carbon monoxide.

The outline lists sources of carbon monoxide as gas water heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, gas stoves, generators and other gasoline powered equipment, auto exhaust from attached garages and tobacco smoke.  It stresses that a key step to reducing carbon monoxide dangers is ventilation.  More details on the dangers involving carbon monoxide are available at www.carbonmonoxidekills.com.

Michael Lavallee, chief building inspector for Daly City, California, said any enclosure made unusually tight—i.e. caulking, sealing the windows, and buying a garage door with a high R-value—requires venting.

Historically part of the venting requirement for the garage has been dealt with by homeowners putting a vent in the garage door, according to Lavallee.  He said anytime you put a fuel-burning appliance in a confined space with limited airflow, you create the potential for carbon monoxide. 

“The room needs to be ventilated,” Lavallee said.

The garage doors were blown off and a car destroyed in this Pullman, Washington explosion.

Andre Desjarlais, group leader for Building Envelope Research of Canada, said garages should only be insulated if they are part of a conditioned space.  He said there are no guidelines in place for insulating an unconditioned space.  In most cases, garages are unconditioned spaces.

There appears to be growing evidence to suggest the argument about over-insulating the garage is not merely a theory. 

Consider the following recent news reports:

—a garage explosion in Susanville, California is linked to a man trying to siphon gas from his wife’s vehicle.  The man generated enough static electricity to ignite those gas fumes in a sealed garage. 

—in Hamilton, Ohio a home was destroyed after an explosion sparked a fire.  A person working on a car in a detached garage started the blaze.

—in West Jordan, Utah in April of 2005, a garage explosion was felt four blocks away.  The blast was so strong that the garage doors were blown off into the neighbors yard, almost 100 feet away.  The house was left as mere rubble in a matter of 10 minutes, one neighbor claimed.

        —in Decatur Alabama, a garage explosion leveled a  home and rattled windows more than two blocks away.  The family was away on vacation at the time of the blast. 

        —a faulty gasoline fitting on a vehicle was blamed for a garage explosion in Pullman, Washington.   The blast blew the garage doors off the building.

Garage Door Product Quality/Installation

Problem & Solution

Risk

Cutting Corners Can Compromise Safety

Beware of the garage door installer in too big a hurry.

Taking shortcuts can compromise the safety of a garage door.

Something as simple as the way a lag screw is installed, can potentially lead to a safety risk, if undue pressure from a heavy garage door is put on sheet rock, instead of a stud.  Even improper mounting of the punched angle used to help support a garage door opener can compromise the safety and future operation of a door.

Potential dangers hardly end with the mounting and bracing issues.

Installers eager to save time and money, often fudge on properly installing a garage door opener, to the detriment of safety for people who use the door day-to-day.

Those improper adjustments, which range from tightening the force settings on the door opener to the highest level, or even raising the photo eyes far above the ground level, may spell fewer callbacks in the short run for the installer, but they also pose a real danger that can be fatal.

Some installers have even been known to leave off some safety features for garage doors, in the interest of time and not wanting to be bothered. Cutting corners with a garage door installation, only leads to greater risks and potential problems in the future.

Quality Vs Price Shouldn’t Compromise Safety

There are no safety options so unimportant, they can be overlooked in pursuit of a lower price.

In looking at quality and value issues, safety considerations should not be overlooked or minimized.

A door may be lower priced, because it has far fewer safeguards built into the system.

Most safety features are optional and not mandated by the government.  Just as it costs more to put multiple airbags and extra safety features in a car, so it is with garage doors.

Broken glass in a garage door is also a significant problem.  Statistics show there are as many injuries reported with broken glass in a garage each year, as there are injuries related to garage door springs.

The potential danger of having broken glass in a door that goes directly overhead, when it is in the up position, becomes apparent readily. Glass that breaks into chards of pointed glass becomes much more dangerous than tempered or laminated glass, which breaks into small pieces, or acrylic, which does not easily break.

image

image

Solution

Why Gamble

Why gamble with product quality, when so much can be at stake?

Garage doors can be built to be safe and to last a long time. 

Martin Door Manufacturing claims it builds the world’s finest and safest garage doors.  They demonstrate that approach to quality by building a garage door that comes with a lifetime warranty, including parts and springs.  Warranty should be the first clue as to the quality of any given garage door system.

Most of the garage doors made in the United States are made of steel and in simply finding the gauge of steel of a given door, you will see the quality, or lack thereof.  There are some doors made of 32-gauge steel that are so flimsy you can penetrate the door with a ball-point pen.  Martin Door builds all of its steel sectional doors using 24-gauge steel, except for one model.

Take the time to find out what a door is made of, and how much the manufacturer stands behinds their quality.  In finding a garage door that is safe, beautiful and lasting, you will be finding a true value.

The solution to a potential glass safety issue can be resolved rather easily.  Insist on acrylic windows in a garage door or tempered glass, if you use glass.  Many door companies are able to lower the costs of a garage door by offering the cheaper, but more dangerous glass, in the door.  Some, like Martin Garage Doors, do not offer any standard or double strength glass windows in their doors, because of the potential dangers.  It is worth the extra cost to buy the safer windows.

Take time to look at the windows in a garage door and what they are made of.  It’s something, which will help clear the picture of just how safe your garage door is.

It can take time to do something right.

Don’t be afraid to check out the credentials of the company you want to install your garage door.  Call the Better Business Bureau or talk to previous customers, who may have had work done in the past five years.  If a claim sounds like a bit of a stretch, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion.

The quality of any product is always demonstrated by time.  Likewise the shortcuts or errors of an improperly installed garage door, show up in due course.

News & Articles

Quality Vs Price
Shouldn’t Compromise Safety

There are no safety options so unimportant, they can be overlooked in pursuit of a lower price.

In looking at quality and value issues, safety considerations should not be overlooked or minimized.

A door may be lower priced, because it has far fewer safeguards built into the system.

Most safety features are optional and not mandated by the government.  Just as it costs more to put multiple airbags and extra safety features in a car, so it is with garage doors.

Things To Look Out For

You don’t want to overlook safety, in pursuit of a lower priced garage door.

For example:

        —garage doors come in steel sections ranging from 24-gauge to as thin as 32-gauge.  A 32-gauge steel door will be cheaper than its more sturdy 24-gauge counterpart, but it will also offer far less protection and be so susceptible it cannot stand up to even a pen, without being penetrated.

        —the value of a garage door is often measured by its insulation on the back.  Some manufacturers use injection foam to buttress a thin steel door, but foam breaks down quickly and readily, compromising any barrier the door may have presented.

        —cheap rollers also cut potential costs, but also compromise the ability of a door to easily go up and down, without falling off the track onto a car, or worse yet a person under the door.  Some manufacturers use a roller so cheaply made the tire or wheel on the roller breaks easily after some usage.

        —cheap hinges too often compromise a door as well.  They break,  leaving the homeowner in a compromised position, with the potential of a sectional door coming apart.

        —even the quality of a lift cable is critical.  The difference between a 1/16-inch cable and a 1/8-inch cable with casing to protect against fraying is significant.  A thin cable is vulnerable to fraying and the potential of a door breaking free in an unstoppable descent—-one of the leading causes of garage door related deaths in the U.S.

Lead Paint

Problem & Solution

Risk

Lead Paint Risks!

Lead is identified as a poison and exposure to lead paint in a garage is described as a clear danger.

Poisoning occurs when children eat tiny paint chips or inhale harmful leaded dust. Chalking lead paint creates dust that settles on toys and other objects. The dust may be ingested into the young child in normal hand-to-mouth activity. Leaded house dust that is inhaled even in the smallest amounts is just as lethal as that which is ingested. One paint chip the size of a thumbnail, ingested by a young child, can cause permanent brain damage.

Dr. John Rosen, a pediatrician responsible for treating lead poisoned children at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, states: “Lead at remarkably low concentrations has the unique capability of robbing kids of such skills as reading, writing, concentration and abstract thinking. The set of things that are required for academic success and employment success can be lost forever, and all of that comes at a remarkable societal cost.”
 
Many older garage doors employ lead paints and should be replaced.  Lead-based paint has been banned since 1978, so doors with lead paint would already be dated and be absent of many of the required safety features all garage doors are required to have today.

Solution

Lead Abatement

There are special requirements for technicians removing old doors with lead paint, or those who install doors in any garage where lead paint is present.  Make sure your technician is properly certified to deal with and dispose of any lead paint that may be present in or around your pre-1978 garage.

Lead-Paint Safety,
at Home and on the Job
By Tom O’Brien Download PDF

News & Articles

Cutting Corners Can Compromise Safety

Beware of the garage door installer in too big a hurry.

Taking shortcuts can compromise the safety of a garage door.

Something as simple as the way a lag screw is installed, can potentially lead to a safety risk, if undue pressure from a heavy garage door is put on sheet rock, instead of a stud.  Even improper mounting of the punched angle used to help support a garage door opener can compromise the safety and future operation of a door.

Potential dangers hardly end with the mounting and bracing issues.

Installers eager to save time and money, often fudge on properly installing a garage door opener, to the detriment of safety for people who use the door day-to-day.

Those improper adjustments, which range from tightening the force settings on the door opener to the highest level, or even raising the photo eyes far above the ground level, may spell fewer callbacks in the short run for the installer, but they also pose a real danger that can be fatal.

Some installers have even been known to leave off some safety features for garage doors, in the interest of time and not wanting to be bothered.

Cutting corners with a garage door installation, only leads to greater risks and potential problems in the future.

the advantages and safety of professional installation

Now that you’ve decided you are ready to add to your home’s beauty and value by purchasing that new garage door, the most important thing you need to remember is that you must have it installed by a professional.

This is so important, let’s say it again: have your garage door installed and serviced by a professional. This is not a job for a DIY-er with minimal knowledge of the task at hand.

Why?

One word – safety.

For most Americans, a garage door is the largest moving object in the home. Garage doors are both large and extremely heavy. This means that not only are they incredibly difficult to lift, but install it wrong and it can come crashing down with unbelievable force.

The garage door springs that help the doors open are under extreme pressure and can release enough power to severely injure or even kill someone. pecific tools and training are needed when dealing with these springs.

“Installing a garage door system is complicated, and can be a dangerous task if not done properly. A professional door dealer will help you find the perfect door for your home, and install it correctly and safely,” said Chris Long, anaging Director, International Door Association.

There are plenty of other jobs around your place that are perfect for the weekend warrior, but installing a new garage door is not one of them. You want it installed correctly, functioning safely and smoothly, and you want it up right the first time. So how do you choose a professional installer for your new garage door? Here are some questions to ask:

1. Is the installer a member in a professional association?
Look for a door dealer professional that is a member of the International Door Association (IDA). It’s the only national association devoted to the professionalism and continuing education of garage door dealers. IDA members tend to have more experience, more knowledge and are guided by a customer-friendly professional code of ethics. Does your local dealer use the IDA logo in advertisements? To find an IDA member, simply provide your ZIP code at the Dealer Locator on GarageWowNow.com and click submit.

2. How much experience does the installer have?
How long has the company been in business? If it’s a new company, do the owners have experience working in the door and operator industry? As a general rule, the more years, the better.

3. Does the dealer have satisfied customers or reviews available?
This may be the most important checkpoint. Does the door dealer have satisfied customers? Are you willingly given phone numbers so you can talk directly to past customers, or do you have access to letters of recommendation from customers?

4. What type of insurance coverage does the dealer have?
It is important that door dealers carry the proper insurance on their business and employees. Ask for a copy of the company’s certificate of insurance. If it doesn’t have one or hesitates to provide it, this could be a red flag.

5. Does the dealer comply with codes and regulations?
There are many requirements that apply to safety and the installation of a garage door system. Federal, state and local codes and regulations must be followed. Ask the dealer about how he or she complies with the codes in your city. Selecting the right door dealer is as simple as asking a few questions. Don’t hesitate to call two dealers and ask these same questions. They take only moments to answer, and yet they can help you find an honest, competent professional who can solve your garage door problem.

For the latest information, be sure to keep on checking GarageWowNow.com!

Injury Statistics

2007 NEISS Hospitol
Annual U.S. Garage Door Injury Statistics

Description		Estimated USA Total	Description
1. Pinch/Crush Section Joints		7557		Fingers caught between section joints, includes amputations, avulsions, etc.
2. Falling Doors		2102		Door fell for whatever reason
3. DIY		1610		Person working on a door
4. Sharp Edges		805		Lacerations from door hardware or tracks
5. Glass		313		Lacerations from garage door window glass
6. Spring		313		Spring injuries
7. Broken Door		224		Miscellaneous injuries due to doors needing repairs
8. Other Entrapment		179		Half of these were fingers caught between rollers and tracks
9. Race To Beat The Door		134		People trying to get through the opening before the door closed
10. Riding Door		89		Children riding the door
Total		13325
This study is about the “door system” regardless of whether it is electric or manual
CPSC’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) is a national probability sample of hospitals in the U.S. and its territories.

Links

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
NEWS from CPSC
NEW REQUIREMENT AIMS TO ELIMINATE ENTRAPMENT UL 325
NEW-PRODUCT INVESTIGATION Automatic Closing Devices
UL 325 Voted Top Story of the Decade
CEO makes safety priority No. 1
FEELING THE PINCH
Martin Door Honored for Commitment to Safety
Controlled Descent Device Kits Available from Martin
Controversial Garage-Door Legislation Tossed by Congress
Contact Sensor Technology Passes Congressional Scrutiny
4-Year-Old Dies After Being Struck by Garage Door
Garage Door System Safety Guidelines
Garage Door And Opener Maintenance Guide
My Precious Kid: Child Safety Products
The Kid CallCard
www.safe-tots.com/
KidSafe: Home Safety Products
www.childsafetystore.com
Baby Proofing Professionals
www.safebeginnings.com
kidsafe.wordpress.com
www.yoursafechild.com
www.safetyed.org
www.kidsindanger.org
www.childproductsafety.com
www.guardakid.com
www.safety1st.com
childsafetyproducts.lifetips.com
www.lifetips.com
www.homesafetycouncil.org
www.homesafetycouncil.org
www.garagetek.com
www.hometips.com
www.childcare.net
www.safety-council.org
www.safekids.co.uk
www.discount-pet-superstore.com
How I Replaced Deadly Garage Door Torsion Springs and lived to tell the tale.

Safety Tips

Safety Tips For Children Around The Garage Door

There are some simple things you can do to make your garage a safer place for your children to be around.

In looking at 10 potential garage door hazards, the following steps can help create a safer environment for your kids.

Dangers Of A Falling Door

Test the reverse mechanism of your door regularly, by placing a 2 x 4 on the floor underneath the middle of the garage door.  Operated the door with the opener and when the door comes in contact with the 2 x 4 it should reverse with two seconds and go back up.  If you door does not reverse, call a professional to have it checked out.

Also check the up and down force adjustments on your door regularly as well.  Trying stopping the door with you hands when it is going down, the door should reverse fairly easily.  Likewise, try stopping the door when it is going up with your hands, it should stop fairly easily.  If it doesn’t do either one fairly easily, refer to your owner’s manual for instructions or have it checked by a professional.  All garage doors installed after 1991 are required to have a reversing mechanism.

Children Riding The Door

Remove all ropes, hooks and other projections from your garage door, if you have a garage door opener.  These items can catch on a child’s clothing or pet’s collar, causing serious injury.

New technology with some garage door manufacturers actually weighs potential pressure on a door, causing a system to reverse, thus making it impossible for a child to ride the door.

Fingers Caught In Gaps or Holes or Section Joints

Many garage doors come with tracks, which feature open holes and make it easy for a child to stick their finger or hand into potential danger.  Use duct tape to close off the holes in the hardware that holds up your door.

Carbon Monoxide

Taking steps to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide relates to proper ventilation in a garage.  Avoid the temptation to make the garage like other rooms in the house.  Allow the free flow of air from the outside.

Entrapment

Learn how to disengage your automatic garage door opener in case of an emergency.

Photos Eyes

If your garage door has photo eyes, make sure they are properly aligned and set up.  Photo eyes should be no more than six inches off the floor.  Proper working photo eyes can prevent many of the dangers that come with children playing around the garage door.

Stretch Springs and other Spring dangers

Make sure the springs on your garage door are nowhere near the floor, where a child can have access to them.  Commonly known as stretch springs or extension springs, these springs should include a containment cable inside the spring, which provides a small measure of security.  If the cable is missing, it is time to replace the spring for a torsion spring, which mounts above the door, away from the reach of children.  Also check for possible rust on the spring, which is another clue it is time to replace this potentially dangerous object.

If your door has two springs, replace both even if one is not broken.  This will not only prevent any damage caused by the breaking of the second spring, but also keep your door working efficiently.

Over insulating the garage

If you store anything that is combustible in a garage, ensure there is proper ventilation from the outside.  Again: avoid the temptation to make the garage like other rooms in the house.  Most municipalities have code in places, which require proper ventilation of garages, whether attached or not.

Lead Paint on old garage doors and jams

Lead is identified as a poison. The presence of lead-based paint in buildings poses a clear danger to the health and safety of their users.

Lead-based paint has been banned since 1978, but many older structures still have this paint on walls, woodwork, siding, windows, and doors. Construction and demolition workers can be exposed to lead contamination by cutting, scraping, sanding, heating, burning, or blasting lead-based paint from building components, metal bridges and metal storage tanks. In addition to exposure to workers, lead-based paint debris or dust can also make its way into soil, potentially contaminating surface waters. Lead poisoning is a serious health threat for adults and is especially damaging to young children.

Efforts to remove lead paint can create even greater hazards.  It is important to recognize that nothing that you do is entirely safe. Removing lead paint creates problems of lead dust, lead fumes, and toxic waste disposal. Encapsulating lead surfaces leaves the problem in potential form.  This problem is best dealt with by a professional.  Do not minimize this problem.

Hazards of cheap quality or poorly installed doors.

The axiom of you get what you pay for will always show up given time.  If you have saved a few dollars by buying a door with less safety features and cheaper materials, it’s only a matter of time until the door will require service and replacement of parts and the door itself.  If you have a cheap door with safety risks, take the precaution to keep your children away from the garage door as much as possible, especially when it is in operation.

Ask Us

E-Mail Us

You can ask us a question and we will help find answers to your garage door safety concerns.

Email >

Do simple maintenance on your garage door monthly.

Don’t adjust or replace door springs, cables or other door hardware yourself.

Make sure wall controls for your garage door are at least five feet off the floor, out of the reach of children.

Never attempt to cross under a moving garage door.

Watch those fingers. Fingers being caught in a section joint is an injury often associated with garage door use.

A garage door should never be used as a toy.