I damaged my second garage door today

[mmorgan]

How do ya'll (Texan for "you guys") inspect garage doors? I test the light sensor and then give the door a little bit of resistance with a cardboard box or with my hand to check the auto-reverse. Even with the little bit of resistance that I use, I damaged my second garage door today. The first was a couple of years ago. Both doors were made out of such thin metal that it began to crumple where the bracket is attached at the top the minute it contacted my hand. I managed to stop it quickly and bend 95% of the dents out of it.

Anyway, I'm just curious how ya'll check the auto-reverse feature on garage doors.

Thanks

[cmccann]

I jumped one chain 3 years ago, and since then I quit checking the resistance part, I only check it if it has sensors, and if it doesn't recommend upgrade.

[ecox1]

I normally carry a piece of 1x wood which I place at the bottom of the door.

[gporter]

I only test the eye.

[gporter]

Ensure they are at the proper height. Had one 2 weeks ago that was mounted to high.

[Harvey Gordon]

Lets get this one right!..There is ONLY ONE WAY to TEST the AUTO REVERSE feature:

Reversal Test
Make sure your opener has a reversing feature. If a reversing feature is not present, it should be replaced. Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety features which comply with the latest U.L. 325 standards: Contact your manufacturer or installer for additional information.


With the door fully open, place a 1-1/2" thich piece of wood (a 2"x4" laid flat) on the floor in the center of the door. Push the transmitter or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the wood. (Note that the bottom part of "one piece doors" must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing.)

From The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/523.html or the PDF can be found at www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/523.pdf

One quick test is to place a 2x4 on the floor of the garage in the door's path. If the door does not properly reverse on striking the 2x4 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.

From Underwritters Laboratories (UL) www.ul.com/consumers/garagedoors.html

4. TEST THE DOOR OPERATOR MONTHLY. The garage door MUST reverse on contact with a 1-1/2 inch high object (or a piece of two-by-four lumber laid flat) on the floor. If the door doesn't stop and reverse after contact with the object, disconnect the operator and use the door manually until the operator is replaced or repaired by a qualified technician.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

http://www.liftmaster.com/pdf/LiftMasterCW/products/0,,6158,00.pdf#search='garage%20door%20opener'

See page 20 of the Install manual.

Most doors will crease due to the fact that the proper reinforcement is not added along the top rail of the door panel.

I have not damaged a door (yet).

I do not test the reverse either if there are any other deficiencies apparent.

[troberts1]

It sounds like the door did not have an operator bracket installed,and the operator installed directly to the top panel of the door. When I was working for overhead door I have seen this hundreds of times. Door failed test contact a garage door specialist for further service..

[Joe Lyvers, CMI]

Remember, if you exceed NACHI's Standard of Practice you are putting yourself at risk. You may also want to check on you insurance limitations.

II. The inspector is not required to:

J. Verify or certify safe operation of any auto reverse or related safety function of a garage door.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by jlyvers

Remember, if you exceed NACHI's Standard of Practice you are putting yourself at risk. You may also want to check on you insurance limitations.

II. The inspector is not required to:

J. Verify or certify safe operation of any auto reverse or related safety function of a garage door.

One also has to at least meet the competition. If all of one's competition is testing both the force reverse and the photoelectric eyes reverse, I recommend that one do both, as well.

There's nothing wrong with exceeding the SOP as long as one does it consistently and persistently. Consult with your attorneys and insurance provider to set up your business and inspection protocols, and then abide by them persistently and consistently. And if you then cannot do something that you normally do, certainly disclose to your Clients what you did or did not do that you normally would not or would do and the reason for why you did or did not do what you normally would not or would do.

[Mark A. Timpani, CMI]

I would not use a wood block. Some doors have too much pressure and will bend the door.

[tneumann]

I have read the reverse argument with an open mind...it seems this argument occurs quite often on this board and others....and it always ends the same. Without being resolved. I talked to another member here...name not mentioned...and he explained it this way:

A 2x4 being solid wood....will not tell you if the force of the garage door prior to reversing is great enough to crush a kids skull. Hmmmmm..... I chewed on that and decided a kids skull was important enough to take my chances. If I have to buy 1 door out of 100...so be it.

Of course....I will check the doors hardware before doing so and if the door is in poor shape I will call it out...and explain the safety blah blah.

I think here again another decision we have to make and be true to ourselves on....opinions are opinions right? We all get one?

[sobrien]

Great info and links Harvey. I will use them both. For my part.... I check sensors and auto reverseThanks.....Sean

[Harvey Gordon]

Tony, I am not sure what you are saying...but if I read it correct you are saying that you dont feel you should use the wood...let me just say, if that is what you are saying, then you are NOT using the Standard in the Industry and as such IF something were to happen to the door...well you bought it!

I know that wood is stronger than a childs head, in most cases, but remember that at the point that this is striking the wood is at the most optimum and least pressure required to auto-reverse as the full weight has already been displaced and the door is basically free falling.

[tneumann]

A 2x4 being solid wood....will not tell you if the force of the garage door prior to reversing is great enough to crush a kids skull. Hmmmmm..... I chewed on that and decided a kids skull was important enough to take my chances. If I have to buy 1 door out of 100...so be it.

I will take my chances....but I understand where you are coming from also.....