Garage Door Safety: What Every Melbourne Parent Should Know

The Risks Are Real

Garage doors can weigh anywhere from 50kg for a single roller door to well over 150kg for a large sectional door. When something that heavy is in motion, the potential for injury is serious.

The most common garage door injuries involving children include:

Entrapment injuries occur when a child is caught beneath a closing door. Older doors without safety sensors can continue to close even when an obstruction is present, leading to crushing injuries.

Finger injuries happen when small fingers get caught between door panels as the door opens or closes. This is particularly common with older sectional doors that lack pinch-resistant panel designs.

Spring and cable injuries can occur when children play near or tamper with the high-tension components of a garage door system. A snapped spring or cable can cause serious harm.

Remote control accidents happen when children treat garage door remotes as toys, operating the door without supervision or awareness of who might be nearby.

Modern Safety Features That Protect Your Family

If your garage door was installed more than 10 to 15 years ago, it may lack the safety features that are now standard on quality installations. Here's what to look for:

Auto-Reverse Sensors

Modern garage door openers are equipped with photo-eye sensors positioned near the base of the door opening. These sensors project an invisible beam across the doorway. If anything breaks the beam while the door is closing, the door automatically stops and reverses.

This is your first line of defence against entrapment injuries.

To test your sensors, place an object, such as a cardboard box, in the doorway and close the door using your remote. The door should stop and reverse before making contact. If it doesn't, your sensors may be misaligned, dirty, or faulty, and you should have them checked by a professional.

Force Sensitivity Settings

Quality garage door motors include adjustable force settings that determine how much resistance the door will push against before reversing. If your door encounters an obstruction (including a person), it should stop and reverse rather than continue forcing down.

This setting can drift over time or may have been incorrectly configured during installation. A qualified technician can test and adjust the force sensitivity to ensure it meets safety standards.

Finger-Safe Panel Design

Newer sectional garage doors feature panel designs that minimise the gap between sections as the door moves. Some premium doors, including those in the Hörmann range, are specifically engineered to prevent fingers from being caught between panels during operation.

If you have young children and an older sectional door, this is worth considering when it comes time to upgrade.

Manual Release Safety

All automatic garage doors have a manual release mechanism, typically a red handle hanging from the opener rail. This allows you to open the door manually during a power outage or motor failure.

However, this release can also be a security vulnerability if accessed from outside. Modern systems include manual release locks or shielded cables to prevent unauthorised access. If your manual release hangs exposed near a window or door edge, speak to your installer about securing it.

Practical Safety Tips for Parents

Beyond the equipment itself, safe habits go a long way in protecting your family.

Keep Remotes Out of Reach

Garage door remotes should be treated like car keys, not toys. Store them in a high location or keep them with your house keys rather than leaving them where children can access them. Wall-mounted control panels should be positioned at least 1.5 metres from the floor, well out of reach of young children.

Teach Children the Dangers

Children should understand that the garage door is not a plaything. Teach them to never run under a moving door, never place their hands near the door tracks or panels, and never touch the springs, cables, or motor components.

Make sure they know to wait until the door has fully opened or closed before walking through, and to always check that the area is clear before pressing the button.

Never Leave a Closing Door Unattended

It's tempting to press the button and walk away, but you should always watch the door until it has fully closed. This ensures you'll see if a child, pet, or object enters the path of the door and can stop it in time.

If your opener doesn't have a wall-mounted button with a line of sight to the door, consider having one installed.

Schedule Regular Maintenance

Like any mechanical system, garage doors need regular servicing to operate safely. Springs lose tension, sensors become misaligned, and moving parts wear down over time.

An annual service from a qualified technician will identify potential problems before they become dangerous. This includes testing safety features, checking cable and spring condition, lubricating moving parts, and ensuring the door is properly balanced.

When to Upgrade Your Garage Door

If your garage door or opener is more than 15 years old, it may lack the safety features that are now considered essential. Signs that it's time to consider an upgrade include:

• No auto-reverse sensors or sensors that don't work reliably
• A door that continues to close even when obstructed
• Visible gaps between sectional panels where fingers could be caught
• An opener that lacks force sensitivity adjustment
• Springs or cables that show signs of rust, fraying, or wear
• A manual release that cannot be secured

Upgrading to a modern garage door system isn't just about convenience or appearance. It's about ensuring the safety of everyone who uses your home.

What RJ Garage Doors Recommends

At RJ Garage Doors, safety is at the heart of everything we do. We supply and install garage doors and openers that meet or exceed Australian safety standards, and we take the time to ensure every system is configured correctly for your home.

If you're unsure whether your current garage door is safe for your family, we're happy to provide an obligation-free safety inspection. We'll check your sensors, test your force settings, inspect your springs and cables, and let you know if any upgrades are recommended.

Your family's safety is worth more than the cost of a service call.

Contact RJ Garage Doors

Call us: 03 9465 6133

Email: office@rjdoors.com.au

Visit our showroom: Factory 4/69 Dalton Rd, Thomastown