What gets tested
- Contact reversal: the door reverses when it meets resistance.
- Photo eyes: present, aligned, and mounted low enough to detect a child.
- Manual release: the red cord works.
- Springs, cables and rollers: visible wear, broken springs, frayed cables.
- Hardware and panels: damaged sections, loose brackets.
Fire separation
The wall and ceiling between an attached garage and living space should be covered with fire-rated drywall, with no holes. The door between them should be solid wood, solid or honeycomb-core steel, or fire-rated, and in newer construction self-closing. Pet doors, attic hatches without covers and open penetrations weaken the separation.
Other garage items
- Water heaters and furnaces protected from vehicles.
- GFCI protection for outlets.
- No gas appliances with ignition sources at floor level unless rated.
- Earthquake straps on water heaters.
Common questions
How do I test the auto-reverse?
Place a 2-by-4 board flat on the floor under the door and close it. The door should reverse after touching the board. Then close the door and wave an object through the photo eye beam; the door should reverse.
Does California require battery backup on garage openers?
Yes. Since July 1, 2019, California law (SB 969) requires new or replacement residential garage door openers to have a battery backup that works during a power outage, a lesson from the 2017 wildfires.