A troubling discovery of a garage door with a pull rope fashioned similarly to a noose at the Talladega Superspeedway raised significant concerns. The noose was discovered in the garage assigned to Bubba Wallace, a Black NASCAR driver participating in a racing event at the Talladega Superspeedway in June 2020.

The fact that Wallace had successfully persuaded NASCAR officials to ban the Confederate flag from being displayed at the event sparked considerable controversy. Consequently, many pundits immediately suspected that someone had planted the noose as a racial threat to Wallace. Given the context of other recent events, such as the death of George Floyd and the following nationwide protests, it was not surprising that the discovery prompted widespread attention and an FBI investigation.

Subsequently, the FBI discovered that the rope used as a garage door pull had been fashioned as a noose several months prior to Bubba Wallace and his team being assigned that particular garage. They determined that no hate crime occurred, as Wallace’s assignment to that garage was purely coincidental.

Following the FBI’s conclusion, it remained unclear whether the rope was used to manually lower the garage door or if it functioned as the emergency release pull for the garage door opener. Based on the picture, however, it does appear to be a rope intended for manually pulling the garage door down. Now, let’s examine the emergency pull feature in garage door opener devices and its practical application.

Garage Door Emergency Pull and Safety

If the rope in question was an emergency release pull, this feature can be found in various motorized garage doors, including those at the Talladega Superspeedway. While many users are familiar with the emergency pull of a garage door opener, understanding this feature and its function is enhanced by knowing the history of the opener itself.

Garages have been fundamental parts of homes for well over a century. What initially started as separate buildings has now evolved into integrated spaces within the home, adding convenience. Further enhancing this convenience is the garage door opener, an electric device first invented in 1926 to open standard doors but later adapted for use with garage doors.

The emergency release cord is a component of the safety standards for overhead garage doors equipped with electric garage door openers. Since the early 1970s, garage door openers have been subject to UL325 standards, which are designed to ensure safe operating conditions for motorized garage doors and gates. The UL certification process involves conducting over 30 compliance tests to ensure the safety of overhead door systems and minimize the risk of fire, electrical shock, and physical injuries.

While most states may have similar regulations allowing garage door opener manufacturers such as Liftmaster, Chamberlain, Genie, Marantec, Craftsman, Genesis, Guardian, Linear, and Mighty Mule to follow a general set of rules, California took a distinct step in 2019 by passing Senate Bill 969. This law mandates that all residential garage door openers sold and installed in California must be equipped with a battery backup system. This system enables residents to operate their garage doors in case of a power outage, providing an additional safety measure beyond the emergency pull for people trapped inside their garages during such events.

Using the Garage Door Emergency Release Pull

Although a battery backup can be a lifesaver, it does pay to understand the function of the emergency release pull. If you don’t have a garage door opener with a backup battery, using the emergency release feature allows you to operate the garage door manually. This is especially true if the motor of the garage door malfunctions, making it impossible to operate even with battery backup power.

Learning how to use the garage door emergency release or testing the feature begins with ensuring the garage door is in the closed position. Pulling the release rope when the garage door is open, especially in the presence of issues with the springs or door balance, could potentially cause the garage door to come crashing down.

Pull the release cord and then attempt to open the garage door. If the springs and door are in good working condition, the garage door should move smoothly up and down.