Effective on July 1, 2019, A New CA State Law – . The last few years have seen California devastated by some of the worst wildfires in the state’s history. Thousands of people have been affected by the fires including, many families who lost loved ones. In total, there were over 140 deaths caused by fires between 2017 and 2018. These wildfires and other natural disasters have prompted the California Senate to pass Bill 969, in an effort to keep residents safe.
Thermacore® insulated, Flush Panel Design, Model 5740 (195), Black Finish
Thermacore® insulated, Flush Panel Design, Model 5740 (195), Black Finish
This law is a response to several deaths during the major wildfire season of 2017. At least 5 people died because they could not get their garage doors open during the power outage. This led to their cars being stuck in the garage with no other way to evacuate. These people, mostly older, were either unable to open their doors manually or did not know how to disconnect the opener
New State Law, Garage Door Battery Backup
The new bill passed in the fall of 2018 states that all newly installed garage door openers in California must have a battery backup. July 2019 marks the first month that California will require all residents undergoing a garage door or garage door opener replacement to have a battery backup system that can operate during a power outage for a safe evacuation.
While now mandatory in California, backup battery capabilities are an essential safety precaution all homeowners nationwide can benefit from having.
The Overhead Door™ Brand Battery Backup, powered by Interstate BatteriesⓇ, one of the nation’s largest battery replacement companies, has been providing reliable garage door operation in the event of electricity outages since 2013. To ensure that there is an opener to meet every homeowner’s need, no matter the power, speed, or features, the Overhead Door™ brand has expanded its battery backup options.
Recently, the Legacy® 650 and 850 became available with battery backup making the safety option accessible throughout the entire Overhead Door® opener lineup. The DestinyⓇ, LegacyⓇ , and OdysseyⓇ garage door openers combine reliability, speed, and power, all with quiet operation.
Overhead Door™ Battery Backup
The Battery Backup offers homeowners the security of always being prepared when severe weather or fire hits, even in case of a power outage. It’s an accessory that can be easily installed, and with several mounting options available, this accessory is designed to be unobtrusive.
It’s charged and powered via a connector cable between the opener and the unit, so plugging into an outlet is unnecessary. We or the homeowner can easily install the Battery Backup. The unit is equipped with an 8-AMP, sealed lead-acid battery (SLA) from Interstate, one of the nation’s largest battery replacement companies, reaches full charge within 48 hours, and has front-facing LEDs that indicate charge status.
Features
- Reaches full charge within 48 hours
- Front-facing colored LEDs indicate the charge status
- Up to 50 cycles in 24 hours after initial power outage
- Operates door at 3.5 inches per second
- Powered by Interstate Batteries®
- Compatible only with Destiny® and Odyssey® garage door openers.*
Specifications
- Model OBB-BX
- Part number 37229R
- Dimensions: 9.5” L X 5.27” H x 5’ W
- 7.8 lbs.
- 3’ connector cable
- 8 AMP hour sealed lead acid battery (SLA)
A Few Things Homeowners Need to Know Before an Emergency Happens.
Understand your opener’s safety features.
Newer garage door openers must have a safety release device and a red cord hanging down the track. Pull the red emergency cord to disengage the release lever on the garage door opener carriage. And now you can lift the garage door until it is open.
Pulling the release cord and manually opening the garage door can be challenging for the elderly or people with disabilities, so having a garage door opener with battery backup can be helpful. We recommend testing this safety feature before an emergency to ensure you can manually disconnect and open your garage door.
Know when the operator’s battery is running down.
Manufacturers may use different signals to help homeowners understand when these systems function correctly. Just like your fire alarms, recognize and know the color of the LED lights or whether they are flashing or making a beeping sound every few seconds to 30 seconds.
Learn how to replace your battery.
Even though battery backup systems work without electricity, homeowners must replace the batteries every 1-2 years or more frequently, depending on opener usage and environmental conditions. If your battery system shows a red LED light, it might be time to replace it. For more information, please call us at +1 (858) 547-3600.
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Overhead Door Company of Southern California™ – 12215 Kirkham Road Suite 200, Poway, CA 92064
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