Two accidents involving the improper installation of photo eyes has reminded everyone on the Six-Inch Rule. In Colorado Springs a 4 year old boy lost his life after being trapped under a garage door. Mankato had a lucky break after an 8 year old boy survived being stuck under his garage door. In 1993 the law requires every garage door to have a secondary entrapment protection device. Photo eyes "… must be installed no higher than six inches above the garage floor" (Tom Wadsworth). The six inch rule is in place to insure that someone cannot crawl under the photo eyes undetected. Another protective measure for children is to keep the button to open the door at least 5 feet above the ground. Parents should always keep an eye on their children when opening and closing the garage door. Also, ensure that your children know garage doors are not toys and should not be played with.
Wadsworth, Tom. "Accidents Underscore the 'Six-Inch Rule.'" DASMA, 2004, www.dasma.com/articles/feature/feature135.asp.
