If the sensors that are supposed to detect obstructions, like your child, fails, how are you supposed to prevent the door from squashing your child? Google "garage door crushes" and you'll find any number of examples of people being injured or even killed when a closing garage door sensor failed to reverse (even adults). If the motor or mechanism gets jammed by the obstruction that is being crushed, how else can you lift the door if there isn't a release?


There are any number of videos demonstrating the technique, like this one.

The manual release still has to function, that's not in question. The question is being able to release it quickly in the event that the garage door sensors fail in such a way that results in crush injuries.

Since we all carry pocket knives (right?!?) the simplest solution is to back the spring with a piece of cord and cut through it if required. Zip ties are a PITA to cut with knives.

Personally, I'd use an autolocking biner and cord loop. Easy to open by hand, but impossible with just a coat hanger hook.

If there is room, put the knife through the zip tie loop & twist to where the knife cuts the tie.

Edit to add: One side of the tie braces the back of the knife blade to let the edge cut it. This is a lot easier to demonstrate than explain in text.

If you watch the video clip in the OP, the emergency release is secured with a zip tie and they show that it can be easily broken if you have the grip strength to pull down on the release cord with some help from your bodyweight. So, for most folks, tools are not necessary if you need to pull the release in a hurry unless you're using some heavy duty zip tie.

It probably helps to have the zip tie oriented so that the release lever presses directly against the "buckle" part of the zip tie as you're pulling down on the cord. I can't be sure from watching the video, but I think you just need to break the tiny locking tab inside the buckle, rather than trying to snap the strap itself, to free the release lever. Using a knife, you're basically trying to cut through the strap, which is probably the strongest part of the zip tie.

You're right that they are easily broken & very easy if you can apply the force to the little tab. This is actually the method I use when dealing with zip tied packaging.