How Does an Anti-Drop Device Work?

An anti-drop device is any supplementary mechanism installed along the track of a garage door that helps prevent the door from free-falling in the event of a broken spring or cable and causing serious injury or damage. These crucial devices are simple in design but offer robust protection for employees and valuable equipment that travel beneath heavy overhead doors countless times during normal business operations. This article will provide more details on their array of products, how they work, and some examples of where anti-drop devices for overhead doors can be the most impactful.
Preventing Injuries & Equipment Damage with Anti-Drop Devices
While anti-drop devices come in many forms, like cable brakes, motor brakes, and other sensory systems intended to impede a falling door, there is only one product that is engaged every single time the door is open and can stop a heavy overhead door in its tracks. That product is manufactured by Safe-T Support and is quickly becoming the predominant method of preventing workplace injuries and equipment damage from falling overhead doors.
Safe-T Support products do not require a failure to properly engage and prevent a falling overhead door from crashing into employees, equipment, or products. Depending on the type of product installed, these anti-drop devices are engaged, either automatically or by human interaction, each time the door is opened. When the safety arms of the anti-drop device are engaged, they are strategically placed to stop the door before it can gain enough momentum to create additional damage to your building or the door tracks. Additionally, each Safe-T Support anti-drop device integrates an LED lighting system that displays green or red lights that identify whether or not the system is engaged to protect against falling overhead doors.
Places to Install Anti-Drop Devices
Anti-drop devices are just as important in residential applications as they are in commercial installations. These emergency safety arms can protect employees, family members, pets, personal property, and essential equipment from injury or expensive damage that can impact business efficiency. Safe-T Support has worked with customers across the globe in countless industries to install anti-drop devices, for both standard-sized doors and custom applications, at high-traffic locations or all doors throughout their facilities. Some examples of ideal places to install anti-drop devices include but are not limited to:
- Home Garages
- Workshops
- Auto-Mechanics
- Manufacturing Facilities
- Loading Docks
- Warehouses
- Restaurants & Breweries
- Storage Facilities or Large Private Storage Units
Different Anti-Drop Device Options
Safe-T Support offers three different types of anti-drop devices for overhead garage doors that all require a different level of human interaction to provide adequate protection against falls. Each device can be customized to fit uniquely sized commercial or residential garage doors and is easily installed by those experienced with DIY applications or by the professional team at Safe-T Support. More information on the three separate product types offered is shown below.
- Manual Safety Arms with LED Lights: This is an entry-level anti-drop device that is ideal for low-traffic overhead garage doors or facilities with several doors that are looking to add safety features at an affordable price point. The safety arms require manual action to engage once the door is opened high enough to clear the device. Once engaged, the LED light turns to green to let the operator and those nearby know that the arms are properly secured.
- Semi-Automatic Safety Arms with LED Lights: This product still requires some level of human interaction, but is reduced to turning a switch to properly engage the anti-drop device safety arms. Again, the LED light system will turn green when properly engaged and switch to red when the arms are removed and the possibility of free-falling overhead doors exists.
- Automatic Safety Arms with LED Lights: These are the premier anti-drop device options for high-traffic overhead doors located in loading docks, manufacturing facilities, or warehouses. The safety arms automatically engage after the door opens and require no human interaction to provide comprehensive protection from falling overhead doors. The electric cylinder connected to the arms will move the arms in and out of position automatically as they are tied to the existing garage door opener.
Please consult our measurement guide for additional information on each product and how to properly measure your garage door opening before placing an order.
Get a Quote for Safe-T Support Anti-Drop Deivces
At Safe-T Support, we prioritize facility safety and strongly recommend that any location with one, or multiple overhead door systems, install reliable anti-drop devices to adequately protect employees, equipment, and products. Our knowledgeable team is here to assist you from the initial consultation, offering expert advice, recommending the best products based on your specific needs or budget, and even providing on-site installation. With a typical one-week turnaround on orders and only a few hours required for installation, our anti-drop devices can quickly improve the safety of your business or home. If you have any questions about our anti-drop devices feel free to contact us through the link below, and we’ll gladly discuss your options.