How safe is my garage or carport?

Most garage doors are operated using an electromechanical device, such as a remote control or an interior button, for remotely opening the garage door.

The current electric garage door operator market offers a variety of high-tech garage door openers. The frequency spectrum ranges between 433- 868 MHz and most of these garage door openers rely on hopping or rolling code technology.

Because the signal is supposed to be significantly different than that of any other garage door remote control, manufacturers claim it is impossible for someone other than the owner of the remote to open the garage.

When the transmitter sends a code, it generates a new code using an encoder. The receiver, after receiving a correct code, uses the same encoder with the same original seed to generate a new code that it will accept in the future.

Because there is a high probability that someone might accidentally push the open button while not in range and desynchronise the code, the transmitter and receiver generate look-a-head codes ahead of time.

As well as these advances in remote control operation things have developed in the mechanics of the operator boom and tow arm system to ensure the garage door is held firmly closed and even locked in three places. Security is really the main feature as well as safety in all modern operators.

However it is important to never fit a garage door opener if it does not have a safety return mechanism when an obstruction is hit. Latest standards require a very fast reaction time for the operator to reverse when it has met an obstacle. Accessories have also developed with technological advances and many other methods of activating the garage door opener are now available other than a hand held remote, which quite often is misplaced or dropped and broken. External wireless keypads are very useful when you have a lot of people in your family using the garage often, especially if for accessing fridges, freezers, bikes or other items that are retrieved on foot. Other accessories include key switches, internal push-button stations, card readers and now even fingerprint readers.

The Garage Door Centre or freephone (0800) 525 442 offers a full rundown on electric garage door operator types and their different security systems and applications.

How to further protect your garage or carport

Here are some effective ways to improve the security of your garage

Secure your up-and-over garage door with a 'Garage Defender' lock. This prevents the door from being opened. They cost from around £50 and you can find details of stockists on security website Sold Secure

If you tend to enter your garage from inside your home, and not from the outside, fix bolts to the runners of an up-and-over garage door that can be locked from the inside. Fit a padlock with a hasp and staple on the inside. Your professional should be able to provide you with this extra secure lock or recommend a hardware store where you can purchase one.

For further information contact your local Crime Reduction Office to see what measures best suit your particular needs.