After overhead doors are forced open, which action helps prevent relocking?

After overhead doors are forced open, which action helps prevent relocking?

• A. Blocked open
• B. Unlocked to prevent relocking
• C. Locked
• D. Removed

Answer: (A)

Blocking the door in the open position is the best way to stop an overhead door from relocking after you’ve forced it. These doors are usually balanced or spring-loaded to recover to the closed position. If you don’t brace or prop the door, it can move back toward closed on its own, which creates a hazard by trapping you or cutting off ventilation and access. Using a wedge or door chock to hold the door open keeps it from relocking and maintains your entry point and airflow. Simply leaving it unlocked won’t prevent automatic closing, locking can trigger the closing mechanism, and removing the door is unsafe and impractical on the fire ground.

Blocking the door in the open position is the best way to stop an overhead door from relocking after you’ve forced it. These doors are usually balanced or spring-loaded to recover to the closed position. If you don’t brace or prop the door, it can move back toward closed on its own, which creates a hazard by trapping you or cutting off ventilation and access. Using a wedge or door chock to hold the door open keeps it from relocking and maintains your entry point and airflow. Simply leaving it unlocked won’t prevent automatic closing, locking can trigger the closing mechanism, and removing the door is unsafe and impractical on the fire ground.