According to U.S. federal law, when must residential garage door openers be equipped with auto-reverse safety features?

Residential garage door openers are required to have auto-reverse safety features as mandated by federal law, and this regulation came into effect in 1993. The specific requirement for these safety features is tied to the final rule from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which aimed to enhance safety by ensuring that garage doors reverse their motion upon detecting an obstruction. This mandate significantly reduced the risk of injuries, particularly to children and pets, when a garage door closes.

While the years prior to 1993 introduced various standards and regulations for garage door openers, it was in 1993 that the definitive requirement for auto-reverse features was solidified. Thus, the choice indicating 1992 is the closest year before the law was enacted, but it was ultimately in 1993 that the definitive requirement was established, explaining why 1992 would be considered the correct answer in this context.