What feature must residential garage door openers manufactured after 1992 include?

Residential garage door openers manufactured after 1992 are required to include an auto-reverse safety feature as a critical safety measure. This feature is designed to enhance safety by automatically reversing the direction of the garage door if it encounters an obstacle while closing.

The rationale behind this requirement is to prevent injuries and damage by ensuring that if something, such as a person or pet, is in the path of the descending door, the door will stop and reverse instead of continuing to close. This auto-reverse function is typically triggered by pressure sensors or photoelectric sensors that detect an obstruction, thereby providing an essential layer of safety in residential settings.

While other features like manual locks and noise reduction mechanisms can be beneficial, they are not mandated by safety regulations. Similarly, mobile app connectivity, while increasingly common in modern technology, is not a requirement for safety and was not part of the standards set for garage door openers after 1992. The focus on the auto-reverse feature highlights the priority placed on safety in residential environments, making it the correct choice.