Power outage. Your electric rolling door won't move. Now what? Here's what you need to know.
Every electric rolling door has a manual override. The manufacturer designed it for exactly this situation. The question is whether you know how to use it.
Method 1: Manual Chain or Crank
Look near the motor, usually behind a small access panel or under a cover. There should be a chain hanging down, or a crank handle stored nearby. For chain operation, pull one side to raise the door, pull the other side to lower it. The chain drives the motor shaft directly through a clutch mechanism. For crank operation, insert the handle into the socket and turn. It's slower than the chain but gives you more leverage.
Method 2: Manual Quick-Release
Some doors, especially fire shutters, have a quick-release mechanism. Pull the release handle or cable. This disengages the motor brake and the door descends by gravity alone. Control the descent speed with the release handle. Don't let the door free-fall. That can damage the door and hurt someone.
Method 3: Battery Backup
Higher-end electric doors have a built-in UPS battery backup. When the power goes out, the battery kicks in automatically, or you press a battery operation button. The battery can usually run the door through 5 to 20 cycles depending on the battery capacity and door weight. If your door has this, the manual should tell you how it works. If the battery is dead because it hasn't been maintained, you're back to manual operation.
Important: After the Power Comes Back
Make sure the door is in the right mode. Some doors need the manual override to be reset before the motor will work again. Check that the chain isn't tangled, the crank isn't still engaged, and the quick-release is re-engaged.
If the power goes out while the door is in motion, it will stop wherever it is. If it's partly open, you can usually push it closed or pull it open manually after releasing the clutch.
Know your door's manual override procedure before you need it. When the power is out and you need to get in or out, that's not the time to figure it out.