The short answer
Most electric industrial roller shutters have a manual override: a hand chain beside the guide, a crank handle that fits a socket on the motor, or a release that lets the curtain be pushed up by hand. Isolate the power first, use only the override the maker fitted, and never force a shutter that is jammed, out of its guides or has a broken spring.
On this page
First, check it is safe to try
A manual override is there for power cuts and motor failures on a shutter that is otherwise sound. It is not a fix for a damaged door. Stop and call an engineer if:
- the curtain has come out of one or both guides, or the guides are bent;
- there was a bang and the door now feels much heavier (a broken spring or a failed barrel);
- the curtain is hanging at an angle or partly collapsed;
- it is a fire shutter that has dropped because the alarm or a detector released it;
- you would need to stand under the curtain to work the override.
Industrial shutters weigh hundreds of kilograms. A curtain that drops uncontrolled can kill. If in doubt, leave it closed, secure the area and get help.
Isolate the power
Before using any override, turn the shutter off at its local isolator, usually a rotary switch or fused spur near the control box, so that the motor cannot start while someone is winding the door. If the power has failed anyway, isolate it so the door does not move by itself when the power returns.
The three common overrides
Hand chain
Larger industrial shutters with an external motor often have a continuous loop of chain hanging beside one guide. On many, you first pull a short cord or lever to engage the chain drive, then pull the chain hand over hand to raise the door. It is slow: a large door can take a few minutes. Lower it the same way rather than letting it drop.
Crank handle
Some motors have a socket for a crank handle or eye-and-hook pole. Insert the handle, turn it in the direction marked on the motor, and wind the door up. The handle usually lives in a holder near the controls; if it has gone missing, ask the service engineer for a replacement rather than improvising.
Release and push up
Smaller shutters with a tubular motor in the barrel may have a release (sometimes a key or cord) that disengages the motor brake so the curtain can be lifted by hand. Only do this on doors where the maker has fitted it for that purpose, and keep hold of the curtain: without the brake, a door that is not well balanced will fall.
Once it is open
- Do not leave a manually opened shutter half open with people or vehicles passing under it unless it is designed to hold that position.
- Lock it in place if the override has a lock.
- Put up a sign that the door is on manual and tell anyone who uses it.
- Do not switch the power back on until you are sure the door and the controls are back in their normal state; on some motors, re-engaging the drive is a job for the engineer.
Why it happened matters
A shutter that needed the override because of a short power cut may be fine. One that failed because the motor tripped, the brake slipped or the limits were lost needs checking. Motors that overheat are often working against a door that has become heavy, which points to a spring problem. Our industrial door repairs page covers common faults and typical costs: a tube motor replaced with its limits set is typically £350 to £700 for a single shutter, more on large industrial doors.
Make sure people can do this safely
Powered doors used at work must be maintained and safe to use. Part of that is making sure the staff who might need the override know where it is, how it works and when not to use it. A good service visit checks the override works and the handle or chain is present.
If a shutter is stuck now, or keeps failing, tell us what it is doing and we will find a specialist who covers your area.