Mt. Hope, Ohio | 01.22.2011

Wayne-Dalton unveils new windload section for web site

Many of Wayne-Dalton's most popular and stylish residential garage doors have windload-rated reinforcement options to help provide storm protection for homes. To better assist homeowners and builders in regions requiring these types of garage doors, the latest addition to the company web site is a Windload Section that will help them choose the right one for them. Windloaded garage doors for Wayne-Dalton are classified as WindSafe ®, Impact ™ rated, or both.

Doors with the WindSafe logo comply with various approval agencies, including the Florida Building Code, TDI (Texas Department of Insurance) and Miami-Dade County (FL). WindSafe models include the 9800 fiberglass door; 9700, 9600, 8500, 8300, 6100, 9400, 9100, 8024 PE, 8124 PE, 8200, 8100, and 8000 steel doors; and 8700 vinyl door.

During an extreme wind event, storm-driven debris can dent, deform or even penetrate ordinary garage doors. Wayne-Dalton door models with the Impact rated logo have been approved for impact resistance. Tests show these doors are able to stop the direct impact of a 9 lb. 2x4 board at 50 feet per second. Impact models include 9600, 9400, 9100, 6100, 8500, 8300, 8024 PE, 8124 PE, 8200, 8100, and 8000 steel doors.

The windload section of the web site is accessible through the Residential Garage Doors page. A simple click of the hurricane symbol at the top takes the viewer directly to the windload models.

Included with each model is the Windload Option Code Index. This tool is used to select the proper windloaded garage door for an application. Once a homeowner or builder selects a door model, the proper option code can be selected to meet the size and design pressure requirements for the job. This chart also gives Florida and Texas approval numbers for permitting purposes with links to the approved Windload drawings and evaluation reports. The wind speed chart is used as a general reference to what option code maybe required but a door should always be selected to meet the design pressure requirements of the sight.

Impact Rated doors differ from WindSafe doors in that windload garage doors are tested by a certified third party test facility. The test reports along with the Windload drawings and engineering calculations are sent to an independent engineer for review. The engineer creates an evaluation report which is submitted to the states of Florida and Texas for review and approval. Impact testing is an additional test that is performed along with the static difference testing. This testing consists of firing a 9 lb. 2 x 4 at 50 feet per second at a garage door in two predetermined locations and then cycle tested (rapid application and removal of pressure). The door must still be operable after this procedure, which is repeated three times per option code. Impact glazing requires additional impact testing to the glazing system and additional cycle testing. The same approval agencies that approve windloaded garage doors also approve impact rated garage doors. Generally, impact rated garage doors are required in windborne debris region such as Florida.