According to the IDA

NOVEMBER 15, 2005

Homeowners encouraged to inspect garage doors;
Understand wind load requirements following hurricanes

Homeowners in the State of Florida who have experienced high winds from the series of
hurricanes during the past two seasons, are being encouraged to have their garage doors,
including track and hardware, professionally inspected to detect any damage that may not be
clearly visible to the homeowner.
Garage doors that have been weakened or were never properly wind loaded, can
compromise the integrity of the entire residence, according to Jim Lett, president of the
International Door Association, which represents companies that sell, service and install all
forms of residential and commercial door and access systems.  Lett, president of A. B. E. Doors
& Windows in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is encouraging Association members in Florida to offer
courtesy inspections and educate customers regarding wind load requirements.
Florida has adopted wind load requirements for garage doors that are designed to
withstand the impact of hurricane force winds.  The requirements vary by region.
Florida residents are cautioned that the structural integrity of a garage door protects
more than the contents of a garage.  A collapse of a garage door can produce wind forces and
changes in air pressure that impact the interior and roof of the home, destabilizing the entire
structure.  IDA officials cite a report issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that
encouraged homeowners to take precautionary steps in inspecting the door systems and
ensuring the existing door maintains the proper wind load support.
In FEMA’s Mitigation Assessment Team Report which studied the effects of Hurricane
Charley, stronger building codes have had a positive impact in lessening hurricane damage, but
notes “The ability of the structural system to perform without failure is critical to avoiding
injury…and minimizing damage to a building and its contents.”
The report also noted “Many of the failures occurred because the doors had inadequate
wind resistance.  In these cases, the doors buckled inward or outward, and the rollers were
often pulled out of the tracks.  Other failures were caused by use of weak tracks or inadequate
attachment of door tracks to the buildings.”

Press Release
November 14, 2005
Page 2

Other post-hurricane tests performed by garage door manufacturers have found that
even properly wind loaded doors that withstand a hurricane may not survive a second storm,
due to weakening of fasteners, track, rollers or other components.
Lett is encouraging International Door Association members in Florida to offer courtesy
inspections of garage door systems for structural integrity and to assist homeowners in
understanding proper wind load requirements in their area.  He said that his organization
encourages homeowners, insurers and building officials to use the hurricane off-season to
prepare for the next one.
“Despite what people might assume, garage door dealers do not secretly hope for
hurricanes,” Lett said.  “We are neighbors in our communities and the typical IDA member in a
hurricane zone works at or below cost in the aftermath of a storm.  We would much rather offer
preventative services to our neighbors and help them protect their homes.”
Homeowners are encouraged to contact the garage door dealer that installed the current
door for assistance with inspection and wind load compliance.  If the company is not identified
on a label on the door, is unknown or no longer in business, homeowners can find a
professional door company in their area on the IDA website www.doors.org.