In areas where tornadoes or hurricanes occur, Steelcraft steel doors and frames are the safe choice.
TORNADO RESISTANT ASSEMBLIES
There are more than 1,000 tornadoes in the United States each year, most of which can easily destroy standard doors. Steel is the only readily available door material that passes the FEMA 361 and ICC 500 tornado test (250 mph wind speeds). No wood door, with or without metal sheathing, has successfully passed FEMA P-361.
FEMA P-361 offers best practices on the design and construction of safe rooms but FEMA does not regulate construction.
ICC 500 is the Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters.
Tornado assembly components are approved and certified as an assembly and cannot be mixed and matched. These components include the frame, door, hinges, anchors, and latching hardware.
Proper installation of tornado doors is critical. It is recommended to have a pre-installation meeting with the contractor, specifier, door supplier, and installer to discuss the installation.
HURRICANE RESISTANT ASSEMBLIES
The United States is increasingly struck by hurricanes that inflict loss of life and property damages in the billions of dollars. In response, many coastal regions have adopted strict building code provisions intended to enhance the structural integrity of commercial buildings.
Steelcraft offers a wide variety of hurricane certified doors and frames. These specialty door assemblies are tested with the positive and negative pressures that occur in hurricanes. Then they are rated with a “design pressure,” which is different than wind speed. For example, a wind speed of 170 mph produces a design pressure of +49/-53 psf.
Steel hurricane-resistant assemblies can resist winds from 110 to 170 miles per hour. Steelcraft products are in accordance with ANSI/SDI A250.13 Testing and Rating of Severe Windstorm Resistant Components for Swinging Door Assemblies for Protection of Building Envelopes, the Florida Building Code (FBC) and the South Florida Building Code (SFBC).
THE TEST STANDARDS
Large Missile Impacts (TAS 201, ASTM E1886/E1996, ANSI A250.13, and ICC 500)
Uniform Static Air Pressure (TAS 202, ASTM E330, and ANSI A250.13)
Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading Test (TAS 203, ASTM E1886/E1996, and ANSI A250.13)
STEELCRAFT PRODUCTS
See the following Steelcraft products for Windstorm applications:
