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Many coastal regions along the southeastern Atlantic coastline and the Gulf of Mexico coastline are following the state of Florida's lead and are requiring that homes, buildings, windows, roofs, and garage doors to withstand a certain amount of wind pressure. Although the windload is rated in P.S.F. (pounds per square foot) they generally range from 110 mph to 150 mph wind speed. The windload pressure may be dictated by a state, regional, or local building code. If you live in a hurricane region, consult with your local IDA garage door dealer for a free in home estimate to determine if a hurricane garage door is required in your area.
In some areas you may be eligible for a discount on your home owners insurance if you install a windloaded garage door. However, your insurance company may require the garage door to have a Miami-Dade County certification.
Just because your garage door meets the windload rating that is required for your area, it does not automatically mean that the door carries a Miami-Dade County certification. Garage door windload ratings range from 110 mph to 150 mph windload, but Miami-Dade requires the door to meet 150 mph windload, the door must be made out of 24 gauge steel or heavier, and the door must also pass a missile-impact-test (2x4 shot out of a cannon twice at the door and the garage door must still be able to operate afterwards). Therefore the difference in cost between a door that meets the code in your area and a door that has a Miami-Dade certification may exceed what you will save on your homeowners insurance over a ten year period. Check with your insurance agent before contacting your local IDA garage door dealer to determine the insurance company's discount requirements if you wish to take advantage of this program.
Just because someone advertises a product to protect your garage door against hurricane winds, it does not mean that the product will actually work as advertised.
If you are considering to have a product installed on your garage door to brace it for hurricane force winds ask the seller for test data, engineering reports, and/or certification numbers before you purchase the product. Many after market products that are advertised have never been tested or certified to prove that they will actually work during a major thunderstorm let alone a hurricane. Hurricane winds generate positive (inward) and negative (outward) pressures so not only does the door need to be braced to keep it from blowing into the garage but it also needs to be designed so that the door does not get forced out of the garage. Therefore, backing your car(s) up against the door from inside has very little value and may only result in your car(s) being damaged along with the door. Ask your local garage door dealer for a free estimate for a garage door that already meets or exceeds your local windload requirements.
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