Because of their size, garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than other exterior openings.Reinforced Garage Doors Help Protect Home in High Winds Western States, Plains, and Coastal Regions Subject to Code

CINCINNATI (February 7, 2007) - The adoption of the International Building Code (IBC) in most states means wind load is no longer an issue exclusive to Florida and other hurricane hot spots. States like Kansas, Missouri, Utah, Nevada and California also have wind reinforcement requirements for various building products, including garage doors, because of wind related to the terrain and weather in those regions. "Because of their size, garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than other exterior openings - especially two-car garage doors," says Mark Westerfield, manager of product development and engineering for Clopay Building Products, a leading manufacturer of residential and commercial garage doors. "Unless you have a tested, wind rated door installed, high winds can force it out of the opening, causing an uncontrolled buildup of internal pressure and ultimately a blowout of the roof and supporting walls."

Because of their size, garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than other exterior openings.

To meet the IBC, wind resistant garage doors must have additional bracing, heavier gauge tracking and other necessary hardware to help keep them in place. "Homeowners with an older garage door may not even realize that it poses a threat to their property," Westerfield says. "A reinforced door is a small investment that can minimize damage and property loss." He offers these suggestions on what to look for when selecting a reinforced garage door:

Find out the wind load requirements for your geographic region and make sure your garage door meets them.
The local building code authority can provide current information and a professional garage door technician can perform an on-site inspection.
Know your door, even if you didn't buy it. If you have recently moved into a new residence and did not purchase the garage door currently installed on your home, have a trained professional inspect it to make sure it is the appropriate model for your area and also show you how to secure it during a storm.

Understand "storm ready" vs. "add-on" reinforcement. Two kinds of reinforced garage doors are available. With the "add-on" system, a homeowner must install long posts in the floor and ceiling to reinforce the door before the storm hits, and then remove them again afterward to resume normal operation.

"Storm-ready" models require no advance setup. Reinforcement is contained within the structure of the door and is engaged by simply locking it, a timesaving convenience in the event of an evacuation notice. This type of door is particularly beneficial to vacation home and rental property owners because they have peace of mind knowing that the garage door is secure as long as it's locked. Retrofitting an older door with new hardware will not provide the structural support needed for the new building codes.

You can have safety in style. A reinforced door doesn't necessarily mean barricading the garage opening in a solid sea of steel. Clopay and other garage door manufacturers offer code compliant carriage house style doors and impact-resistant windows.

For more information about Clopay WINDCODE® doors, call 800-225-6729 or log onto www.clopaydoor.com.

With five manufacturing facilities and 49 distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada, Clopay Building Products is North America's leading manufacturer of residential garage doors and a leader in the industrial door market. Bringing more than 40 years of leadership to the garage door industry, Clopay Building Products maintains a strong family of brands including Clopay®, Holmes Garage Door Company® and IDEAL Door®. Since 1996, Clopay is the only garage door manufacturer to hold the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

CONTACT:
Mischel Schonberg
Public Relations Manager
513-239-3393
mschonberg@clopay.com