Hurricane Preparation for doors (house, gated, live)

[lollibay]

We have lived here since Dec 2008 and got off easy last year but my husband suspects this won't be as quiet a hurricane season.

Our house was built in 2007/2008 and our front door is metal/wood and opens out with 2 sidelights. We have hurricane shutters for the sidelights but do we need to brace the door in any way in case of what my husband calls 'negative pressure'? If so, how?

We have already installed Secure Door braces for our garage doors so we are set there.

Thanks, and let's all pray it is another quiet year.

[Compression]

Typically you would simply add the header and sill for the corrugated metal storm panels above and below the door opening and cover it up when the storm approaches. Enter thru the garage and close yourself in til the storm passes....

Done.

YC.......

[lollibay]

Thanks YC.....maybe we're being a little too paranoid

[preparedness expert]

As a general rule the negative pressure on any structure is always greater in any severe weather event. The wind-resistance of the residential building envelope relies on a large variable of factors. Your structures location, design and age play a major factor when considering protection. The door swing direction does not generally play a major factor due to the nature of these events like hurricanes and tornados. Micro-bursts and cyclonic pressure tend to exert extreme variables that add to the complexity of shear and lift on any given structure. The size of the opening, height of the building and the door/window location on the structure ( or zones like the center of the wall or near a corner) can play another major factor. Most Florida entry doors have a maximum pressure rating – about 38 psf. As long as the door is rated for your specific codes and region – it will most likely have an acceptable wind load rating. Double entry doors require a strong center-mate or astragal to add strength at the point where the two doors meet. Entry doors have a non-related wind issue with wind blown rain – the outswing threshold is a better application to stop water intrusion. I would agree that a covered door (shutter) would reduce the risk of wind intrusion. If your door already meets the wind load criteria then you would not require additional bracing. Check the Florida building code website for your FL number to review your doors specifications – otherwise add shutters.

The garage door is the largest and most vulnerable entry in the average residential home. The Secure Door brace is a good option to bolster this door and is not very expensive compared to purchsing a hurricane rated door.

[lollibay]

Thank you so much for your response. Since it is in a 'foreign language' , I have copied it and sent it to my husband and hopefully he understands it all. Thanks again.