How SteelBlue engineered a storage door that is tested to withstand up to Category 4 hurricane-force winds – without wind locks

When testing lab experts are left "shocked" by a door's performance, you know something big just happened. That's exactly what occurred during the wind load testing of our new 9570-Live Axle Series – a storage door that's about to change how the industry thinks about wind protection. Proving that the best solutions come from engineering excellence, not additional hardware.

The Challenge: Storage Facilities Need Better Wind Protection

Storage facility owners in high-wind areas face a constant threat. From coastal hurricanes to tornado alley storms, extreme weather events can devastate facilities with inadequate door protection. The consequences go far beyond property damage:

●     Insurance claims that drive up premiums

●     Tenant belongings destroyed by wind and water infiltration

●     Facility downtime during repairs and cleanup

●     Reputation damage when customers lose trust in your protection

Traditional storage doors simply weren't designed for these extreme conditions. Most standard doors fail at 15-25 PSF – nowhere near the forces generated by the major storms that we see today. Facility owners need a solution that could truly protect their investment and their customers' belongings.

The Solution: Engineering Excellence Without Compromise

Our engineering team discovered that superior wind resistance doesn't require adding complexity– it requires eliminating it. While others add wind lock systems with clips, bars, and precise tolerances, we asked: what if we could engineer the door system itself to be the complete solution?

The result is a door that delivers engineer-stamped wind load ratings up to 35.3 PSF – equivalent to withstanding Category 4 hurricane-force winds in our strongest 6'-0" configuration.

Exceptional Wind Load Ratings

These ratings represent both positive pressure (wind pushing into the building) and negative pressure (suction pulling the door away from the structure). Notably, the negative pressure ratings are higher because suction forces often prove more destructive than direct wind pressure.

Testing Results That Impressed The Experts

When we subjected the 9570-LA to rigorous wind load testing, even seasoned lab technicians were surprised by the results. As our team noted: "The lab experts didn't anticipate a door without wind locks sustaining that kind of pressure."

This testing wasn't just for internal validation – it was conducted according to ANSI/DASMA 108 standards and resulted in professional engineer-stamped drawings that provide legal defensibility for building code compliance and insurance purposes.

Click here to view our Florida Building Code Product Approval.

‍Why No Wind Locks Makes All The Difference

The 9570-LA's achievement goes beyond just wind resistance numbers. By engineering superior performance without wind locks, we've created advantages that impact daily facility operations:

Smoother, Quieter Operation: Without the tight clearances required by wind lock clips and bars, the 9570-LA operates more smoothly and quietly, creating a better experience for tenants and reducing noise complaints.

Faster, Easier Installation: The door's design is more forgiving during installation, reducing setup time and the precision required for proper operation. This translates to lower installation costs and fewer callbacks.

Fewer Failure Points: Eliminating additional moving parts means fewer components that can jam, break, or require maintenance over the door's lifetime.

Structural Protection: In the rare event a door is overwhelmed by extreme forces, the 9570-LA fails gracefully without damaging the building structure – unlike wind lock systems that can tear guides from walls, resulting in extensive repairs.

Applications Beyond Coastal Areas

While coastal facilities in hurricane zones represent the most obvious application, the 9570-LA Series benefits also extend to other high-wind scenarios:

Tornado Alley: Storage facilities in tornado-prone regions where straight-line winds can exceed well over 100 mph.

Mountain Communities: Areas subject to extreme downdrafts and channeled winds.

Urban Wind Tunnels: Facilities located between tall buildings where wind speeds amplify.

Industrial Areas: Locations near airports or open plains with minimal wind barriers.

The Future Of Storage Door Protection

The 9570-LASeries represents a transition toward engineering-based solutions for extreme weather protection. As climate patterns continue to intensify and building codes become more stringent, facilities need doors that can truly protect against nature's fury.

By achieving this level of wind resistance without wind locks, the 9570-LA proves that superior protection doesn't require complexity. Sometimes, the best solution is simply better engineering.

The 9570-LA Series is available now, bringing advanced wind protection to storage facilities nationwide. Because when the wind starts howling, there's no substitute for doors that are truly engineered to protect what matters most.

For complete specifications, installation requirements, and pricing information on the 9570-LA Series, contact SteelBlue at (412) 857-3496 or request a quote to get the 9570 today.

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