Tornado Resistant Wood Doors & Steel Frames

AMBICO is proud to be the first to market a tornado resistant wood doors with steel frames. This state of the art product is the result of rigorous testing and industry leading design. AMBICO tornado resistant wood doors and steel frames combine the ultimate in wind and debris resistance and yet appear identical to standard wood doors and pressed steel frames. Wood Doors and steel frames have been tested as a unit and are available to be supplied with a lock or exit device factory pre-installed. Face veneers are available in virtually every species, cut & grade. Wood doors are available with custom stain match or clear coat finished. Hardwood stiles are coordinated to match face veneers.

Units are manufactured and tested in compliance with ICC500 (2014) – ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters.

Units have been tested to allow for openings as small as 2’6″ x 6’8″ and as large as 4’0″ x 8’0″. Doors and frames are available only in singles.

Units have been tested to include multipoint hardware, consult factory for the available locking options and functions.

What is the purpose of “Tornado Resistant Doors and Frames”?
Tornado resistant doors and frames are designed to be resistant to the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Authority) 361 standard. This is an American federal standard that has established stringent criteria to resist the wind pressure and possible debris damage caused by tornadoes. Doors and frames that comply with this standard have been tested at independent laboratories.

How do “Tornado Resistant Doors and Frames” differ from “Hurricane Doors and Frames”?
The types of wind pressures that doors and frames are subject to in these two instances are completely different. Consequently, the standards that govern these products are distinct. In the case of tornadoes, the units must resist wind loads up to 250 mph in the in-swinging position as well as debris actually shot at the doors at 100 mph. FEMA 361 is a national standard currently supported by the USA Department of Homeland Security. In the case of hurricanes, the door/frame units are designed to withstand the relatively lighter wind loads experienced in a hurricane environment. As well, the hurricane standards require that door/frame units withstand a minimum level of water resistance. The Dade County test has been adopted in some coastal areas of the USA. Currently, national test standards do not exist.

Are there any size or hardware restrictions for “Tornado Resistant Doors and Frames”?
Restrictions with respect to tornado door and frame size as well as hardware configurations conform to the laboratory prototypes tested by specific firms. AMBICO Limited currently has test data to support the supply of door leafs as small as 2’6″ x 6’8″ and as large as 4’0″ x 8’0″ in singles. All items tested require the supply of door hardware actually used in the lab tests and include heavyweight butt hinges and a multi-point mortise lockset which are factory supplied and can be factory pre-installed.