[{"category": "attack_resistant", "text": "

Attack Resistant Doors

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What are Attack Resistant Doors?

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While Attack Resistant Doors have similar components and requirements to other high security doors, there are key differences. First, the primary goal of an attack resistant door is protect against the specific, all too common threat of an active shooter attack.

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This requires that an Attack Resistant Door must remain fully operable – meaning the door and lock cannot fail so they can continue to prevent entry into the premises or other parts of the building. This delays (or prevents) an active shooter’s intrusion and provides more time for building occupants to escape and find shelter as well as alert first responders.

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Is an Attack Resistant Door ballistic resistant?

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There is a key misunderstanding that an attack resistant door is ballistic resistant – meaning it stops penetration of the projectile. This is NOT its primary functional goal. Unlike a ballistic resistant door, it is acceptable if a bullet penetrates an Attack Resistant Door. However, after being shot at as many as 60 times (evenly split between targeting the lock and the door lite), an attack resistant door must continue to remain fully locked and operational by resisting being breached. Put more simply: an attack resistant door fails testing if the door can be opened either by disabling the lock or creating a hole that allows it to be unlocked.

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What standards are used to test Attack Resistant Doors?

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An attack resistant door is tested slightly differently than the Department of State SD-STD-01.01 Rev G and Rev H standards that apply to forced entry and FEBR doors. There are two relatively new standards: The FILTI Shooter Attack Certification and the 5-aa10 standard that was developed from the 2014 FBI Active Shooter Report specifically for wood and hollow metal doors as these are the most commonly installed interior building doors.

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What is the FILTI standard?

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FILTI is a standard developed and tested at an independent test lab in the United States that has been witnessed by UL Solutions (formerly UL or Underwriters Laboratories) and the National Safety Security Protection Association (NSSPA). The FILTI standard has two component tests that are similar to a FEBR test in that there is a ballistic test and a forced entry test.

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The first test is called the FILTI Shooter Attack Test and uses 30 AR15 .223 rounds. The door, lock and glass are shot 10 times each to ascertain if it can withstand failure. It is then immediately hit with at least two (2) blows from a 100-pound battering ram at a minimal calibrated force of 50-foot pounds. The door must remain in tact throughout the two ram strikes. If at any time prior to the second blow the ram penetrates or breaches the door, the test is terminated and the product fails.

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How is the 5-aa10 Attack Resistant test different than FILTI?

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The 5-aa10 standard requires that the door be shot repeatedly (up to 60 times), followed by a single assailant then attacking the door for no less than three minutes using tools that include a rifle butt, various hammers and a baseball bat. If at any point during this timed test the door lock fails or the door is opened, the test is terminated and the door cannot receive a passing rating.

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Why are Attack Resistant Doors used instead of FEBR doors?

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You might wonder why FEBR doors would not be used instead of Attack Resistant doors. There are several reasons. Attack Resistant doors are specifically designed to protect against an active shooter attack. Their entire design strategy works to provide building occupants as much time as possible to escape, find cover and shelter in place as well as call for help and thereby increase the likelihood that first responders can arrive on site in time to intervene. The longer the shooter is delayed from entering the building the better chance there is to save lives by allowing law enforcement enough time to engage the shooter.

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The second reason is less important but still consequential. Cost. FEBR and ballistic resistant doors are significantly more expensive than attack resistant doors. This is primarily because attack resistant doors are typically made of wood or lighter gauge hollow metal compared to a FEBR door’s heavier gauge metal that is required for government and high security military use. This also means attack resistant doors are lighter and easier to open and close, and this can be an important consideration when installing doors in elementary and middle school classrooms where children will be the primary users.

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What materials are used to make Attack Resistant Doors?

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Attack Resistant Doors and frames are made from numerous materials such as steel, aluminum, wood, and composites.

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Where can I find Attack Resistant Doors?

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When it comes to high security products like Blast Resistant Windows, Ballistic Resistant Wall Systems or Attack Resistant Doors, Protogetic has what you need, because we lead the industry in offering rated protective design products. We even provide PDF test certifications, specifications and technical drawings you can download instantly. Find the exact Attack Resistant Door you need in seconds using our Protogetic Filter. Stop wasting your time and visit us today.

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"}, {"category": "ballistic-resistant", "text": "

Bullet Resistant Doors

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What are bulletproof doors?

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From a strictly technical evaluation, there is actually no such thing as a bulletproof door or a bulletproof security door. The term bulletproof means that 100% of the time, a round from a firearm will not penetrate the door or window. In reality, with the right caliber weapon and/or enough rounds, the protection will eventually fail allowing the bullet to penetrate the barrier. Because of this, the correct term we should discuss is ballistic resistant door also called a bullet resistant door.

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What are bomb proof doors?

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For the same reasons, bomb proof doors should be described more correctly as blast resistant doors. The Protogetic Filter helps you search for both ballistic resistant and blast resistant doors easily and effortlessly.

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Why is ballistic resistance important?

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It may sound like semantics, but it is important for safety and design requirements to thoroughly understand that the product you are installing is not actually a bulletproof door but a ballistic resistant door. In the protective design and security profession, architects and engineers equip entryways with the level of protection required by the likely threats encountered by the building and its occupants.

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How are bulletproof doors rated?

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Bullet resistant doors, also called ballistic doors for short, are tested similarly to what many people erronmeously call bulletproof windows. These rigorous tests employ a number of criteria, including different types of firearms, the ammunition’s caliber, firing distance and number of shots fired. UL 752 ratings are the gold standard in measuring a bullet resistant door. UL 752 ranges from 1 to 10 (from lowest to highest protection).

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For example:

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UL 752 Level 1 means a 9mm handgun was fired 3 times from 4.6 meters and no penetration occurred.
UL 752 Level 5 means an AK-47 was fired 1 time from 4.6 meters without penetration.
UL 752 Level 10 indicates that a 50 Caliber Rifle was fired 1 time from 4.6 meters resulting in no penetration.

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What materials are bullet resistant doors made of?

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Aluminum, steel, wood and composite materials like fiberglass. Not surprisingly, many bullet resistant doors are made from cold rolled steel. Despite this very robust material, this door type still cannot be called a bulletproof steel door. Given sufficient rounds, high caliber weapons can penetrate metal. For this reason, these doors are properly described as a ballistic resistant steel door or a ballistic steel door. Such doors are very popular because they are both effective and affordable.

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Are bullet resistant doors made of other materials?

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Bullet resistant doors can also be made from special glass, polycarbonate or acrylic materials. An advantage of acrylic ballistic resistant doors is they provide a similar aesthetic to glass but are stronger and lighter weight.

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Can bullet resistant doors have windows?

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Yes. A window in a door is called glazing and comes in various sizes depending on the manufacturer. For a door to be truly secure, this glass needs to have a UL 752 bullet resistant rating as well. Otherwise, the glass can be shot out and the door unlocked, allowing entry to the building. This is a vitally important consideration when dealing with active shooter incidents. Preventing access into the building is essential as part of crisis architecture.

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Are there bullet resistant doors that are all glass?

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Yes. These aesthetically pleasing doors come in a variety of configurations and ratings. Protogetic offers some of the leading manufacturers of all glass ballistic resistant doors. You can even search by their UL 752 ratings.

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Are there bullet resistant wood doors?

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Yes. It might not be intuitive that a wood door can stop a bullet but there are many varieties of bullet resistant wood doors. These are typically made with a wood core laminated with a veneer covering of bullet-resistant fiberglass or other composites.

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Are door frames ballistic resistant?

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Regardless of material, it is important that the frame and the door leaf be made of bullet resistant material. Some doors have aluminum frames that hold ballistic glass windows. While the glass will stop penetration, the aluminum frame may not unless it, too, is UL 752 rated. This is yet another reason why occupants of a building should not be lulled into a false sense of security by believing they are shielded by a bulletproof door.

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Where are ballistic resistant doors used?

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Banks and government facilities have employed ballistic resistant doors for a long time. Unfortunately, the world has become more dangerous in what had been our traditionally safest spaces:

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Churches
Schools
Hospitals
Shopping malls
Retail box stores
Offices and workplaces

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More and more, ballistic resistant doors are being utilized as they form a first line of defense against active shooters even entering the building. Because they are more durable and require less maintenance, large buildings and retail stores are installing ballistic doors more frequently as they also provide a cost savings.

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Do ballistic resistant doors protect against forced entry?

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The stopping power of a bullet resistant door often translates to forced entry protection as well by slowing or preventing the integrity of the door from being breached. Many models will also have an ASTM F3038 Forced Entry rating called the Standard Test Method for Timed Evaluation of Forced-Entry-Resistant Systems or a U.S. Department of State SD-STD-01.01 Rev G test rating.

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These ratings are a timed test of how long a door can withstand attack using a standardized set of heavy breaching tools like sledgehammers, wedges and crowbars. There are differences between the Rev G and F3038 tests. Rev G uses between 2-6 attackers whereas the F3038 always employs 6 attacking personnel. Rev G has three timed levels: 5 minute, 15 minute and 60 minute durations. F3038 adds an additional duration of 30 minutes. For F3038: the designation FE 5 means the door held for 5 minutes under attack. The highest rating is 60-minutes - ASTM F3038 FE 60.

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Does Protogetic have bullet resistant doors with ratings?

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Protogetic carries ballistic resistant doors, with or without windows, in a variety of materials that are searchable by ratings. You can also search by threat types such as hurricane and tornado doors as well as forced entry and blast resistant doors. Given modern day attack risks, it is important to consider installing other building protections like ballistic resistant interior wall systems that protect occupants from rounds fired through interior drywall. Protogetic carries a full line of ballistic resistant products from leading companies. Visit today and sign up for a FREE account!

"}, {"category": "blast-resistant", "text": "

Blast Resistant Doors

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What are blast resistant doors?

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Blast resistant doors, sometimes incorrectly called “bomb-proof doors”, are designed to withstand explosions detonated by terrorist attacks or accidental industrial blasts that can occur at chemical plants or oil refineries.

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What other types of buildings use blast resistant doors?

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Any facility or building that could be vulnerable to an explosion – whether deliberate or accidental – could be considered a good candidate for installing blast resistant doors depending on numerous factors like the building type and function, perimeter standoff distances and visibility & opportunity as a potential target of hostile attacks. Examples include:

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Military bases
Embassies
Nuclear plants
High profile government buildings
LNG facilities
Ports & Shipping yards
Financial institutions and banks
Airports
Train stations and rail yards

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Are blast resistant doors the same as ballistic resistant doors?

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No. Blast resistant doors protect from an explosive threat whereas ballistic resistant doors are designed to safeguard against ballistic fire from various weapons. That said, both blast resistant and ballistic resistant protection are often availble in one door.

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How are blast resistant doors rated?

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There are several blast resistant standards for doors used throughout the protective design industry, including ASTM, ASCE and UFC (DoD). Manufacturers may use one or combinations of these standards when testing and rating their products so it can be daunting to unpack. Our advice is to always discuss your blast resistant specifications directly with the manufacturer as they often have customizable options because blast testing is influenced by so many variables, including but not limited to, impulse, pressure, duration, rebound, response, and size of door opening. For this reason, many blast doors are made to order and engineered to the exact specifications required by your project.

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ASTM 2927-21 is ASTM’s Standard Test Method for Door Systems Subject to Airblast Loadings and encompasses the ratings Levels 1-4 with Level 1 being the highest, most protective rating.

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UFC 4-010-01 defines the DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings by establishing minimum blast pressure requirements for doors. The requirements depend on the specifics of your project like location, architectural design style, and occupancy.

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The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) publishes guidelines and standards for blast resistant buildings in the oil and gas industries.

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The General Services Administration (GSA) Blast Resistant Glazing Standard tests the blast resistant capability of doors with window inserts. This standard is categorized by five levels of protection (LOP). The lower the LOP rating, the more protection the glazing (window) provides. Think of it like golf where a lower score is better. LOP 1 would be rated as \"Safe\" and having NO hazard level. LOP 5 would be rated as \"Low protection\" and a HIGH hazard level.

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Is a tested blast door the same as a certified blast door?

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No. Just because a product is “tested” it does not mean the product is certified for that standard/rating. A product can be tested but subsequently FAIL that test. Therefore, if your project requires a certified blast resistant rating, like in the case of a Department of Defense (DoD) building project, always look for rated and certified blast doors to insure the safety and well being of personnel. You can do this instantly using the Protogetic filter that can search by threat type and blast certifications & ratings. Protogetic even includes the certification documentation from the accredited testing lab that performed the evaluation.

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What is Single Degree of Freedom?

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Essentially this is the principle that the weakest component of a blast resistant building project defines its degree of protection. A simple analogy would be that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Similarly, if you design a building to be blast resistant to 10 psi but then install a blast door rated at only 5 psi, the entire building will be rated at 5 psi -- the door’s lower psi rating.

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What is a “bombproof” door?

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Short answer: A misnomer. The term “bombproof door” is completely misleading because no door can protect against all explosion types and blast strengths. Using such a term is thus incorrect and moreover can create a false sense of security that could endanger lives. The term blast-resistant is correct and will be used here accordingly.

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What materials are blast resistant doors made from?

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Blast doors, short for blast resistant doors, can be made from a variety of materials. These include steel, wood, composites and aluminum. However, when it comes to high intensity blasts, the most common material used for protection is steel.

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Why is steel used for blast doors?

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In short, steel is approximately three times stronger than a material like aluminum, which holds an advantage in being lighter weight while still providing excellent blast protection. Steel has additional characteristics that make it well suited for blast protection because it actually absorbs the blast pressure and will “bend” inward to cushion the blast. It is also extremely heat resistant and fire resistant. Steel is excellent at withstanding a pressure wave, a component of an explosive blast that often causes greater injury than the explosion itself. Learn more about an explosion’s effects and physical characteristics by watching our Proto-Talk video presentation -- BLAST! The Anatomy of an Explosion.

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Can blast resistant doors have window?

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Yes. Windows, or glazing, can be incorporated into a blast resistant door design. However, windows require separate testing to insure that the glass can also withstand explosive forces. It is vitally important to perform separate glazing tests because studies have shown that flying glass propelled by the pressure wave is responsible for more than 90% of bodily harm caused by an explosion. This is why it is critical to consider installing comparably rated blast resistant windows in your building project.

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What kinds of glass are used in blast doors?

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For obvious reasons, regular consumer glass, called annealed glass, is not recommended for a blast door as it is the weakest glass material and will not withstand explosive forces. More importantly, annealed glass generates extremely dangerous, if not deadly, shards of razor-sharp fragments that are responsible for the majority of blast injuries. For this reason, even heat-strengthened glass is not an optimal glazing product even though its partial tempering makes it approximately two times stronger than annealed glass.

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Not surprisingly, blast doors typically use fully thermally tempered glass, abbreviated TTG. This robust tempered glass has four-times the compressive strength of regular annealed glass and like car safety glass does not produce dangerous shard fragments.

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What is polycarbonate glazing?

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Polycarbonate glazing is a thermoplastic compound with very high impact strength that is approximately 250-times more protective than safety glass and 30-times more resilient than acrylic (Plexiglass). For this reason, polycarbonate is frequently used in blast and ballistic resistant doors not only because of its strength but also for its flexibility to dissipate the kinetic energy of a pressure wave. Polycarbonate can withstand explosive blasts in excess of 900 psi.

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What if my project has irregular dimension door openings?

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In addition to many standard door sizes, nearly all the manufacturers represented on Protogetic can produce custom versions of their doors. There are even retrofit blast resistant doors for renovation and upgrade projects where an entirely new doorframe cannot be installed. If you have unique door dimensions, simply click on the \"CONTACT MANUFACTURER\" button on the product page and directly message the manufacturer’s sales rep to get answers to all your questions. For pricing/budgeting information, click on the \"GET QUOTE\" button.

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Where can I find blast resistant doors?

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Protogetic showcases a large selection of blast resistant doors from leading manufacturers – all conveniently located in one fully searchable marketplace. Our easy-to-use filter allows you to search by numerous blast criteria like blast response, blast impulse and blast pressure as well as aesthetic considerations like door style, leaf width and frame material to name just a few. Stop wasting time and instantly find the exact blast resistant doors and blast resistant wall systems for your project.

"}, {"category": "doors", "text": "

High Security Doors

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What are High Security Doors?

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Protogetic defines high security doors as doors specifically designed and manufactured for the primary purpose of protecting people from harm, whether that is an intentional hostile attack, an industrial accident or a natural disaster. In simpler terms, you will not find high security doors in the aisle of your local DIY hardware or building supply store. Additionally, high security doors can be manufactured for new construction or retrofitting existing buildings.

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What types of security doors are there?

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It would be comforting to report that the world is becoming safer. Sadly, threats to governments, economies, infrastructure and the environment are increasing. This requires developing new strategies and protective design products to insure people’s safety. Recently, we have seen an explosion in the home security/protection market. And this trend has been mirrored by an increased awareness of security needs at public venues like schools, universities, places of worship and even retail shopping stores.

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Fenestration protection – securing, or hardening, doors and windows – is perhaps the first priority for installing protective design countermeasures for threats like:

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Active shooter(s)
Terrorist bombing
Accidental explosions
Theft & burglary
Fire & arson
Natural disasters

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What are Ballistic Resistant Doors?

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Ballistic resistant doors, also called bullet resistant doors or ballistic doors, serve two purposes: preventing gunfire from disabling the door to allow entry and protecting building occupants from the gunfire.

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How are ballistic doors tested?

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Doors are subjected to various types of gunfire defined by UL 752, considered by many to be the gold standard in ballistic resistant testing. UL 752 ratings correspond to Levels 1 to 10 (10 being maximum protection) based on the type of firearm, caliber of the ammunition and number of shots fired.

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UL 752 Level 10 designates a 50 Caliber Rifle fired 1 time with no penetration.

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UL 752 Level 1 designates a 9mm handgun fired 3 times with no penetration.

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What materials are bullet resistant doors made of?

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Typical materials are steel, aluminum, wood and fiberglass/resin composites. As we’ve frequently seen in movies, special “bulletproof” glass, polycarbonate or acrylic materials are also used for ballistic resistant doors and windows.

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What are Blast Resistant Doors?

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Blast resistant doors, sometimes referred to as blast doors, are highly specialized security doors designed and manufactured to withstand accidental industrial blasts or explosions detonated by terrorist attacks.

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What are FEBR Doors?

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FEBR (or FE/BR) means “Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistant”. They are sometimes called Forced Entry and Bullet Resistant doors. Their purpose is to defend against two threat types:

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Forced entry: physical attack by hostile intruders using breaching tools
Ballistic attack: protecting against gunfire aimed at disabling the door

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FEBR doors have several standards:

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Department of State SD=STD-01.01 Rev G

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ASTM F3038 - Standard Test Methor for Timed Evaluation of Forced-Entry-Resistant Systems

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UL 752 – Standard for Bullet-Resisting Equipment

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Forced Entry Doors: Are they different from FEBR doors?

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Yes. Like a forced entry window, a forced entry door is not designed or tested to protect against ballistic attack. Its primary function is to delay or thwart a breach of the building envelope. Forced entry can be described by two malevolent actions: Theft or Attack. When defending against theft or burglary, the goals are to delay and detect the hostile incursion and buy time for law enforcement to respond.

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When under hostile or terrorist attack, the goal is to provide enough time for occupants to safely escape, again by delaying the assailant’s entry into the building. This is extremely important given the alarming increase in active shooter massacres. According to Crisis Architecture research, these tragedies develop quickly once the shooter gains access so increasing the time for law enforcement to respond is critical. The more time it takes the shooter, the better chance people can be saved.

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How are forced entry doors rated and tested?

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Forced entry doors also use the Department of State SD-STD-01.01 Rev G and ASTM F3038 standards. However, there is no ballistic component required. Both standards require attackers armed with breaching tools to compromise the door in a designated amount of time.

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The SD-STD-01.01 Rev G forced entry standard has three timed levels: 5-minute (2 attackers); 15-minute (6 attackers using limited tools); 60-minute (6 attackers using all the tools). The F3038 standard always requires a 6-person attack team and has an additional time test of 30-minutes.

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Are there other types of high security doors?

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Yes. With climate change causing more extreme weather, Mother Nature is causing more destruction than terrorists. For this reason, Protogetic also defines high security doors as those designed to defend against potentially deadly natural events like tornados and hurricanes.

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What are Hurricane Doors?

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Hurricane doors are engineered to protect against pressure and flying debris created by these storms. There are five categories of hurricanes.

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Category 1 – Wind speeds between 74 - 95 mph
Category 2 – Wind speeds between 96 - 110 mph
Category 3 – Wind speeds between 111 - 129 mph
Category 4 – Wind speeds between 130 - 156 mph
Category 5 – Wind speeds between 157 mph or higher

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The good news is quality hurricane doors can actually withstand a Category 5’s wind speed, pressure and water.

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Tornado Doors

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Similarly, tornado doors are also manufactured to defend against flying debris and extreme air pressure changes. Tornado doors are evaluated by the International Code Council and National Storm Shelter Association’s ICC 500 test. A high security tornado door can withstand the 250 mph wind speeds generated by an EF 5 tornado.

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Does Protogetic represent Fire Resistant Doors?

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Yes. Protective design encompasses many threats. Fires are among the most dangerous. In 2018, nearly 3,000 Americans died from fires that the National Fire Prevention Association estimates caused more than $25 billion dollars in damages.

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How do fire doors work?

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Fire resistant or fire rated doors are designed and constructed to prevent or impede a fire from spreading inside a building. Like forced entry doors, the key is creating plenty of time for people to safely escape the path of the fire. In a fire, time equals survival. For this reason, fire doors are time-rated in increments of 20, 45, 60, 90 and a maximum of 180 minutes.

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Where can I find high security doors?

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Protogetic has nearly every type of high security door available. Visit today and find the exact door your project needs almost instantly! You can direct message vendor sales reps, download technical specs and documents as well as perform side-by-side comparisons of multiple products to make decisions even faster. Join us today at Protogetic.com. Save time and save lives!

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"}, {"category": "fe-br", "text": "

FE/BR Doors

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What is FE/BR?

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FE/BR, sometimes designated as FEBR, is an abbreviated version of the term Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistant or Forced Entry and Bullet Resistant. FeBr doors are tested using standardized ratings that describe how they withstand various levels of force exerted upon them by people and breaching tools as well as how capable they are at protecting against firearms.

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What is a FE/BR door?

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FE/BR doors are designed to protect against two categories of threat – people, machines, or tools attempting to forcibly open the door and projectiles fired from weapons with the goal to penetrate the door. Non-FEBR products may protect against one of these threats but not both.

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What materials is a FE/BR door made of?

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FE/BR doors are typically made of steel or aluminum but can use other materials as well, including wood or composites like fiberglass. The gauge of the material, the thickness of the door, and the qualities of the hardware all determine the length of time an entry can withstand a given threat.

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What’s the difference between residential doors and FE/BR doors?

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FE/BR doors use heavier gauge metal and more robust hardware than residential doors because they must resist greater force that can be exerted by attack teams armed with breaching tools. Additionally, they must also undergo ballistic resistant testing to withstand the force of a bullet without penetration. This two-fold protection makes FE/BR doors more appropriate for use in government, military, and other buildings at greater risk of becoming targets of hostile attack. Like FEBR windows, the additional materials required for such protection make FE/BR doors more expensive and, in some cases, less aesthetically pleasing than doors designed for retail and office building applications.

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How are FEBR doors rated?

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FEBR doors are rated by the U.S. Department of State (US DOS), ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials), and UL (formerly Underwriters Laboratories). Within the US DOS standard SD-STD-01.01 Rev G (amended), doors are confirmed to have withstood assault by a specific weapon for a particular duration of time. ASTM and UL also have levels of protection determined by how long a door can withstand force from specific weapons and quantifiable force for a length of time.

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How are FEBR doors tested?

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FE/BR doors are tested to determine not only how long they can withstand a 2-6 person attack using breaching tools, but also how they perform during the same tests used for ballistic doors -- namely, how effective they are at resisting penetration by a firearm discharge. Simply put: does the door prevent a bullet from disabling it and how long will the door hold off attack using various breaching tools such as crowbars, wedges, saw and sledgehammers to name only a few. Given these testing requirements, one can readily see that FEBR doors are far more protective than the attack resistant product.

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Is attack resistant the same as FE/BR?

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No. Attack resistant doors are tested differently, focusing less on stopping a bullet and more on being able to continue to operate properly and secure the doorway AFTER being shot multiple times (up to 60 rounds). Simply put: does the door still work and remain locked to prevent entry by an intruder.

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Where can I find FEBR doors?

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Protogetic.com is a valuable tool for architects, designers, and security professionals to easily and efficiently find the exact specifications of FE/BR products required by their project. There are hundreds of protective design products from leading manufacturers available on Protogetic across multiple categories like FEBR doors, Blast Resistant Modules (BRM), security FENCING, anti-ram GATES to name a few. Protogetic's search tools save valuable time and with one click you can download product documentation, rating certifications or begin messaging directly with a manufacturer representative to ask additional questions or get a free, no obligation price quote.

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"}, {"category": "fire-rated-door", "text": "

Fire Rated Doors

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Protective design is not just about preventing or minimizing the tragedies of terrorist attacks or active aggressor events, it’s also about protecting building occupants from fire and smoke hazards. Protogetic proudly partners with the world’s leading door manufacturers, offering the most comprehensive selection of fire rated doors of any protective design marketplace.

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What are fire rated doors?

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Fire rated doors or fire resistant doors are specially designed and constructed to slow and even prevent a fire from spreading to adjacent areas of a building. The key to these fire doors is creating ample time for egress so people can escape danger safely. These doors are rated in time increments of 20, 45, 60, 90 and a maximum of 180 minutes after being exposed to temperatures up to 1,925 degrees.

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What are intumescent strips?

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Fireproof doors have several component requirements. They must have an intumescent strip that expands when exposed to heat. Intumescent strips are vital to a door’s safety performance as they prevent smoke incursion beyond the door opening. This allows people to breathe better and longer as most fire deaths occur from smoke inhalation. It also aids occupants in better visibility during escape so they do not mistakenly walk into the fire’s path.

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What is positive latching?

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Fire resistant doors must also be self closing and positive latching (this means the door utilizes an active latch bolt that automatically latches when the door closes). This legal requirement of a fire door is frequently inconvenient for building occupants as commercial fire doors are often heavy and cumbersome to open. This has led to numerous instances of residents and workers wedging open fire resistant doors, leading to unchecked spread of a fire as well as more injuries and damage to the building than otherwise would have occurred.

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Who tests fire rated doors?

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These door assemblies and components are tested to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 252, ASTM E2074 and UL 10 B or 10 C. In the United States, there are several main testing & certification facilities for fire rated doors, including Underwriters Laboratory, Intertek testing Services and QAI Laboratories.

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What assurance is there for rated products?

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While Protogetic does not test products ourselves, we do require that every rated product from vehicle barriers to ballistic resistant windows to fire-rated doors all have supporting documentation to verify the validity of their advertised rating. In most cases, you can download the actual testing documentation.There are no exceptions to this rule so that architects and engineers can be 100% confident in every rated product on the Protogetic site.

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Do I need a fire rated door?

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Commercial properties, apartment complexes, schools, theaters, arenas and dormitories obviously require fire safety doors more rigorously than residential structures where typically building codes only require fire proofing doors to garages or utility/furnace rooms. Commercial fire rated doors are tested and rated similarly to residential fire doors. Depending on the jurisdiction, fire rated commercial doors often have slightly different building code requirements than residential.

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Why do fire doors open outwards?

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Because commercial properties and apartment buildings are occupied by larger numbers of people, another essential requirement of a fire rated door is that it opens outwards in order for occupants to evacuate the premises quickly. Inward opening doors create a choke point for a crowd of often panicked people because the onward surge to the exit makes opening the door inward nearly impossible. A good rule of thumb is a fire door should open in the direction of exit.

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What is a panic bar?

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A chokepoint is precisely what happened in 1903 at the Iroquois Theater fire, the deadliest fire in US history that claimed 604 lives (twice the Great Chicago Fire’s fatalities). Unable to open the door inward due to the forward press of the mob, hundreds of people died mere feet from a safe escape. This is also why many fire doors incorporate “panic bars” rather than traditional door handles to facilitate a safe and expeditious escape. Panic bars prevent entry from the outside for security, but also allow much faster exits by simply pressing on the door bar rather than operating a door latch and handle.

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What are fire rated doors made of?

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The most common fire safety door materials are wood, steel or aluminum. There are composite materials also available. New technologies and techniques blend form and function to make aluminum and steel fire doors as aesthetically pleasing as most wood fire doors. Whether commercial or residential, fire doors can be solid or have window inserts, called glazing, to provide natural illumination as well as aesthetic design considerations. However, far more importantly than doors looking pretty, large glass windows allow fire fighting personnel and first responders to quickly see inside rooms and hallways in order to make life-saving decisions more accurately.

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Can fire rated doors have windows?

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Yes. Fire door window glazing requirements are nothing if not complicated as there are multiple testing requirements including impact safety, radiant heat transmission and window opening restrictions based on the duration of a door’s fire rating. Overly simplified, the longer the fire door rating (60 – 90 minutes), the allowable window size gets smaller, with a 90-minute rating mandating no larger than 100 square inches. The exception to this code allows for larger glass inserts IF the door window is made out of fire-resistant glass that meets or exceeds the ASTM E-119 rating.

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What door components need to be fire rated?

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Ideally, in addition to using tested and rated glazing, all the components of a door from its frame to the hinges, to the lock and handle set should all be fire rated. It is important when purchasing doors to make sure you are buying a tested, rated fire door. Industry practice in the United States is to affix rating labels to the hinge edge of the door. These designations are based on time duration to resist a fire: FD20 = 20 minutes, FD30 = 30 minutes. Other fire door rating increments include: FD45, FD60, FD90, FD120 and FD180.

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What is a passive fire protection system?

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There are two types of fire protection systems for building and occupant safety: Active and Passive. Passive fire protection separates and compartmentalizes the building premises, thus making it more difficult for the fire to spread. Fire resistance is achieved using inflammable or heat resistant building materials for walls, floors and fire doors.

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What is an active fire protection system?

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Active fire protection typically utilizes automatic systems like fire sprinklers, smoke detectors and fire alarms. Manual components of an active fire system include the use of fire extinguishers and most urgently and aggressively… fire fighters.

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What is the difference between active & passive fire protection systems?

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The easiest way to understand passive versus active fire systems is: Passive fire systems contain/control a fire. Active systems are engaged to stop a fire. Along with active fire suppression systems and sprinklers (primarily required for commercial and apartment buildings), fire proof doors are an essential element in a passive fire system. Fire resistant doors help minimize damage to other parts of the structure, but more importantly they save lives by not only providing ample time for people to escape the fire itself but also aiding safe escape routes by minimizing smoke inhalation and poor visibility.

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Do fire rated doors have to be inspected?

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Absolutely. Per NFPA requirements, all fire rated doors should be inspected annually to certify they are in optimal working condition. Property owners are typically required to arrange and keep accurate records of inspections. Consult your local building and/or fire department for jurisdiction and your specific codes and inspection requirements.

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How many fatalities are caused by structure fires?

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According to 2018 NFPA fire data, nearly 3,000 civilian lives were lost in the US, costing just under $26 billion dollars in property loss and damages.

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Protogetic considers that number exactly 3,000 too many. The modern day challenge when it comes to fire prevention is similar to Crisis Architecture, the study of how building design can help protect people facing active shooters. Modern building design often helps killers shoot people more efficiently and quickly. Similarly, modern households actually help fires spread faster due to the prevalence of combustible synthetic materials in the home.

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How much time do you have to escape a home fire?

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Underwriters Laboratories estimates that in the 1990s building occupants had on average 14-17 minutes to escape a house fire. That figure today is down to a slim 2-3 minutes, with even a small fire accelerating to life threatening within 30 seconds. Like active shooter events that average just over 9 minutes, a fire can consume an entire home in approximately five minutes.

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How to find the best fire rated doors

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It is far better to build with quality fire-rated products than to call 911 for the fire department. Whether you seek a wood, steel or aluminum fire door, Protogetic has gathered the top manufacturers under one roof to provide fire ratings to fit your specific project’s requirements. Everything you need is available in a fast, easy, completely searchable database using our game-changing Protogetic Filter. Save time and money. Begin your search today by creating your FREE private user account at Protogetic.com

"}, {"category": "forced-entry", "text": "

Forced Entry Doors

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What are forced entry (FE) doors?

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A forced entry door is designed to slow or prevent incursion into the building. Forced entry doors are used both for interior and exterior protection. Whether it’s a home, business or government building, the breach of the building envelope or high value security area is defined by two malevolent forms: Attack or Theft/Burglary.

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In the case of attack, the goal of a forced entry door is to at least slow or delay entry into the building (or secure area) in order for occupants to either escape to safety or benefit from timely law enforcement intervention. Not surprisingly, most attacks target government or official public buildings. However, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the number of active shooter tragedies at schools and universities is increasing, making these locations equally vulnerable. So, keeping a gunman out of the building is the best way to stop him from shooting its occupants.

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In the case of burglary, the goal is provide time for law enforcement to respond and hopefully apprehend the thieves. As one would expect, the locations most targeted for this type of intrusion are retail stores and commercial properties. It is important to note that forced entry does not mean a door is “burglary-proof”. No door can resist all forms of attack given enough time, skill and breaching applications. This is exactly the same concept as no glass is actually “bullet proof”.

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How are forced entry doors rated and tested?

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ASTM F3038-21 and the US Department of State SD-STD-01.01 Rev G are the most widely used forced entry standards. While both F3038 and the Rev G standard include a ballistic component, only the forced entry criteria will be discussed here.

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An entry threat has three important criteria:

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Type of tools (sledgehammer, ram, bolt cutters, saw, pry bar, chisel & hammer)

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Number of attackers (2-6)

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Sophistication level of the attack

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The Rev G forced entry standard is a timed test designed to simulate a mob attack attempting to forcibly enter or breach a building. The Rev G standard has three timed levels:

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5-minute (2 attackers)

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15-minute (6 attackers using limited tools)

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60-minute (6 attackers using all the tools)

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During this test, three areas of the door are attacked: the lock, the center of the door and the hinges. The timer is stopped when the attackers can create an opening large enough for a “test item” to gain entry through the door or the door is completely compromised.

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F3038 is very similar to Rev G but differs in that a 6-person attack is always employed and there are four timed test levels instead of three: 5-minute, 15-minute, 30-minute and 60-minute.

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Are forced entry doors different than FE/BR doors?

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Yes. Forced Entry (FE) doors are NOT required to be tested for ballistic resistance. Because FE/BR doors must protect against gunfire, they use heavier gauge metal and hardware and are tested differently. Without a ballistic component, a forced entry door is only subjected to a sustained physical attack by multiple intruders. It is important to note that doors are one of among many product categories tested for forced entry which can help protect against attack or theft/burglary, including:

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Windows
Modular panels
Glazings
Louvers
Wall systems

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Can forced entry doors have windows?

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Yes. In cases where a door has a window, there are separate forced entry tests for the window and/or glazing (the latter means only the glass not the frame). These test standards include, ASTM F1233 and UL 972 to name a few.

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What locations are forced entry doors typically used?

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Any location that anticipates a building envelope threat would be prudent to install forced entry door and windows. Doors and windows are just a few of the anti-personnel barriers that can be deployed along with additional perimeter security, like climb-resistant fences and security access control points. Forced entry doors are used frequently at:

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Schools & Universities

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Shopping Malls

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Retail stores

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Office buildings

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Government buildings

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Transportation hubs

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What materials are used to make forced entry doors?

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FE doors, short for forced entry doors, can be made from several different materials like aluminum, composites, wood and steel. While steel is the strongest of these materials, it is also heavier. So depending on the size of the door, steels increased weight might be a consideration. The type of material you select depends on the particular requirements of your project, including protective ratings, weather conditions and aesthetic choices like finishes.

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What if my project has non-standard door openings?

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Virtually all the manufacturers represented on Protogetic can produce custom versions of their doors. There are even retrofit forced entry doors for renovation/remodels where a completely new doorframe either is not budgeted or impractical to install. If you have non-standard door dimensions, simply click on the \"CONTACT MANUFACTURER\" button on the product page and directly message the manufacturer representative to get answers to all your questions.

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Is finding a forced entry door difficult?

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You won’t find rated, high security doors that protect personnel from threats like blast, gunfire and forced entry in the \"door aisle\" of home improvement box stores. That’s why Protogetic showcases a large selection of forced entry doors from leading manufacturers – all conveniently located under one digital roof and 100% searchable 24/7 from anywhere in the world. Our easy-to-use filter allows you to search by forced entry ratings as well as aesthetic considerations like door style, leaf width and frame material to name just a few. Stop wasting time and instantly find the exact forced entry door your project needs.

"}, {"category": "hurricane", "text": "

Hurricane Doors

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When you hear the term “high security”, most professionals immediately think of protective design products like anti-ram bollards or wedge barriers that prevent man-made accidents or deliberate hostile attacks. But high security can also be applied to dangerous and deadly natural events like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornados. In fact, as climate change accelerates, coastal areas are feeling more and more like combat zones being bombarded by increasingly destructive storms. For this reason, Protogetic carries hurricane doors and tornado doors from leading manufacturers.

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What are hurricane doors?

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Hurricane doors, sometimes called a hurricane impact doors, must protect against the water, pressure and flying debris associated with these powerful natural disasters. This is a difficult and demanding test. However, with the required engineering and testing, hurricane impact doors can actually withstand Category 5 storms.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines a hurricane as a low-pressure tropical cyclone that forms over warm ocean water and generates a sustained surface wind of at least 74 mph. There are five categories of hurricanes.

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Category 1 – Wind speeds between 74 - 95 mph
Category 2 – Wind speeds between 96 - 110 mph
Category 3 – Wind speeds between 111 - 129 mph
Category 4 – Wind speeds between 130 - 156 mph
Category 5 – Wind speeds between 157 mph or higher

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Will residential steel doors protect my house?

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A common misconception is that homeowners believe that their residential steel doors will protect their home and families from the destructive force of a hurricane. This is patently false. In fact, severe damage can occur at wind speeds less than 74 mph and unless specifically designed, manufactured and tested under hurricane force conditions, residential steel doors, even those marketed as “storm doors”, simply cannot withstand wind-propelled debris that is caused during a hurricane.

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This is very important to understand because when a door or window fails during a hurricane, the increased air pressure can lead to the roof being blown off and the entire structure being flattened. Only rated, certified hurricane doors can protect your home and family during these extreme conditions.

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How are hurricane doors rated?

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The gold standard test for wind damage is the International Code Council and National Storm Shelter Association’s ICC 500 test, also titled the Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters. It bases its requirements on data from FEMA’s P-361 safe room criteria and research and tests against 250 mph wind speeds.

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Many also consider the ASTM E 1996 Standard Specification for Performance of Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, Doors, and Impact Protective Systems Impacted by Windborne Debris in Hurricanes to be one of the most valuablestandards in hurricane testing.

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There is also a water infiltration test called ASTM E 1105. Water is applied with pressure to simulate the driving rain of a hurricane. A failed test is defined by water leaking beyond the most interior plane of the fenestration.

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How is impact resistance to wind damage tested?

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Along with water and pressure tests, one of the most important tests evaluates how a door (or hurricane window) would hold up to flying debris. The ICC 500 test uses eight-foot long 2x4 lumber pieces, called a “missiles”. Each 2x4 weighs nine pounds and is fired from an air cannon multiple times at more than 30 mph (50 feet per second). The 2x4 missiles are directed at specific locations on the door – upper edge, lock and hinges. The door must not be penetrated by the missile for the door to pass the test.

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Are there other hurricane testing standards?

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Since Florida is often ground zero for hurricanes, it is not surprising that Miami-Dade County, as well as the State of Florida, also have hurricane building requirements with their own door and window codes. Florida has two counties it designates as High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ) – Miami-Dade and Broward – where building requirements for minimum wind velocity (3 second gust) is pegged at 146 and 140 mph respectively. It’s important to always check local building codes in coastal hurricane locations for any additional requirements.

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Are there “hurricane-proof” doors?

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No. Just like the misnomers of “bulletproof” and “bombproof” there is no such thing as a “hurricane-proof” door. There are far too many variables like wind speed, pressure, and duration that can compromise even the highest rated doors. Just because doors aren't \"hurricane proof\", this does not mean that one should ignore installing reputable, certified hurricane doors that in almost all cases will protect you, your family or employees and the building.

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What materials are used to make hurricane doors?

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Hurricane exterior doors can be made from a variety of materials including aluminum or composites, with steel being the most commonly used. Some steel doors are available with wood laminate surfaces for aesthetic considerations.

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What kinds of hurricane impact doors are there?

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Just like typical residential front doors, there are hurricane impact single front doors and hurricane impact double front doors. The style chosen depends on the door opening and the building aesthetics. It's important that you have hurricane protection for front doors, but it's equally important that all the outside-facing doors of your home or building be hurricane exterior doors. If one door (or window) is compromised by flying debris the entire building can be jeopardized.

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Can hurricane doors have windows?

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Yes. However, the window, often designated as a \"lite\", must be tested under the same impact resistance conditions as the door. Whether it is a stand alone window, a door, or a full or half-lite door or even a hurrican impact door with sidelights (glass side panels), the impact-resistance engineering prevents high-speed winds from penetrating the door and window and thus compromising the building by allowing a dangerous increase in air pressure. So it is imperative that doors and windows not fail during storm activity as the increased pressure can cause detachment of the roof as well as blow out other doors and windows. Ultimately, this can level the entire structure.

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Where can I find rated, certified hurricane doors?

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Protogetic carries certified hurricane impact doors from leading manufacturers. Find the exact door and/or high security window your project requires by using our Protogetic filter. There is detailed product documentation, including specifications, drawings and certifications. Stop endlessly searching and get more work done.

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"}, {"category": "retrofit", "text": "

Retrofit Doors

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What is a retrofit door?

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Retrofit doors, often called replacement doors, are new doors designed for installation in existing door frames while still maintaining the aesthetics of the property. Retrofit doors can be any type: Sliding retrofit doors, interior retrofit doors or exterior retrofit doors.

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What is the difference between retrofit and new construction?

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Retrofit doors are designed to fit the existing door frame and therefore do not require nailing into the framing studs like one does when installing a brand new door during new construction. Typically, this makes the installation process less invasive and expensive compared to completely removing the door frame and then repairing the interior and/or exterior wall opening.

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What are some of the challenges of using retrofit doors?

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The biggest challenge is typically finding the exact size replacement door for a proper fit. At Protogetic, several manufacturers offer custom-made doors to address any opening size. Another reason you might opt out of a retrofit door is if there is an existing water leak. Many leaks are caused by a faulty door frame so a retrofit door will not fix any leaks since the door frame remains the same. In this case, the old door frame must be removed and a completely new door frame installed.

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Is a retrofit door considered a security door?

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Not necessarily. A security door requires additional design and construction to protect against various threat types whether they are from the natural environment, like hurricanes and tornados, or from human intervention like an attack involving forced entry, gunfire or explosions.

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How do I find security retrofit doors?

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Most of the retrofit doors on Protogetic are high security doors with applicable ratings, drawings and certifications. Security doors on Protogetic must be tested for their advertised rating standards like blast resistance, FEBR, forced entry, and ballistic resistance to name a few hostile threat tests. Our groundbreaking filter can actually search for each type of security threat to instantly find you the exact door you need for your project.

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Are there security retrofit exterior doors?

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Yes. Retrofit exterior doors, as well as retrofit interior doors, are also available at Protogetic. Many manufacturers offer standard sizes as well as custom made doors to fit your needs. You can find the exact door for your existing opening using the Protogetic filter.

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Are retrofit doors fire rated?

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Many retrofit doors are fire-rated. Retrofit fire-rated doors, often called retrofit fire resistant doors, slow and in some cases are able to prevent a fire from reaching occupants or other building areas. The most important feature of a fire rated door is the amount of time it can provide people to escape a fire. For this reason, fire ratings are timed tests and their ratings are designated as 20, 45, 60, 90 and 180 minutes. You can learn more about fire ratings and test standards at the National Fire Protection Association website.

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Can I get a ballistic resistant retrofit door?

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Yes. Protogetic offers several options from leading manufacturers depending on the level of protection required. Like ballistic resistant windows, bullet resistant doors are UL 752 tested using varying types of firearms, bullet calibers and number of shots fired to produce a rating from lowest to highest protection (Levels 1-10).

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What other kinds of threats do security retrofit doors protect against?

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Many threats to a building’s occupants involve the types of extreme weather conditions we are experiencing more and more across the world. Areas like California that previously never considered the need for protective design doors that guard against hurricanes are now making adjustments in their building codes.

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Other threats include:

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Tornado

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Hurricane

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Forced Entry

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FE/BR

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Blast resistant

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Can a retrofit door be a sliding door?

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Yes. Retrofit sliding doors are designed to replace your existing sliding door. A retrofit sliding door is often easier to replace as long as the dimension allows it to slide smoothly in the existing track assembly. Some retrofit sliding doors are available in the “barn door” style for interiors.

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What materials are retrofit doors made of?

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Retrofit doors can be steel, aluminum, wood or composite materials like fiberglass.

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Can I order a custom made retrofit door?

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Yes. If you are unable to find a pre-made retrofit door because of unique dimensions or a specifically required configuration of security options, many manufacturers on Protogetic will customize a door for you. Like high security windows, they offer different materials and protective options like blast resistance and fire ratings. So if you have a retrofit project on the Florida coast that requires a salt-resistant aluminum exterior door that is 180-minute fire rated and hurricane rated, you can you contact the manufacturer directly with one click of our \"CONTACT MANUFACTURER\" button, conveniently placed on every product page. Get the answers you need. There is never any obligation to buy on Protogetic. Our mission is to provide architects and engineers the most accurate protective design information as fast as possible to save time and ultimately save lives. Join us today at Protogetic.com

"}, {"category": "single-leaf", "text": "

Steel Single Leaf Doors

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What is a single leaf door?

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A leaf refers to the panel of a door or, to put it more simply, it is the part of the door that swings open and closed. Even simpler, it often has the handle or door knob on it. A single leaf door is what one typically thinks of when you mention a door. It is a one panel, traditional door that you see every day in most homes. An easy way to identify a single leaf door is it has hinges on only one side of the doorway passage. A double leaf door or what we all call a “double door” will have hinges on both the left and right sides of the doorway.

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What materials are used to make single leaf doors?

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There are four primary materials for single leaf doors: wood, metal, PVC and fiberglass. The most common metal doors are made from steel or aluminum. Like high security windows, specialized, custom security doors can be made with more expensive materials depending on where they will be installed and operated.

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What are the advantages of steel single leaf doors?

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In general, steel single leaf doors are less expensive and more durable than their wood or fiberglass counterparts. Most importantly, steel single leaf doors provide better protection and security, particularly against forced entry threats. This explains why they are frequently called security single leaf doors.

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The standard for testing forced entry protection is ASTM F3038-14 or SD-STD-01.1. These are timed tests. ASTM attacks the door with six personnel armed with heavy tools, like sledgehammers, battering rams, saws and pry bars. When a test object can be passed through the breached opening, the timer is stopped. Ratings are given for 5-minute, 15-minute, 30-minute and 60-minute results.

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Are steel single leaf doors unattractive?

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Steel security doors sound like they would be overly industrial looking and thus unappealing in residential or even professional office environments. However, many brands are available in a wide variety of colors and finishes compared to raw or stained wood doors. As a result, these doors are now considered more “modern” looking and thus more applicable to contemporary building designs.

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Is a steel single leaf door better than an aluminum single leaf door?

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This answer really depends on a number of criteria like weight, thickness, security level, and corrosion resistance. Aluminum single leaf doors are typically less expensive than steel doors and are better at protecting against corrosion. However, an aluminum single leaf door does not protect as well as a steel security single leaf door against threat types like forced entry and FE/BR. When security is a primary concern, steel single leaf doors are one of the best choices you can make.

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Where can I find security single leaf doors?

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Protogetic’s protective design marketplace represents a comprehensive security single leaf door catalog of the industry’s top manufacturers. You can do a simple search for security steel doors by brand or leaf configuration. Or perform a much deeper dive by using the Protogetic Filter to identify threat types like forced entry, hurricane, tornado, ballistic resistant or fire-rated doors. For the highest level of protection, Protogetic also has a searchable database of rated and tested, blast resistant doors capable of protecting occupants from explosions.

"}, {"category": "tornado", "text": "

Tornado Doors

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What is a tornado door?

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Tornado doors are sometimes referred to as safe room doors. First and foremost, a tornado door must protect against the flying debris and catastrophic increases in air pressure caused by a tornado’s extreme wind speeds, often in excess of 150 mph. A quality tornado door can be engineered and manufactured to withstand an EF 5 tornado with 250 mph wind speeds.

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Why does Protogetic offer tornado doors?

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With climate change accelerating, an increasing number of communities are being impacted by extreme weather. Protective design is not just limited to the vehicle barriers and security entrances that prevent terrorist attacks, it also encompasses products that keep people and infrastructure safe from highly destructive natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and hurricanes. That’s why on Protogetic you will find a large selection of tornado doors from leading manufacturers. Whether a man-made violent attack or an extreme weather event, our mission is to help protect lives.

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What is a tornado?

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According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), tornadoes are the most destructive of all atmospheric storms. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends earthward from a severe thunderstorm system. The tornado’s classic funnel cloud shape is only visible because of the circulating precipitation, dust and debris. Approximately 1,200 tornadoes hit the U.S. annually, killing an estimated 60 people (mostly caused by flying debris). The deadliest tornado year was 2011 when 553 people were killed. The single deadliest twister ever occurred in Joplin, Missouri when an EF5 tornado killed 158 people and caused 2.8 billion dollars in damages.

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How are tornadoes measured?

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While hurricanes are designated by category (1-5) based on wind speed, tornadoes are measured by the Enhanced Fujita Scale. This metric, implemented in 2007, measures 28 damage indicators (building type, structures, trees, etc.) by assigning each indicator one of eight varying degrees of damage -- from minor visible damage to complete destruction. Based on this post-event damage assessment, the wind speed of a tornado is calculated. There are six (0-5) ratings for tornadoes.

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EF 0 = 65 - 85 mph
EF 1 = 86 - 110 mph
EF 2 = 111 - 135 mph
EF 3 = 136 - 165 mph
EF 4 = 166 - 200 mph
EF 5 = in excess of 200 mph

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How does a tornado differ from a hurricane?

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Tornados are formed over land while hurricanes form in the warm waters of the ocean. In terms of protective design, tornadoes generally have much higher wind speeds and provide far less warning compared to a hurricane. A tornado’s lack of advance warning means it is nearly impossible to implement protective measures other than finding safe cover. The estimated warning time for a tornado now stands at just 13 minutes. Since a hurricane takes many days to sometimes a week to make landfall, there’s more than enough advance warning for storm preparation as well as evacuation. A formal hurricane warning is given 36 hours beforehand.

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The severe wind speeds generated by tornadoes (200+ mph) are its most dangerous element that must be mitigated or neutralized by protective design and engineering. Fortunately, a tornado’s average duration of 2-15 minutes is far shorter than a hurricane’s lifespan that can thrash regions for hours to days with high winds, heavy rain and storm surge flooding. The path of destruction is also very different. While hurricanes can be 100’s of miles wide, the average tornado is about 300-400 yards wide, with the biggest ever recorded being 2.5 miles wide.

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Won’t a steel door protect my house from a tornado?

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No. Many homeowners falsely believe that their residential steel doors will protect their home and families from a tornado’s destructive force. It cannot. Unless specifically designed, manufactured and tested under tornado conditions, residential steel doors are not capable of withstanding the extreme pressure, wind speeds and flying debris caused by a tornado.

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Protection from flying debris is not only important to one’s physical safety but also protecting the building envelope. This is why one of the safety rules to survive a tornado is to never open any doors or windows. Similar to a hurricane’s high winds, a tornado can launch debris into doors and windows causing them to fail. Once penetrated, the rush of incoming air increases the pressure inside the building and can cause the roof to literally blow off. After this happens, it is entirely possible that the wind forces will flatten the entire structure. Only rated, certified tornado doors (and impact resistant windows) are capable of preventing debris penetration during these extreme conditions.

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How are tornado doors rated?

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The International Code Council and National Storm Shelter Association’s ICC 500 test, also titled the Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters, is the gold standard for tornado protection. ICC 500 requirements were created from the data and recommendations from FEMA’s P-361 safe room criteria.

\r\n

How is impact resistance tested?

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The ICC 500 test uses eight-foot long, 15-pound 2x4s, called a “missiles”, which are fired from an air cannon multiple times at more than 100 mph. The 2x4 missiles are directed at specific locations on the door – upper edge, lock and hinges. The criteria for hurricane impact resistant is a 9-pound 2x4 fired at approximately 33 mph. This gives you a clear indication of the difference between tornado versus hurricane wind speeds.

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What materials are used to make tornado doors?

\r\n

The most common manufacturing material for tornado doors is steel. However, some doors are made from aluminum or composites. Some steel doors are available with wood laminate surfaces for a more pleasing, “residential” appearance.

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Can tornado doors have windows?

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Yes. The glazing must be subjected to the same tornado test conditions. Impact resistant windows typically are made with several layers – a breakable outer layer and a laminate glass inner layer. The number of layers and their materials determine the window’s impact resistance. The goal is to absorb impact and prevent penetration, as this will compromise the building by allowing the air pressure to increase inside. Impact resistant glass additionally prevents shards of deadly glass from flying into living spaces. Of the estimated 60 deaths caused every year by tornadoes, most victims are killed by flying debris.

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Where can I find rated, certified tornado doors?

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Protogetic carries certified tornado doors from top manufacturers. Find the exact tornado door your project requires by using our Protogetic filter to search multiple parameters instantly. Whether you are looking for high security doors, ballistic resistant windows or anti-ram crash arms, every Protogetic product page provides detailed documentation, including specifications, drawings and certifications. Everything you need to make the best decision, including a side-by-side comparison tool. Sign up for free now!

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