DASMA

DASMA (Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association) is the main trade group for North American manufacturers of residential and commercial garage doors, rolling doors, high-performance doors, gate operators, and access control products. It is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

DASMA's core output is the TDS series (Technical Data Sheets). These are numbered guidance documents that define how garage door products should be designed, installed, tested, and rated for safety. The numbers group by product type:

• 150s-190s: Sectional residential and commercial doors
• 250s-290s: Rolling steel and specialty doors
• 350s-380s: Operators and electronic systems
• 450s-460s: High-performance doors

TDS documents are not installation manuals. They are industry-wide specs. A DASMA TDS applies to all brands, not just one manufacturer's product. Building inspectors, engineers, and code officials use them to evaluate whether a door and its installation meet the industry standard.

What DASMA compliance means in practice:

When a door spec sheet says "meets DASMA TDS-160," it means the product was designed and tested against the industry's own benchmark, not just the manufacturer's internal standard. Three areas where this matters most:

• Cycle life: TDS documents define the test method. A 10,000-cycle claim from one brand means the same thing as a 10,000-cycle claim from another.
• Wind load: DASMA testing guidelines define how to certify a door for 20 PSF, 30 PSF, or higher wind ratings. This feeds into hurricane zone building codes.
• Safety: DASMA works alongside UL 325 on auto-reverse and entrapment protection requirements.

DASMA standards are not law on their own. State and local codes adopt them by reference. NFPA 80 references DASMA standards for fire door assemblies.