ANSI/DASMA 115 - Impact and Cyclic Wind Test for Windborne-Debris-Rated Garage Doors

Wind-borne debris is the mechanism that causes most hurricane-related structural failures. A tree branch or sign post becomes a projectile at 100 mph. ANSI/DASMA 115 tests whether a garage door can survive both the impact of that debris and the sustained cyclic pressure of a storm.

What this standard says

ANSI/DASMA 115-2017 is the test standard for sectional garage doors in wind-borne debris regions. It combines two tests that ANSI/DASMA 108 (the standard static pressure test) does not include.

"This standard provides the method for testing sectional garage doors by subjecting them to missile impacts followed by cyclic wind pressure loading, to determine their suitability for use in wind-borne debris regions as defined by ASCE 7."

Missile impact test. A 9-lb piece of 2x4 lumber is fired at the door at 50 feet per second (about 34 mph). This simulates windborne debris. The door must not be breached (no projectile passing through) after the impacts.

Cyclic pressure test. After passing missile impact, the same door specimen is subjected to a series of increasing and decreasing pressure loads that simulate the pulsating wind loads in a hurricane. Static test methods miss the fatigue effects of cyclic loading. ANSI/DASMA 115 captures them.

A door must pass both tests to earn a wind-borne debris rating. A door that passes ANSI/DASMA 108 (static) but not ANSI/DASMA 115 is not rated for wind-borne debris regions.

When it applies

IBC Section 1609.1.2 defines windborne debris regions based on Vult wind speed and location. In Colorado, most Front Range locations have a Vult of 115 mph. Wind-borne debris regions under ASCE 7-22 are generally triggered at higher wind speeds or in coastal areas.

Front Range Colorado. Denver, Aurora, Jefferson County, and Larimer County are not typically in IBC-defined windborne debris regions. Standard ANSI/DASMA 108 testing covers most residential and commercial garage door installations here.

High-wind-exposure sites. Some exposed ridge and canyon locations in Colorado experience local wind speeds that put them in or near windborne debris territory. An engineer working on a project in one of those locations may require ANSI/DASMA 115 testing for garage doors.

Buildings in southern and coastal windborne debris states. If a Denver contractor is specifying a door for a building in Florida, Texas Gulf Coast, or the Carolinas, ANSI/DASMA 115 compliance is mandatory per the applicable IBC.

Specifying a storm-hardened door regardless of code requirement. Some homeowners in high-wind areas choose an ANSI/DASMA 115-rated door even when code does not require it. The test provides documented evidence that the door resists both impact and sustained high-wind loads.

What this means for you

In the Denver metro area: ANSI/DASMA 115 compliance is not required for most residential and commercial garage doors. ANSI/DASMA 108 testing covers the local wind design requirements. Confirm with your engineer or building official if you are in an unusual exposure location.

For specifiers working in multiple states: always check the windborne debris region designation for the project location under the applicable edition of ASCE 7. Do not assume Colorado rules apply to other states.

Reading a door's wind rating claims: a door described as "hurricane-rated" or "impact-rated" without a specific reference to ANSI/DASMA 115 may not have passed the actual test. Ask for the test report.

G Brothers can confirm whether a specific door model carries an ANSI/DASMA 115 rating and whether that rating is needed for your project location.

Full text and source

ANSI/DASMA 115-2017 is available at https://www.dasma.com/wp-content/uploads/pubs/Standards/DASMA-115-Web.pdf.

ANSI/DASMA 115 applies to windborne debris region requirements under IBC 1609.1.2. Most Colorado Front Range locations are not in windborne debris regions as defined by ASCE 7-22. Verify your site classification with a structural engineer before specifying.