DASMA TDS 152 - Garage Doors and High Wind Events

The garage door is the largest opening in most homes. In a high-wind event, it is usually the first component to fail, and when it does, wind pressure enters the structure and can blow off the roof. DASMA TDS 152 gives homeowners and installers a plain-language explanation of the risk and what to do about it.

What this data sheet says

TDS 152 describes how excessive wind pressure causes garage door failure and explains the design-pressure rating system used to select a wind-rated door.

"The garage door is typically the largest opening in a home and is often the most vulnerable to wind damage."

Key points from TDS 152:

• Positive and negative pressure. Wind creates positive (inward pushing) pressure on the windward side of a building and negative (outward pulling) pressure on the leeward side. A door must resist both.
• Design pressure (DP) ratings are measured in pounds per square foot (psf). A door with a DP rating of 20 psf is tested to resist that uniform pressure without permanent damage.
• Panel deflection and hardware failure. The most common failure modes are mid-panel buckling and track/bracket pullout. Both can allow the door to blow in while still technically attached at the corners.
• Before a storm: confirm your door's DP rating is appropriate for your local design wind speed. Do not open the door during a storm to "equalize pressure." That strategy does not work and creates a hazardous opening.
• After a storm: do not operate a door that was exposed to extreme winds until a trained technician inspects it. Tracks may be bent and hardware may have moved in ways that are not visible.

When it applies

TDS 152 is relevant whenever wind speeds could reach the design threshold for a residential garage door:

• Denver and Front Range: the 2025 Denver Building Code sets the design wind speed at 115 mph (ultimate, Exposure C). Most standard residential doors are rated for the equivalent psf at that speed. Downslope Chinook winds can briefly exceed 100 mph along the Front Range, making this more than a theoretical concern.
• Pre-storm preparation: homeowners preparing for a severe weather event can use TDS 152 to understand whether their door is adequate or whether additional bracing (see TDS 153) is needed.
• Post-storm insurance claims: knowing the DP rating of your door helps document whether a failure was within or outside the rated design load.

What this means for you

Look up your door's DP rating now, before storm season. The rating is on a permanent label affixed to the interior of the door. If you cannot find the label or the rating seems low for your area, that is the time to talk to a door professional, not after the wind event.

Do not prop the door open during a storm. This is a persistent myth. Wind will not equalize through an open door. Instead, an open door gives wind direct access to the interior and dramatically increases the chance of roof damage.

After any wind event that bent or bowed panels, have a technician inspect the tracks and hardware before operating the door electrically. A bent track can derail the door during the next open or close cycle.

G Brothers can check your door's DP label and assess whether your current door meets the design wind speed for your Front Range location.

Full text and source

Download DASMA TDS 152 from the official TDS index at https://www.dasma.com/technical-data-sheets/.

This entry applies to residential and light-commercial sectional garage doors. Impact-resistant and hurricane-rated doors tested per ANSI/DASMA 115 have additional requirements beyond standard DP ratings.