According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), extreme weather around the globe is becoming more frequent and intense. Weather events like record-breaking heat waves, floods, droughts, wildfires and hurricanes are on the rise.
For example, hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, but researchers are finding the season is beginning earlier and ending later. Seven of the last eight years included a named storm before hurricane season officially began, and 2023 had a named storm as early as January. Plus, storms are hitting an increasingly large geographic footprint – far beyond the traditional “hurricane zone” in the southern United States – which has implications for buildings across a wider region than ever before.
These year-round weather events require parking structures and buildings essential to our nation’s infrastructure to be prepared for all kinds of weather at any time. Those preparations should include high-performance doors, which offer a variety of features and benefits to withstand extreme weather.
Designed for extreme weather all year long
Fast speeds. High-performance doors move quickly – up to 100 inches per second – to open and close fast, keeping the elements outside where they belong. These high speeds also help minimize air infiltration and improve environmental control.
Durable design. Rytec doors feature heavy-duty elements, including interconnected rigid panel slats, reinforced hinges and durable rubber membranes. Combined with the high speed, these features minimize air ingress between the outdoors and indoor areas, helping maintain a steady, comfortable environment through all kinds of weather.
Tight seals. Some high-performance doors feature integral rubber weatherseals or specially designed seals along the sides and bottom to keep surface and windblown rain out. Full-height vinyl weatherseals in side columns, edge-to-edge seals at the top of the door, and low-temperature vinyl seals along the bottom provide a tight full-perimeter seal when the door is closed to keep inclement weather out. Rigid doors can be constructed with insulated slats, while fabric doors can add wind bars to maintain a tight seal and help prevent interior building damage.
Weather-resistant panels. Solid rigid door panels that have been impact tested can help protect against flying debris. Door models with clear vision slats or translucent bronze or grey tinted options can help reduce solar heat build-up. These 9-inch, aluminum-framed vision slats are protected by shatter-proof, scratch-resistant Lexan™ polycarbonate, offering further weather protection for your building.
Hurricane-ready construction. Specific door models are built to withstand winds up to 175 miles per hour and damage from flying debris during a storm. They feature double-walled, insulated six-inch aluminum slats and a heavy-duty reinforced hinge system, plus durable powder coated steel side frames and heads for added strength that helps maintain the integrity of the door opening.
Better ROI. High-performance doors are an excellent option for hurricane season and year-round protection from stormy weather. This can improve ROI, delivering protection and benefits every month of the year for all weather events – not just during a short hurricane- season.
Weather all kinds of weather
Overall, high-performance doors are designed for durability and strength, giving your facility reliable protection throughout the year. As risks from extreme weather continue to rise, protecting buildings with high-performance doors from Rytec ensures vital – and valuable – building integrity.
Learn more about our hurricane-rated doors, including Spiral® HZ® and Spiral® LH®-HZ® doors, both rated for use in hurricane zones. This makes them an ideal choice for buildings that need extra protection from extreme weather. Contact us to discuss how Rytec high-performance doors can protect your buildings from extreme weather all year long.
