Windpanel Sectional Garage Door - Wind-Rated Technical Details

Overview

The Windpanel is a specialized wind-rated sectional garage door system manufactured by B & D Doors and Openers, specifically engineered to withstand high wind conditions. The product line includes multiple configurations designed for use in high wind regions across Australia.

Product Variants

B & D Windpanel™ Reinforced Sectional Door

The B & D Windpanel™ Reinforced Sectional Door is a reinforced sectional door featuring vertical braces and a tracklock locking mechanism. This door is certified for use in wind region classes C2, C3, and C4, with different maximum dimensions depending on the specific wind classification:

• Wind Region C2: Maximum dimensions of 2.64m high by 6.15m wide
• Wind Region Classes C3 and C4: Maximum dimensions of 2.4m high by 5.5m wide

Windpanel Mk2 Sectional Doors

The Windpanel Mk2 Sectional Doors underwent comprehensive static and cyclic strength simulated wind load testing conducted by the Cyclone Testing Station at James Cook University. This product represents an improved iteration of the Windpanel system.

Panel Specifications:

• Material: Roll-formed G2NS grade steel
• Thickness: 0.60mm BMT (base metal thickness)
• Panel Height: 570mm
• Specimen Width: 5,500mm
• Panel Stiles: 11 stiles per panel (two double stiles at each end and one central stile, with internal stiles spaced at 650mm centres)

Structural Components:

The Windpanel Mk2 incorporates several advanced structural elements:

• Panel Battens: 0.70mm BMT, G550 steel, 70mm high and 90mm wide top hat section battens running along the panel width, fixed to each stile with two hexagonal washer head self-tapping steel screws per stile
• Hinges: 190 × 70mm, 1.8mm thick cold rolled CA2S-G steel hinges (one per stile per panel) with eight self-tapping steel screws per hinge
• Brace Material: 6.35mm thick 6005-T5 aluminium alloy extrusion with rectangular hollow cross section (57 × 67mm) and four slotted channels
• Brace Configuration: Four braces with internal spacing of 1,300mm and clearance from guide track of 785mm
• Floor Flange Material: 3.42mm thick G350 steel fabricated into a 'C' section (65 × 75mm with 15mm lips)
• Top Bracket Material: 6.35mm thick steel plate (185mm long, 50mm wide) with four 9.5mm holes and folded outstanding lip
• U-Bolt and Plate Material: 10mm diameter, 3/8"-16 UNC threaded steel rods bent into a 'U' shape (254mm long, 78mm wide)
• Deflection Bracket Material: 3.25mm thick G350 steel (177mm long, 38mm wide) with eleven 8mm holes

Wind Performance and Design Criteria

Windpanel Mk2 Design Wind Pressures

The Windpanel Mk2 Sectional Doors achieved the following recommended limit state design wind pressures through testing:

• Panel Width: 5,500mm
• Number of Braces: 4
• Loading Direction: Outward
• Non-Cyclonic Strength Limit State Design Wind Capacity: 6.04 kPa
• Cyclonic Strength Limit State Design Wind Capacity: 6.04 kPa

B & D Storm Shield High Wind Sectional Door

The B & D Storm Shield High Wind Sectional Door is a high-wind rated sectional door designed for Region C wind conditions. Specifications include:

• Maximum Door Height: 3.415m
• Maximum Door Width: 5.5m
• Wind Rating: C2 (as given in Table 5.2 of AS/NZS 4505:2012)
• Regional Wind Speed: 66m/s for Region C with Terrain Category 2

Design Wind Pressures:

For door widths less than 4m:

• Ultimate Design Inward Wind Pressure: 2.92 kPa
• Ultimate Design Outward Wind Pressure: -3.37 kPa

For door widths greater than 4m:

• Ultimate Design Inward Wind Pressure: 2.92 kPa
• Ultimate Design Outward Wind Pressure: -3.04 kPa

Panelift High Wind

The Panelift High Wind sectional door underwent cyclic simulated wind load strength testing. Product specifications include:

• Panel Material: 0.60mm BMT steel
• Panel Height: 570mm
• Specimen Width: 5,500mm
• Wind Clips: G450 Steel (150mm wide, 235mm long) with 2.98mm TCT, fixed with eight 14-20 × 25mm self-drilling metal screws

Test Results:

• Target Ultimate Load Test Pressure: 4.04 kPa
• Actual Test Pressure Held: 4.04 kPa (outward loading)
• Result: Pass - Panels buckled across entire height at approximately 1.20 kPa; specimen resisted all loading cycles

Standards and Compliance

Wind-rated Windpanel doors comply with the following design standards:

• AS/NZS 4505:2012 - Garage doors and large access doors
• AS/NZS 1170.2:2021 - Structural design actions Part 2: Wind actions
• AS 4100:2020 - Steel structures
• AS/NZS 4600:2018 - Cold-formed steel structures
• AS 3700:2018 - Masonry structures

Key Structural Features

Vertical Braces and Tracklock

The Windpanel door system incorporates vertical braces as integral structural components that provide enhanced wind resistance. The tracklock mechanism serves as a specialized locking system integrated into the door assembly to resist high wind pressures.

Wind Clips

Wind clips are strategically positioned components fixed to the internal face of panels. These components enhance the door's ability to withstand wind loads by distributing forces across the panel structure.

Windpanel Brace

The windpanel brace is a dedicated structural component that provides critical wind resistance compliance for the garage door system, enabling the door to meet high wind building standards.

Installation and Fastening Requirements

Wind-rated doors require specific fastening methods that differ from standard garage doors. Wind-rated doors do not use coach bolts or screws according to B&D specifications. Instead, they require specific high wind fastener drawings and recommendations to ensure proper installation in high wind regions.

The B&D Windpanel high wind compliant fastener system is available from the B&D website to support proper installation of wind-rated sectional doors.

Northern Territory Compliance

B&D wind-rated sectional door products have been included in the Northern Territory Deem to Comply Manual (DTCM), which is referenced in the Building Code of Australia as an acceptable construction manual for high wind areas. Specifically included are:

• B&D Panelift Storm-Shield Sectional Doors
• B&D Windpanel Roll A Shutters

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References

• [1] 13_compliance_feb20.pdf
• [3] ts1026-rev-a_summary_sheet-b_2025.pdf
• [7] ts917-part-b_test_summary_sheet_2025-1.pdf
• [9] storm-shield-sectional-garage-door-certification-drawing-2422-rev-f-1.pdf
• [11] form15-braced-sectional-doors-wind-class-c3-c4-2191-l-apr-2023-1.pdf