Standard puts wind up garage doors

AUSTRALIA’S standards watchdog has beefed up guidelines covering garage doors after a bout of very bad weather exposed them as a point of weakness.

Standards Australia media spokesman Nick Davy said the tougher requirements were introduced after it became clear that garage doors were a “point of weakness” during Cyclone Yasi, which struck north-eastern Australia in early 2011 and caused widespread destruction.

“Subsequent reports (of the cyclone’s aftermath) suggested a review of garage doors to tighten up the weak points in houses in cyclone-prone areas,” Mr Davy said.

“What would happen was the wind would be able to infiltrate the house through a garage door in otherwise sound structures, so that would lead to building failure and collapse.”

Mr Davy said the voluntary standard for garage doors was only given as advice for builders, and would not become law until it was adopted by government and cemented in legislation.

The standard covers minimum performance requirements for structural loads, as well as spelling out how the doors in cyclone-prone areas should be made and installed.