“How well does a bifold door stand up to high wind?”
This is one of our most asked questions – and for good reason. Fierce winds and extreme weather can wreak havoc on your building. You want to ensure that you are making an investment that will keep your building and equipment secure.
At Diamond Doors, we take the protection of your building and equipment seriously. As part of our dedication to quality, we have engineered various wind protection features and options. These options are available depending on the type of your building and building needs. That means you can be sure that your Diamond door will hold up to the environment and last for generations.
A Quality Design
Our foundational values start with quality. Our doors are always built to exceed industry standards in everything from longevity to safety to strength.
When it comes to wind protection, it’s hard to beat our innovative bifold door design. Our engineers and drafting technicians ensure that every door is built to meet your local wind rating requirements. That means that your bifold door is always designed to withstand the wind and storms come your way.
Part of this design also includes three secure connection points between the door and your building – the door hinges, the rollers, and the locking system.
Door Hinges
We cold-roll form our bifold door hinges, which means that we bend and form our hinges at only slightly above room temperature. This comes with a number of benefits, including stronger hinges, a two-piece design rather than multiple components welded together, and a more attractive, cleaner finish.
The more knuckles there are on a hinge, the better the loads on the building are distributed. By ensuring that we use the correct hinges, we are strengthening the connection between the bifold door and your building– an added protection against the wind.
As an added advantage, we made our hinges maintenance free by adding a nylon hinge bushing. It eliminates squeaking, creaking, and the need for regular grease.
Bifold Door Rollers
Our bifold door rollers go beyond industry standard to offer you superior longevity, low maintenance, and smooth operation. Positioned on the bottom corners of the door, they run vertically along the door track as the door opens and closes.
We offer two different types of rollers depending on the door design and dimensions – the cantilevered roller for doors smaller than 60 feet wide, and the inset roller for larger doors. The advantage of both rollers is that they work with the J Track system (you can read more about that below) to hold the door against the building when it is windy.
Locking Systems
Diamond Doors offers two types of locking systems – the auto-lock and manual locking system. Each system comes with its own advantages and benefits.
The manual locking system is a cost effective solution to securing your bifold door. It comes with a variety of safety features, such as a safety switch, which prevents damage due to operation of a locked door.
The auto-lock provides added convenience. With the auto-lock, you can open your bifold door with the push of a button, or with a remote opener from the convenience of your equipment. This is especially useful for staying dry in rain or snow.
However, the locking systems also provide added protection to your bifold door in high wind. They seal the door tightly against the door frame, preventing it from blowing into the building.
You can read more about our locking systems here.
Wind Protection Features and Options for Your Bifold Door
Diamond Doors offers a variety of features and options to protect your bifold door against wind and extreme weather. These options may look different depending on your type of building, but one thing always remains the same – you can expect quality and security from your door.
Bifold Door Frame and the Triple Internal Truss System
Strength starts with the basics. We build our bifold door frames from high strength tubular steel. This maximizes strength while maintaining a lightweight design. We use a variety of tube sizing depending on the dimensions of your bifold door, wind loads, and the weight of the exterior finishing.
Our triple internal truss system protects your bifold door against the wind by supporting the door where it matters. These trusses are located at the bottom of the door, one-third up the door, and two-thirds up the door for maximum support. They prevent deflection of the bifold door during fierce wind.
J Tracks
Sometimes, simple is best. We manufacture our J Tracks from galvanized steel. They are, appropriately, formed in the shape of a “J” and attach directly to the outside of your building or self-supporting header. They serve two purposes.
J Tracks provide a smooth surface along which your bifold door can move, extending the lifespan of your door and rollers. For wood buildings, they also work with the column support angles to provide extra strength to the wood post and prevent bowing.
The second purpose of J Tracks is to protect your building and bifold door from high wind. The unique “J” design – which is exclusive to Diamond Doors – holds the rollers snugly against the door post. This prevents the door from flipping out from the building when positive air pressure is present within the building (e.g., when another door is open).
We pre-cut and pre-drill your J Tracks so they arrive at your building site ready to install. They also come with an easy-to-access hatch on the bottom of the track to make maintenance and replacement of your door rollers easy.
Column Followers
Like the J Track, column followers prevent your bifold door from blowing outward from your building. However, they are primarily used in steel building applications, while J Tracks are more commonly used in wood building applications.
We make our column followers from ¾” solid steel pins. These pins follow the inside flange of door post, securing the door against the building.
The column follower is sleeved in a nylon bushing to reduce noise and provide a smooth, quiet operation. We install the column followers in factory and you can easily adjust them to ensure a secure fit to the building.
The Manufacturing and Installation Process
Certified and Experienced Welders
Our dedication to quality extends to the manufacturing and installation process. We are committed to ensuring that each welder on our team is certified by the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB). This helps us maintain the highest standards of quality when building your custom door.
Each welder uses CWB approved welding techniques, guaranteeing the strongest, toughest door on the market. We follow through on our promise to design and build a bifold door that can withstand the fiercest wind.
Installation
As with any large piece of equipment, it is important that your bifold door is installed correctly to prevent safety hazards and wind damage. We provide a detailed installation manual with every door to help you through the process. If you need a little more help, our service technicians are always available via phone or email for quick support.
If you prefer to contract the job to someone else, our dealer and installation network would love to help! Our experienced network reaches every part of Canada and the United States of America. Contact us today to find the right fit for you.
A Word From our Customers
“I want to let you know how happy I am with your products, and I will be recommending your doors to my customers on future projects.” – Patrick MacLean
In 2006, Patrick MacLean purchased ten 40×22 bifold doors for a hangar project he was supplying. However, on one of the buildings, they decided to install an overhead door in place of the bifold.
On March 11, 2007, a windstorm swept through Cardston, Alberta. This intense storm recorded wind speeds of over 150km/h. It blew over semi trailers and caused damage to many buildings in the area.
During the storm, the overhead door blew into the building, causing damage to the building and the items inside, but the Diamond doors weathered the storm. Each bifold door stood up to the high wind and kept the building and its items safe.
Safety Precautions for Your Bifold Door in High Wind
Please always use caution when operating your bifold door. The door is designed to withstand high winds, but it is always better to keep the door closed in extreme weather. If the forecast calls for extreme weather in your area, close and lock your door for maximum security.
Check out our YouTube channel and watch a video on our wind protection options.
