BHMA A250-13:2003 pdf download.Testing and Rating of Severe Windstorm Resistant Components for Swinging Door Assemblies
1 Scope
1.1 BHMA A250-13 provides procedures for testing and establishing load ratings (design load in pounds per square foot or pounds force) for components of exterior swinging door assemblies for purposes of protection of openings during severe windstorm conditions,such as a hurricane, that produces sustained wind speeds or gusts in a range of 110 to 150 miles per hour as defined by ASCE 7-02. It is not intended to simulate wind forces generated by tornadoes.
1.2 The procedures cover all components nor-mally assembled to form an exterior swinging door system. This includes door frames, hard-ware mullions, thresholds, frame anchorage,hinges, locksets, latches and bolts, doors,sidelights and transoms and glazing systems.This procedure applies to both single swing and pair assemblies and also includes proce-dures for testing and rating components for both in-swing and out-swing installations.
1.3 The evaluations required by this standard are based on the structural performance tests specified in ASTM E1886, ASTM E1996 and ASTM E330.
1.4 Evaluations under this procedure are designed to determine the ability of exterior doors to remain closed under conditions present in severe windstorms, including high,fluctuating wind speeds and the presence of wind-born debris. Assemblies meeting these requirements are less likely to open during a storm, preventing potentially large pressure differentials which may cause or contribute to major structural damage. This procedure does not consider it necessary for the door assembly to be capable of preventing water intrusion as a result of severe windstorm ex-posure conditions.
It is recognized that products and assemblies meeting these requirements will not neces-sarily prevent all forms of damage associated with hurricanes and other severe windstorms.It is also assumed that these assemblies them-selves might be damaged in a severe wind-storm to an extent that would require repair or replacement after such an event.
2 Definitions
Severe Windstorm: A weather event such as a hurricane that produces sustained wind speeds or gusts in a range of 110 to 150 miles per hour.
Labeled: Identified by the application of a label bearing the certification mark of a recog-nized certification agency, the manufacturer's name or identifying symbol and any applicable rating(s).
Label: An identification applied on a product by the manufacturer that contains the name of the manufacturer and the function and performance characteristics of the product or material.
Operable: Capable of being opened by the application of ordinary levels of hand applied force to the latch operator and door assem-bly.
Note: Door assemblies that have been subjected to the severe conditions of the tests involved in this method are not expected to be undamaged and thus will normally not operate with the low force levels generally required for undamaged assemblies. The goal is to provide an assembly that will remain closed during the windstorm, but not be damaged to the extent that it requires the use of tools to be opened after the event.BHMA A250-13 pdf download.