Your windows and doors form part of the building and need to resist the wind pressures for both positive pressure (windward wall) and suction (leeward and side walls). Damage investigations from Cyclone Yasi revealed some windows that were not properly installed were blown into (or sucked out of) houses due to lack of or inadequate fixings of the frames to the house structure. Glass panels also need to be correctly sized for the wind loads and the window or door frame also must be adequately fixed to the rest of the building. Standard entrance door locks with simple striker plates into the door jamb may not be adequate to resist cyclonic wind loads. Additional support for external doors (eg barrel bolts or dead locks etc) may be required. The Australian Window Association gives the correct number of nails/screws to be used. Image - Damage to door lock after high winds
source QLDRECONSTRUCTION.ORG.AU
