Additional BILCO Hatches Approved for Hurricane Resistance

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Additional BILCO Hatches Approved For Hurricane Resistance

3 New Standard Sized Models Meet Rigid Testing Criteria

NEW HAVEN, CT/May 17, 2021 – The BILCO Company has added additional standard-sized roof hatches that are approved for hurricane and wind resistance by the Miami-Dade County Building Code Compliance Office and Florida Building Commission.

BILCO has added the 36” x 36” (Type E), 48” X 48” (Type F), and 30” x 96” (Type L) standard size-size roof hatches to its line of specialty access products approved to withstand severe weather conditions, joining the company’s S and NB sizes which were previously offered. The hatches are specifically designed and tested to withstand hurricanes and severe weather systems and the new sizes offer more options for architects who are specifying roof hatches for projects located in hurricane zones.

BILCO collaborated with the Miami-Dade County Building Code Compliance Office and Florida Building Commission to determine which Testing Application Standards would be required for roof hatches. The products were required to withstand a sequence of demanding laboratory tests to gain Miami-Dade County’s Notice of Acceptance (NOA).

To test the ability to endure high hurricane winds, the Uniform Static Air Pressure Test, per TAS 202, was first employed on the roof hatches. The hatches were placed in a test chamber and a 70 pound per square foot (PSF) uplift force was applied to the underside of the covers. After a brief recovery period, a downdraft force of 70 PSF was applied, and the test was then repeated using a force of 140 PSF. Additionally, pressurized water, simulating wind-driven rain, was sprayed directly on the hatches for 15 minutes to assess their water-tightness in these demanding conditions.

At the end of these tests, BILCO hatches maintained their integrity as the covers remained closed and the full-perimeter gasketing ensured complete weathertightness.

BILCO hatches were also tested for the impact of wind-borne debris. The impact test, TAS 201, consisted of a 9-foot, 2 x 4 inch piece of lumber propelled toward the products at a speed of 50 feet per second. The test measured the damage and integrity of the roof hatches after impact. The heavy-gauge construction of BILCO hatches withstood the impact and the heavy-duty slam latches ensured that the covers remained closed. Only minor dents and impressions resulted from the large projectile test.

BILCO’s products also passed a Cyclic Wind-Pressure Loading test. This test, TAS 203, subjected the roof hatches to a 140 PSF force that alternated between uplift and downdraft and was applied for 671 cycles. The test measured the amount of deflection in the roof hatch covers and again examined the products’ integrity after testing. The resulting deflection on BILCO products did not exceed the specified tolerances, confirming the ability to withstand cyclic wind pressures over a significant period of time.  The tests were performed by Certified Testing Laboratories in Orlando, Fla.

BILCO roof hatches provide safe and convenient access to roof areas by means of an interior ladder, ship stair or service stair. The company’s full range of commercial and residential products is available at www.bilco.com.

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For more information about commercial products from The BILCO Company, contact them at 1-800-366-6530.

About BILCO

For over 90 years, The BILCO Company has been a building industry pioneer in the design and development of specialty access products. Over these years, the company has built a reputation among architects, and engineers for products that are unequaled in design and workmanship. BILCO – an ISO 9001 certified company – offers a line of roof hatches, automatic fire vents, floor access doors, and a complete line of residential access products. BILCO is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AmesburyTruth, a division of Tyman Plc. For more information, visit www.bilco.com.

About AmesburyTruth™

AmesburyTruth™ is a leading manufacturer of window and door extrusions, hardware, and sealing systems, which are used by leading window and door manufacturers throughout North America, for both residential and commercial markets. Based in Edina, Minnesota, the company has facilities throughout North America. The company is a subsidiary of Tyman Plc. (London Stock Exchange: TYMN). Tyman Plc, headquartered in London, is a leading international supplier of components to the window and door industry. Visit www.amesburytruth.com .

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