Leaving a trail of devastation in their wake, the damaging winds, torrential rain and destructive airborne debris of cyclones push every part of a home to its limits. Regions such as northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and parts of Western Australia sit directly in Australia’s cyclone belt, and building products use in these areas must meet stringent wind classifications. Homes require roofing and fencing specifically engineered to resist uplift, impact and continuous, relentless pressure.
150 Years of Strength: LYSAGHT® Products Built for the Storm
Protecting a home from cyclone damage means addressing every potential weakness, from the roofline to the fence line. With more than 150 years of innovation and leadership, Lysaght delivers whole-of-home solutions designed for Australia’s toughest environments.
Manufactured from trusted COLORBOND® steel or ZINCALUME® steel, LYSAGHT® roofing and fencing products are proven in performance testing and in the field, giving homeowners and professionals confidence when building in cyclone-prone regions.
NATA-Verified Testing
Lysaght’s NATA-verified Low-High-Low (LHL) wind-classification testing is a rigorous test performed on our roofing and walling products to ensure they can withstand cyclonic conditions, as required by the National Construction Code (NCC). The LHL method involves thousands of cyclic pressure tests at low and medium levels, followed by one high-pressure cycle that must be held for at least 10 seconds, simulating the stress of a cyclone.
The "NATA-verified" aspect means the tests are conducted at Lysaght's accredited testing laboratory, guaranteeing that the results are reliable and can be used for the design of buildings in cyclonic regions.
Engineered to Meet Australia’s Toughest Standards
Every cyclone-rated product must comply with the National Construction Code (NCC) and relevant Australian Standards. For roofing, this includes testing to AS 1562.1:2018, ensuring performance against wind uplift and water ingress. For fencing, compliance ensures structural integrity across a range of soil and wind classifications.
The Superiority of Steel in Cyclone Zones
LYSAGHT® building products are rigorously tested for real-world conditions, assuring homeowners and professionals with performance claims backed by research, heritage, and engineering expertise. Not all materials cope equally under high wind stress. Here's why steel stands above the others:
Durability: Unlike timber, steel fencing and roofing will not rot, warp or split when exposed to moisture.
Fire and Termite Resistance: Steel provides inherent protection against hazards that often follow storm damage.
Design Versatility: LYSAGHT LONGLINE 305® delivers both engineering integrity and striking architectural form.
Surface Protection: COLORBOND® steel incorporates advanced coatings tested for decades in Australian conditions, ensuring options that are resilient against salt, rain and sun.
These qualities combine to deliver a system that withstands cyclonic conditions and continues to perform long after the storm has passed.
Cyclone Roofing – Top-Down Defence for the Home
The roof is the most exposed and vulnerable element of a house during a cyclone. A cyclone-rated roofing system must remain firmly anchored under extreme uplift forces while efficiently draining intense rainfall.
Steel roofing has long been trusted in cyclone-prone areas for its combination of strength, light weight and durability.
Unlike tiled systems that can dislodge, LYSAGHT® roofing fixes securely to structural battens (when installed as directed in our Cyclonic Area Manual), creating a continuous shield over the home. Exposed screws or weak fastenings can compromise resilience, which is why concealed-fix profiles such as KLIP-LOK 700 HI-STRENGTH® are widely specified a d recommended for high-wind zones.
Among Lysaght’s ZENITH® architectural range, LYSAGHT LONGLINE 305® stands out as a profile built for strength as well as aesthetic impact. Its tall ribs (raised vertical sections that run the length of a roofing sheet), and broad pans (flat sections between the ribs) deliver bold visual appeal with enhanced spanning capacity, a vital asset when roofs must withstand cyclonic winds. Manufactured from COLORBOND® or ZINCALUME® steel, LONGLINE 305® strikes the balance of resilience and confidence that today’s homes demand.
Cyclone Fencing – Strength at the Boundary
Roofing is only one part of the protection story. A secure perimeter keeps properties safe from flying debris and adds a crucial layer of resilience. When fitted in line with our Cyclonic Fencing Design and Installation Guide, LYSAGHT® fencing provides a dependable alternative to traditional wire mesh, offering strength without compromising privacy or appearance.
Manufactured in a wide range of profiles and heights, these fences are designed to remain stable under pressure while enhancing the liveability of outdoor spaces. When paired with durable gate solutions, LYSAGHT® fencing systems create a cohesive perimeter that balances security, performance and design confidence.
Extra peace-of-mind for coastal regions
COLORBOND® Ultra steel is recommended for severe coastal areas (100–200m from breaking surf), while SUPERDURA® Stainless steel is for very severe coastal areas (within 100m of breaking surf). PERMALITE® Aluminium is a lightweight, corrosion-free option for severe marine zones. All three are designed to withstand harsh coastal conditions like salt spray and corrosion, but their suitability depends on the proximity to the coast.
For further information, click on: The Right Material For Your Location
CSIRO Test Results for COLORBOND® steel
Weather and impact resistance
- Diverse conditions: CSIRO has tested its performance in various Australian weather conditions, confirming its resilience against heat, rain, wind, and hail.
- Hail impact: The steel absorbs the energy from hail strikes, remaining structurally sound even if it results in minor dents.
- Corrosion resistance: It is designed to resist corrosion, which is crucial for its longevity in harsh environments.