Hurricane Impact Windows Wind Ratings
But unless you ve bought the expensive impact rated version you re windows are completely vulnerable to breakage from wind borne debris.
Hurricane impact windows wind ratings. Designed engineered and manufactured to withstand severe coastal weather conditions andersen windows and doors with stormwatch protection offer our greatest level of hurricane strength protection for your coastal home. Our hurricane strength windows and patio doors offer some of the best protection from coastal storms. Solar powered fresh air venting curb mount skylight with impact low e3 glass. At asp windows and doors we re experts in supplying and installing the best hurricane impact windows.
We provide you with an overview so you can make an informed decision when buying impact windows. Hurricane wind storm resistant windows doors guide how to protect building windows doors from storm damage miami dade county standards for storm resistant windows international residential code for impact resistant windows storm resistant window construction performance grade and design pressure for windows industry associations for windows doors questions answers about building. As a result south florida has different requirements for rating approved impact resistant windows. While this impact resistant glass will probably still shatter upon strong impact from flying objects it generally remains attached to the inner membrane and.
Wind pressure failure of glazing is also occasionally observed. Windows and doors can fail if they are not strong enough to resist wind pressures from a high wind event or if forces exerted on the doors or windows. Some of the windows are even labeled with hurricane rated tags but the fine print reads much differently. Windows that are marketed as hurricane resistant or storm proof are constructed with impact resistant glass treated with a layer of polyvinyl butral pvb or ethylene vinyl acetate eva.
South florida is a hotbed for hurricanes and severe weather. In theory its true the dp50 rated window is designed to take those wind loads. Figure 10 1 shows how the failure of a large window led to the loss of the roof structure. Codes for hurricane windows vary by community of course.
The saffir simpson hurricane wind scale classifies hurricanes in the following format. Impact window ratings can be a little confusing. The test includes air water and structural testing but also adds a fourth requirement. Areas subject to high winds or frequent hurricanes such as south florida typically have high design pressure requirements.
For example windows in miami may be subject to design pressure ratings of 50 to 70 psf allowing them to withstand wind speeds of 140 to more than 160 miles per hour.