Understanding Hurricane Impact Glass Specifications

How strong are hurricane impact windows?

Hurricane impact windows differ quite a bit from windows you would install in a non-hurricane zone. The window or door needs to withstand winds up to 160 mph while keeping water outside of your building. There are three main performance criteria to consider when buying hurricane windows: debris resistance, water management, and corrosion resistance. Let's dive into each of these topics for a better understanding:

Debris Resistance

High winds during hurricanes mean debris is flying around everywhere, possibly tearing buildings apart. Laminated glass with a PVB interlayer on the interior is crucial to keeping debris and water out of your building. PVB laminate is a flexible polycarbonate material sandwiched between two pieces of glass that aids in withstanding high wind pressures to keep debris out. Another thing we do not want is debris from one building hitting another. We designed Peerless hurricane impact windows to stay together to protect a building owner and their neighbor. The overall goal is to keep as much debris on the outside of the building as possible.

Water Management

If your building is outside of the direct hurricane impact and there was no structural damage, you will likely be dealing with large amounts of rain. Water damage is costly and can cause mold problems down the line and, in some cases, lead to lawsuits. To help mitigate water damage, you need windows that will not let water inside the building, barring any actual glass breakage. We use structural glazing silicone in all Peerless hurricane impact windows to ensure that the glass never gets pulled away from the frame. In some cases, to maintain the standard 12lb water performance, the sill height of a door has to grow. With our innovative door design, we can maintain a 1/2" ADA sill ensuring our doors are wheelchair accessible and top-performing during a hurricane.

Corrosion Resistance

During a hurricane, winds will spray buildings with salt water which can cause damage to exterior finishes. If a building does not take on any water or has debris damage, refinishing or replacing windows or doors would be a considerable expense due to a damaged finish. Peerless windows and doors come with a superior AAMA 2605 exterior powder coat finish tested to withstand 4000 hrs of salt spray resistance. Our AAMA 2605 powder coat finish can come with a 20-year warranty.

Design Pressure Ratings

The design pressure (DP) rating indicates the maximum wind pressure the glass can withstand without breaking. Hurricane impact glass is rigorously tested to ensure it can withstand high wind loads and pressure cycles similar to those found in real storms. The required DP rating varies based on building height, location, and other factors, and it's essential to choose windows that meet local building codes.

How Strong Are Hurricane Impact Windows?

In an average hurricane, there are 9000 gusts of wind. To accurately test for hurricane-like conditions, we cycle test our products. This cycle pressure starts at half the design pressure and then works up to full design pressure. The first 4500 cycles will get more intense as they go; this simulates the strongest part of the storm when it is over the building. The second 4500 cycles dissipate, simulating the storm as it passes; the further ashore a hurricane gets, the more strength it will lose. Peerless hurricane impact products meet the stringent AAMA 506 specifications and ASTM 1996 and 1886 for large missile impact requirements.

Peerless Impact Windows and Doors

Peerless offers a wide variety of Hurricane Impact Products to meet the growing demand for high-performing impact windows and doors. Our goal is ultimately to keep the building intact and as free from water damage as possible! Below is a table of our products that are approved for the HVHZ, high-velocity hurricane zone, and for installation in Miami-Dade County.

For help on your next project or more information on hurricane impact products reach out to us through our request to quote page!