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| English: Geraldo Rivera at a Hudson Union Society event in September 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
By Gates
Dearen
It was Geraldo Rivera, the well-known attorney, journalist, author, reporter and talk show host who once offered some great advice, especially for Florida homeowners, “Mother Nature may be forgiving this year, or next year, but eventually she’s going to come around and whack you. You’ve got to be prepared.”
The 2014 hurricane season begins in just three months and one of the best steps homeowners can do to be prepared for Florida’s thunderstorms, tornadoes and our notorious hurricanes, is to install high-quality, impact-resistant glass for their home windows.
There are several main differences between standard glass (single glazed pane), and an impact-resistant window. In fact, Florida’s standard/threshold is double that of other areas, which must be met in order for a window to qualify as being impact-resistant.
Impact-resistant windows and doors main design characteristics are their shatter-resistant glass, which is securely fastened to a heavy-duty aluminum frame. The impact-resistant glazing consists of two layers of annealed or tempered glass bonded to an intermediate shatterproof membrane layer. This membrane is typically made of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), a plastic film that varies in thickness from .015 to .090 inches, depending on the design pressures needed. Should the outer glass break, the broken pieces adhere to the PVB film. In contrast, standard-glass windows are made of standard float glass that, when broken, fractures into large, sharp shards, many of which fall out of the frame. Some dangle dangerously on the side, like sharks teeth, awaiting unsuspecting prey.
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To be
certified as impact-resistant, windows must pass several tests. Keep in mind,
unlike bulletproof windows, the glass is expected to break. However, to be
classified as impact-resistant, the pane shouldn’t shatter nor should it get
pushed out of its frame. Generally, all impact-resistant glass must pass the
following tests:
· Launch Missile Impact Test. No, it’s not an explosive projectile screeching into your home. But almost. Here, a six-foot, nine-pound 2x4 wood stud is fired from a cannon at 80 feet per second (fps), at nearly 35 miles per hour, towards the center of the window. (FYI, most other states’ tests are at 50 fps.) If the window doesn't shatter, another board is shot at one of the window’s corners. Both the center and the corner of the window must be able to hold together to pass this test. There is also a small missile test, which subjects the window to a variety of impacts from 30 pieces of roof gravel at the same speed. Again, the window must pass the test in order be certified “impact-resistant.”
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| Hurricane Katrina making its second landfall in Louisiana, as seen by NWS New Orleans radar. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
To learn whether a product is considered impact-resistant,
ask your window dealer for a copy of its Notice of Acceptance (NOA) issued by
your county of residence. The NOA certifies whether or not the product has
passed the impact-resistant test.
Just because they’re strong enough to stop a wood 2x4 at 200 m.p.h., doesn’t mean your windows have to look bulky or unattractive. Impact-resistant windows are available in wide variety of color tints, including bronze, green, gray and blue. The window frames also can come in a variety of vinyl colors.
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| Impact-resistant Windows from HomeRite |
Impact-resistant windows have also been proven to help with
your energy savings. Scientists use the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC),
which represents the amount of heat going into a house. Florida
Due to the PVB film inside all impact-resistant windows, studies have found they’re much harder to break in to; therefore they act as a deterrent to would-be burglaries. In fact, fire personnel have special tools made especially for gaining inside access through impact-resistant glass. While not impossible to penetrate, it does take a would-be burglar more time to try to breach the glass. Obviously, this is ideal for exposing your average burglar because it takes them longer to penetrate the window or door. That’s more time, and noise that your alarm monitors, glass-break sensors or concerned neighbors have to notify the police.
In this article, I talked about the qualities, design and requisite testing of impact-resistant glass. I also mentioned several distinct advantages impact-resistant glass has over regular glass. If you have a comment about this article, please feel free to post it below. Also, if you found this article useful, please pass it on.
Due to the PVB film inside all impact-resistant windows, studies have found they’re much harder to break in to; therefore they act as a deterrent to would-be burglaries. In fact, fire personnel have special tools made especially for gaining inside access through impact-resistant glass. While not impossible to penetrate, it does take a would-be burglar more time to try to breach the glass. Obviously, this is ideal for exposing your average burglar because it takes them longer to penetrate the window or door. That’s more time, and noise that your alarm monitors, glass-break sensors or concerned neighbors have to notify the police.
In this article, I talked about the qualities, design and requisite testing of impact-resistant glass. I also mentioned several distinct advantages impact-resistant glass has over regular glass. If you have a comment about this article, please feel free to post it below. Also, if you found this article useful, please pass it on.
Gates Dearen is the co-owner of HomeRite Windows and
Doors in
Jacksonville, Florida. Owners Gates Dearen and Richard Walden
have been serving the building products industry in Florida for
over 25 years. We know the products, the industry, the market and
what adds great value to a home. Our
approach is a little different. We strive to
match the homeowner with the right windows for their home
and budget. Home improvements can be a hassle. We’re here to make life easier with
first-rate, energy efficient products; affordable prices; strong
warranties and expert, award-winning installers that provide excellent service
while respecting your home as if it were their own.
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