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Your Guide To Buying High Impact Glass Windows

high impact glass windows

Hurricanes are a common natural disaster in Florida. It’s important that you take every precaution necessary to keep your property safe from flying debris and damaging winds. There are many forms of hurricane protection for your property, with one of the most popular being impact-resistant windows. Many property owners may be unsure whether or not their windows may meet the requirements necessary to be hurricane proof. Here’s your guide to high impact glass windows.

Difference Between Regular And Impact Windows

Impact windows feature two layers of shatter-resistant glass that are secured to a heavy-duty frame. The two pieces are bonded together with a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) film. If the outer layer should break, the shattered pieces will stick to the film. Your property will still remain protected from water and wind. Regular windows consist of float glass that will break up into large shards when impacted.

There are a few things you can do to identify high impact glass windows. There will typically be a permanent mark in one of the glass corners. This mark features the name of the supplier, the location of fabrication, certifications, and manufacturing date. If you don’t see the mark, look for a removable label with this information. You can also hold up your hand or an object up to the hurricane glass windows and see two reflections.

Building Code Standards

According to the Florida Building Code, windows are required to be impact resistant if they are located within a mile of a coast with wind speeds of 110 mph or more. There are guidelines that these hurricane proof windows must be in order to be sold. The American Society for Testing and Materials requires that high impact glass windows must pass a launch missile impact test. In order to pass this test, the glass is subjected to 200 mph wind simulations and the corners and center of the window must hold together in order to pass.

High impact glass windows can be purchased and installed by professional window manufacturers in Florida. We can help you choose the best hurricane proof windows to keep your property safe from harm. Contact us today for more information!


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