Product Information

Residential Windows & Doors Product Info

Compare impact-rated window and door options for residential projects in South Florida, and review the key factors that determine when a home should be upgraded.

Overview

Residential impact-resistant windows and doors, also generally known as hurricane windows, are products that consolidate heavy-duty frames with impact-resistant laminated glass and a unique silicone glazing process to keep the glass from tearing away from its frame. Hurricane windows offer the most exceptional protection against storms, primarily in the state of Florida where storms are a common phenomenon. Impact windows additionally offer other benefits, including noise mitigation and better protection against intruders. With hurricane windows and doors, your home's enclosure will remain intact, even if a window or door is hit with a flying piece of wood or rubble.

Design Characteristics

Impact windows and doors' main design characteristics are the shatter-resistant glass securely attached to a heavy-duty aluminum frame. The impact-resistant glazing consists of two layers of annealed or tempered glass bonded to an intermediate layer of a shatter-proof membrane. This membrane is typically made of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), a plastic film which varies from .015 to .090 inches in thickness, depending on the design pressures needed. If the outer glass breaks, the shattered pieces will adhere to the PVB film. Another option is Sentry Glass (SGB) which is stronger and can withstand higher wind pressures in comparison to (PVB). In contrast, standard-glass windows are made of standard float glass that, when broken, will fracture in large sharp shards.

Glass Types

A unique silicone glazing method helps keep the laminated glass from breaking away from the frame. Laminated glass is composed of two pieces of glass bonded collectively with a powerful clear interlayer. Once sealed, the glass "sandwich" behaves as an individual unit and is translucent like conventional glass.

A unique silicone glazing method helps keep the laminated insulating glass from separating away from the frame. Laminated insulating glass is formed of three panes of glass: two panes of glass bonded together with a tough, clear interlayer for shock resistance and one pane for added padding. Once sealed, the glass "sandwich" behaves as a single unit and is translucent like conventional glass.

Windows and doors Requirements

Each impact-resistant window and door model we sell goes through testing requirements set by Miami-Dade County, the most precise wind-borne debris standard in the entire world. Our impact-resistant products are examined and comply with the more capable Large Missile standard (LMI).

Out of six testing standards, there are two prime elements to the wind-borne debris examination protocol:

why you should consider impact-resistant products

It's clear that the abundance of long-term benefits from the installation of impact windows are worth the investment. They are more than a seasonal product and can make life easier and safer. Some of the benefits include but are not limited to:

Questions? Call (786) 701-3910 or email bhp@bhpwindows.com .