Impact-Resistant Windows

An impact-resistant window must become one with the frame and the building wall. Caulking, sealing, and anchoring the window frame in the building wall are essential for its success. Frames Add Strength to Glazing It takes an entire window system to make an impact-resistant opening. Frames for impact-resistant windows or doors may be constructed from wood, metal, vinyl, or any combination thereof. However, frames are generally heavier than for regular residential windows, because although the glass may not break, a strong force could hit the window hard enough to cause the entire frame to give way. “The frame can be any material, but they have stiffeners and reinforcement inside to help them bear the impact,” Hedlund says. “A lot of the windows have frames that are reinforced with steel, which makes a really solid structure. It takes much more to make an impact-resistant window than just putting in the glass,” he adds. Testing For Total Security Not every window on the market can claim to be impact resistant. There are testing standards set forth by the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) that must be met before the window is certified as being impact-resistant. One of the most stringent of the requirements comes from the South Florida Building Code, which has been concerned over the increase in the number and force of hurricanes in recent years. Beginning in July, 2001, the South Florida Building Code required that every exterior opening in a house be protected against flying debris either by shutters or impact resistant windows. Also, according to the code, the windows must meet requirements for large and small missiles. It specifies that for large missiles, the window has been tested with an impact from a six-foot long 2 by 4 weighing nine pounds, traveling at 50 feet per second. The test is done in a laboratory setting with the lumber fired from a cannon into the window. The window glazing must remain intact after the impact. The small missile test exposes the window to a variety of impacts with 30 pieces of roof gravel traveling at approximately 80 feet per second or 50 miles per hour in order to meet the certification requirements. Current tests actually use steel ball bearings for uniformity in test conditions. The windows are marked and graded according to the South Florida Building Code to ensure that you are getting exactly what you’re paying for. You can rest assured when buying impact-resistant windows that the product will perform as advertised when installed according to manufacturer’s specifications.

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