You already know that taping windows provides no protection whatsoever from flying debris and just cracking windows actually increases your risk of a catastrophic roof failure.Now let's tackle the idea that only selected openings should be covered during a hurricane or severe weather.
MYTH
Protect only the windows and doors facing the ocean.
REALITY
Wind can come from any direction or angle and may change direction quickly. Tropical storms and hurricanes are large circular systems. As the eye of the storm passes your house, the winds may change direction up to 180 degrees, depending on your proximity to the eye. Protecting windows, entry doors, and garage doors with tested and approved shutters or impact-resistant windows is the best way to prevent damage from flying debris or wind pressure. If no system is in place, use 5/8” plywood as an emergency board-up measure, but be sure to use appropriate attachment methods or the plywood could become windborne debris and increase damage potential.
Now that you know that only tested and approved shutter systems or windows made with impact-resistant glass should be used as window protection, let’s debunk another common myth.
MYTH: Crack or open windows to allow wind pressure inside the house to equal pressure outside and avoid damage.
REALITY: Opening windows to relieve pressure is a myth that has perpetuated for some time because of the way buildings appear to fail from high winds. Today, experts and wind scientists agree that the most important thing to do in a windstorm is to keep all windows and doors closed to prevent wind from entering and causing a syndrome called internal pressurization. For optimal protection, windows, doors, and garage doors should be closed during a storm and covered with an approved hurricane shutter system or be constructed of impact-resistant and pressure-resistant materials.
Most of us have been fooled by urban myths and email hoaxes. Remember the Bill Gates e-mail? It was a hoax and you never saw a dime. Unlike that harmless hoax, urban myths about disaster safety aren’t just annoying, they are dangerous. Myth 1: Placing masking tape, duct tape or window film over windows will prevent window damage and protect families during hurricanes and other high wind events. Reality: Masking tape, duct tape, or window film will not protect windows from being broken by windborne debris in hurricanes or severe storms. While some believe that tape or film may help to keep glass from dispersing on impact, even this is questionable. Window film has many uses, such as decreasing energy costs, but there is no window film product that has been tested and approved for residential window protection. For effective family and home safety, all windows and openings (entry doors, garage doors, etc.) should be covered with tested and approved hurricane shutters or should be constructed with impact-resistant and pressure-resistant materials.
