Impact Window

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Impact Window

What is Impact Window?

A specially designed window system engineered to withstand high winds and flying debris from hurricanes and severe storms, featuring laminated glass and reinforced frames to meet strict building code requirements for hurricane-prone areas and provide enhanced security and energy efficiency.

Description

An impact window is a specially designed window system engineered to withstand high winds and flying debris from hurricanes and severe storms, featuring laminated glass and reinforced frames to meet strict building code requirements for hurricane-prone areas and provide enhanced security and energy efficiency. These advanced window systems represent a significant improvement over traditional windows in terms of safety, security, and performance, offering protection against both natural disasters and human threats. Impact windows have become essential components in coastal construction and are increasingly popular in other regions for their multiple benefits.

The primary purposes include protecting against hurricane-force winds and flying debris, meeting building code requirements in hurricane-prone areas, providing enhanced security against break-ins and intrusion, offering superior energy efficiency and insulation, reducing noise transmission for quieter interiors, eliminating the need for storm shutters or plywood, and increasing property value through improved safety and performance.

Construction features laminated glass consisting of two or more glass panes bonded with a polymer interlayer, reinforced frames made from aluminum, vinyl, or composite materials, impact-resistant glazing that remains intact even when cracked, heavy-duty hardware and locking mechanisms, and weatherstripping systems for superior air and water infiltration resistance.

FAQs

  • What is an impact window?

    An impact window is a specially designed window system engineered to withstand high winds and flying debris from hurricanes and severe storms, featuring laminated glass and reinforced frames for enhanced protection.

  • How do impact windows work?

    Impact windows use laminated glass with polymer interlayers that hold glass fragments together when broken, combined with reinforced frames and hardware to resist wind pressure and debris impact.

  • Are impact windows required by building codes?

    Yes, impact windows are required by building codes in hurricane-prone areas, particularly in coastal regions and areas designated as high-velocity hurricane zones.

  • Do impact windows provide security benefits?

    Yes, impact windows provide excellent security against break-ins due to their laminated glass construction and reinforced frames, making them much more difficult to breach than standard windows.

  • Are impact windows energy efficient?

    Yes, impact windows typically offer superior energy efficiency through advanced glazing, low-E coatings, gas fills, and insulated frames, often exceeding standard window performance.

  • Do impact windows reduce noise?

    Yes, the laminated glass construction and tight seals of impact windows provide excellent sound reduction, creating quieter interior environments.

  • Can impact windows replace storm shutters?

    Yes, properly certified impact windows eliminate the need for storm shutters or plywood protection, providing permanent storm protection without seasonal installation requirements.

Fun Fact

Fun Fact: Impact windows were first developed in the 1990s after Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida, leading to major building code reforms! The laminated glass technology was originally developed for automotive windshields to prevent injury from flying glass. Modern impact windows can withstand winds over 200 mph and impacts from 2×4 lumber traveling at 50 mph. Interestingly, impact windows are so effective that they can reduce interior noise by up to 40% compared to standard windows, making them popular even in non-hurricane areas!

CSI Code

08 51 13

NAHB Code

830