On the other hand, hurricane proof windows use laminated materials to stop projectiles. The glass comes treated to resist shattering - not stop a bullet. The vast majority of impact-resistant windows come treated with polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).
Hurricane windows are treated with a laminate that prevents the glass from breaking but does not stop a bullet from passing through them. These windows are designed to protect against flying debris caused by hurricane winds. So, to answer your question, no, hurricane or impact windows aren't bulletproof.
Although they are not rated as being bulletproof, impact windows can stop a small caliber bullet as you will see in this video. In order for the glass to be considered bullet-proof, a window must undergo a ballistic test which is different from an impact test.
While impact windows aren't indestructible, they are very hard to break. To get through, a burglar would create a ruckus and likely be caught. Breaking through impact windows typically proves to be considerable work and energy, forcing burglars to move on.
In plain terms, yes, impact glass can break. However, as these glass structures receive impact, the inner layer of PVB keeps the structure from breaking down—it keeps the window standing even though the glass shatters. There are varying types of impact glass.
Impact resistant windows, also known as hurricane windows, are designed and made to withstand high winds (up to 170 mph) and resist shattering when struck.
How much force does it take to break a house window? Depending on the manufacturer, the force required to break tempered glass ranges from 20,000 to 24,000 PSI (or pounds per square inch).
Installing these windows significantly lowers your chances of major damage to your home. Hurricane impact windows have advanced to the point where they can withstand Category 5 wind conditions, and the debris that goes with it. So next time a hurricane hits your neighborhood, don't be caught unprotected.
Category 4 Hurricane
These winds can destroy a home's roof structure and exterior walls, topple most trees and power lines, and cause damage that will last for months. Category 4 hurricanes cause extreme harm to glass windows and doors for homes and businesses.
If you're in the room where the window broke, move to another part of the house. If one window breaks, more might as well. Move to an inner room that perhaps doesn't have windows, like a closet or bathroom or even a basement if you have one. The storm can rage in, but you'll be safer away from windows of any kind.
Bulletproof glass ranges from 0.25 inches to 3.5 inches and as the thickness increases, so does the weight. This is critically important to consider when designing and building structures. Bulletproof glass ranges in levels of protection from UL 1 to 10.
The suitability of VICHOR Waterjet for cutting bullet proof glass comes from the unique characteristics of waterjet cutting itself. The process is cold, meaning it doesn't generate heat that could compromise the integrity of the bulletproof glass.
The biggest factor in taking a shot through glass is the angle of obliquity, or basically, how perpendicular the bullet is to the glass. Shots that can be taken at an angle of obliquity less than 15 degrees are preferred. At any angle greater than 15 degrees the bullet will generally start to yaw and be deflected.
Acrylic, more commonly known as plexiglass, is one of the most common materials used to create ballistic windows for homes. It weighs much less than glass and can obtain a UL 752 Level 2 rating at a thickness of about 1.25 inches.
A level 5 bulletproof glass is able to withstand at least 1 shot of a 7.62 rifle mm round. There was a time when this indicated a class of full-power military main battle rifle cartridge. Level 8 protection means that the glass can deflect at least 5 shots from a 7.62 mm rifle.
Weight of Bulletproof Glass
Because the glass is so thick, the weight is increased dramatically. Regular windshield glass weighs around 25 pounds. A rank B4 windshield (generally around 20+mm thick) weighs between 150 – 250 pounds depending on the design, while a rank B7 windshield comes in at around 500 pounds.
After moving west across south Florida and into the very warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Katrina intensified rapidly and attained Category 5 status (with peak sustained winds of 175mph) for a period of time as it moved northwest on August 28th.
A Category 7 is a hypothetical rating beyond the maximum rating of Category 5. A storm of this magnitude would most likely have winds between 215 and 245 mph, with a minimum pressure between 820-845 millibars.
There is officially no such thing as a Category 6 hurricane. But the idea of revising or adding to the scale has been discussed by some climate scientists who believe the current categories may not be adequate for increasingly extreme storms in the future.
Many impact windows are rated to function properly from 10 to 25 years, depending on the brand and materials.
Impact windows use thick laminated glass and sturdy framing materials, which result in a decrease in external noise by as much as 40%. Their overall thickness ranges from 7/16” to 9/16”, as compared to typical single pane glass measuring an average of 1/8”.
Impact windows are able to withstand all wind-blown debris, forced entry attempts, and wind speeds of up to 175 mph. This is the equivalent wind speed of a Category 5 hurricane.
The surface is at weakest on the edges where the glass is most likely to chip, crack or break. If you start around the edges and then work your way toward the middle of the window, the entire sheet of glass should shatter eventually.
Choose a corner
Make sure you smash the corner of the window. Whether you hit from the inside to save yourself, or from the outside to save another: by hitting the corner of the window it will break fastest. Preferably protect your hand a little: safety glass is still pretty sharp.
PROTECT WINDOWS AND GLASS DOORS WITH STORM SHUTTERS Storm shutters prevent windows from breaking when there is windborne debris. You can also add shatter- resistant film or stormproof high-impact glass to defend glass from breaking.