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.
Ultimately, hurricane-resistant windows are capable of withstanding winds of up to 200 miles per hour.
In terms of protecting your glass against storm debris hurled by less powerful tornadoes, impact windows are your best bet for preventing devastating damage to your business or commercial facility.
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.
A Category 4 hurricane will blow out most windows on high-rise buildings, uproot most trees and will likely down many power lines. Power outages can last for weeks or even months after storms of this level.
Impact Resistant Windows Help Prevent Break-Ins
Although impact resistant windows and doors are not 100% burglar proof, they make breaking into a home or business through a window or door too difficult, noisy and time-consuming.
There is a common misconception that hurricane windows and doors are “impact-proof”, but that is not true. They are called impact windows because they are impact-resistant, not impact-proof. The glass may crack when it's hit, but it will not break into pieces, or break away from the frame.
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.
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).
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.
Although there is no completely safe place during a tornado, some locations are much safer than others. Go to the basement or an inside room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway). If possible, avoid sheltering in any room with windows.
Impact and storm windows are not the same. Many people, even sometimes those working in the industry, tend to use the terms “impact” and “storm” interchangeably when it comes to windows. The thing is, while the two types of windows share many similarities, they are also quite different in many ways.
There's no such thing as a completely tornado-proof house. According to a report on wind research, a tornado-resistant home would need the following components: Missile-resistant walls, roof, windows, doors, and garage doors to protect it from airborne debris.
Category 1: 74-95 mph. Category 2: 96-110 mph. Category 3: 111-129 mph. Category 4: 130-156 mph.
All PGT WinGuard® windows and doors are rated for Impact Zone 3 and Impact Zone 4 ratings and are tested to withstand winds over 150 miles per hour in accordance with the ASCE Wind Zone Map.
Impact windows are oftentimes worth the money. Though they're typically more costly than standard windows, the impact options can reduce the price of your home insurance and help prevent costly home damages caused by storms.
FEMA, for instance, suggests that broken windows occur at incident overpressures in the range of 0.15 to 0.22 psi.
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.
Glass typically has a tensile strength of 7 megapascals (1,000 psi). However, the theoretical upper bound on its strength is orders of magnitude higher: 17 gigapascals (2,500,000 psi). This high value is due to the strong chemical Si–O bonds of silicon dioxide.
Hurricane Windows & Impact Windows Are Not the Same
To be considered a hurricane window, a product simply needs to provide a certain level of wind resistance. An impact window, on the other hand, will offer wind resistance as well as protection from impacts.
Yes, the installation of bulletproof glass in private cars is entirely legal, and anyone can install bulletproof glass for protection in their vehicle (we recommend professionals who can properly seal and install the Armormax® 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”.
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.
The biggest drawback of impact windows is their cost, which is why they are typically only used in high-risk areas. However, it is beneficial in the long run because they last much longer than other types of glass.
In addition to window protection from hurricanes, impact windows also provide noise insulation, block UV rays and provide additional home security.