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.
Ultimately, hurricane-resistant windows are capable of withstanding winds of up to 200 miles per hour. If flying debris does hit a window, the added protection will keep the glass from breaking up into large sharp pieces.
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.
Hurricane impact windows are designed to withstand conditions present during a Category 5 hurricane, including winds up to 158 mph, flying debris, heavy hail or ice. So how strong are hurricane impact windows? Pretty darn strong.
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.
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.
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.
According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, hurricane impact windows cost from $3,083 to $15,721, with many homeowners paying $10,005 on average. While the cost of hurricane windows is more than standard window prices, hurricane windows offer protection against powerful storms and wind-borne debris.
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.
Impact windows are able to resist the force of hurricane winds and the impact of debris swept up by these winds. They are more expensive than hurricane shutters, like accordion shutters, but are far more durable.
As with a saw, the axe is used to cut the top and two sides. If a firefighter is using a halligan, the fork end is recommended as the best way to get through a hurricane window, since the point can become lodged in the plastic inner layer. Use the fork to cut and rip the window on the top and both sides.
Impact resistant windows and doors are made to withstand impact and not break into pieces regardless of whether the impact comes from hurricane-force winds, flying debris or a hammer.
Impact-resistant windows and doors were developed to protect homes from hurricane-force winds, but they're also the best solution for homeowners who want to minimize their risk for damage from tornadoes.
So with all that said, at what wind speed do windows break? A Design Pressure or DP rating measures the strength of a window. Standard residential windows have DP values between 15 and 50. A DP 15 window can reasonably be expected to sustain winds of roughly 77 mph before shattering.
Hurricane glass is designed to withstand extreme wind speeds as well as protect against wind-borne debris.
Knocking you down would take a wind of at least 70 mph. The terminal velocity, which is the wind speed (falling speed) where the force of the wind equals the force of gravity, for a person is about 120 mph — that would likely knock you down. Comments Off.
The average cost of hurricane-impact windows for an entire home is $1,908 to $10,707, with a national average of $5,332. The average price for each individual hurricane window ranges from $100 to $500, including installation. The window's size, material, and customization all influence this price range.
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.
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”.
Lower Your Insurance Costs
Because impact windows can help protect your home from high winds and flying debris, your insurance company may give you a discount on your premium. In some cases, the discount can be as much as 20 to 30 percent.
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.
Double pane windows include two pieces of glass with an air gap in between. Advantages include better insulation, noise reduction, and UV control. However, double pane windows are not designed to withstand windborne debris and should be protected just like single pane glass when a hurricane is threatening.
If one uses 185-mph winds as the threshold for category 6, only five Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history would qualify. If we lower the threshold to 180 mph, there are a total of eight that would rate as a category 6: 190 mph: Allen 1980.
Storm surge is the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm's winds. This hazard is historically the leading cause of hurricane related deaths in the United States.
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.