Discover the Power of Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors

Windows and doors are crucial points when it comes to safeguarding your home. These vulnerable junctures can pose a significant risk if compromised, especially in hurricane-prone areas. Conventional doors and windows are no match for the fury of extreme winds. This is where impact-resistant windows and doors step in. They are designed to withstand hurricanes and provide a robust defense against powerful winds and water penetration. Join us in this article to discover the world of impact-resistant doors and windows.

The Essential Role of Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors in Hurricane Zones

Impact-resistant windows and doors hold a crucial role within the U.S. Building Code, particularly in hurricane-prone regions. The building code is a set of rules regarding construction and architectural elements established by local governing bodies. Its purpose is to put in place the minimum requirements to protect the population. All homeowners must comply with the Building Code while building or renovating their properties. Florida authorities established a set of building regulations called the Florida Building Code, the strictest building code in North America.

Moreover, Miami-Dade and Broward counties, under the umbrella of the Florida Building Code, fall under even more stringent regulations. Properties must receive a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) certificate to remain compliant. This certificate determines a product’s performance under extreme weather or other conditions. They have the strictest test protocols in the U.S. for wind-borne debris, positive and negative air pressure, and water penetration. The Notice of Acceptance (NOA) exclusively endorses impact-resistant items that adhere to the utmost safety benchmarks within the industry. At Indoors B.V., you have access to impact-resistant doors and windows that boast the highest certifications in terms of standards. Given the Caribbean region’s vulnerability to severe wind loads, opting for the utmost level of available protection is imperative.

How do impact windows and doors differ from standard ones?

Impact-resistant windows and doors are built to endure the forces of powerful storms. While regular doors and windows suffice in typical situations, they cannot prevent airborne debris and water infiltration during extreme weather events. In contrast, impact-resistant doors and windows are meticulously constructed utilizing top-tier materials and advanced engineering methods to establish a robust shield against external perils. They are not only much more massive and thicker than standard products. Most importantly every part and detail of these doors and windows serves the purpose of hurricane protection. Impact-resistant doors & windows are built with heavy-duty frames, using impact-resistant laminated glass and a special silicone glazing process.

Ultimate Hurricane Protection: Construction of Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors

Impact windows and doors might look like conventional ones, but you will discover huge differences upon closer inspection!

Glass used in impact doors and windows

Impact-resistant windows and doors are constructed with either laminated or laminated insulated glass. This type of glass possesses the remarkable ability to withstand forceful impacts and strong winds without shattering or becoming compromised. Laminated glass consists of two glass panes securely bonded together using a specialized interlayer. Although wind-borne debris or an attempted break-in may crack the glass, the interlayer keeps the overall window and door intact, preventing destructive winds or intruders from entering your home. You can rest easy knowing that your family is safe from harm caused by flying debris or dangerous glass shards if an object strikes during a storm.

Additionally, the glass is notably thicker compared to that used in traditional counterparts. The impact doors and windows we sell at Indoors B.V. come with heat-strengthened glass and a 2.2 mm thick interlayer. In comparison, standard European products have non-strengthened glass and 0.76 mm thick interlayer.

Heavy-duty frames of impact-resistant windows and doors

Frames for laminated glass used in impact windows are more robust than those found in conventional windows. This added strength is essential because even if the glass remains intact, a powerful impact could be forceful enough to compromise the entire frame’s stability.

Special silicone glazing of impact doors and windows

To ensure the glass remains in place, the glass is placed into the frame, utilizing high-strength silicone. This prevents the glass from detaching from its frame, even under duress.

Crafted for hurricane protection

Impact-resistant windows and doors are nothing like ordinary ones. Unlike standard ones, the clips do not hold the glass, but the glass is glued into the frame. In the conventional door, you remove the gaskets, bump the clips, and the glass falls off. When it comes to the impact door, you will need to take out the clips and gasket rubber, and then you need to cut the silicone for hours. Only then will you be able to take the glass out. That’s why it is not only an excellent protection from hurricane but also attempted break-ins.

Impact products, impact doors especially, swing outwards. It’s because when the pressure is applied during a hurricane, it is dispersed all over the frame. When the door swings outwards, there is no chance that it will open inwards to give it a chance to fail just because of the latch. That’s why you won’t find any impact product that opens inwards. Secondly, the clips holding the glass face outwards, while in the non-impact models, they face inwards. When clips face inwards, and someone applies pressure from outside to inside, these clips can fail, and the whole construction collapses, which happened many times during Hurricane Irma. But in this impact door, the pressure is not against clips. It’s against the frame of the door. The frame opens outwards, so the doors are entirely wedged against the frame.

Tested and certified for ultimate hurricane protection

Most importantly, the impact product with all its components must undergo rigorous tests to get certification. During these trials, specialists evaluate the ability of materials to resist wind-borne debris in a different load of pressure. Not all certificates are equal. If you’re choosing between different products, check their documentation and verify for how strong wind loads these products were tested. As mentioned initially, if you’re looking for the most robust products possible, look for Miami-Dade Cerrtificate for HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zones) and NOA acceptance.

Visit our showroom to see and feel the difference between regular and impact-resistant products. 

Other Advantages of impact doors and windows

Hurricane protection is the main benefit of impact-resistant products. However, there are other advantages:

• Security: Impact-resistant windows and doors are potent deterrents against burglars and intruders.
• Noise Reduction: The improved design of impact doors and windows frequently leads to enhanced noise reduction capabilities.
• Energy Efficiency: Numerous impact-resistant windows and doors are energy efficient. Their effective seals and insulation qualities prevent drafts and reduce heat transfer, potentially reducing energy costs for you.
• U.V. Protection: Impact-resistant windows frequently include integrated U.V. filters, which play a role in safeguarding your interior furnishings and flooring against the detrimental consequences of prolonged sun exposure. This protective measure can prolong the longevity of your possessions and diminish the necessity for frequent replacements.

How do you make sure the impact products you buy are genuine?

All that glitters is not gold, and before making a purchase, make sure the product you’re buying is real impact-resistant. Unfortunately, there are many sellers that sometimes, out of ignorance, say they sell impact and provide you with conventional products. To say that a product is impact-resistant costs nothing. However, never take a word for it. Impact products always come with proper documentation that specifies tests they went through and against what wind loads it was tested. When deciding on impact windows and doors, the primary considerations revolve around quality and performance. High-quality products undergo comprehensive testing and boast a track record free of reported failures. It’s advisable to seek out a manufacturer with documented NOAs (Notice of Acceptance by Miami-Dade County) for their impact-resistant windows and doors.

The importance of proper installation of impact doors and windows

Properly installing the impact-resistant windows and doors is crucial to the product’s performance. Every manufacturer outlines the specific installation guidelines for their impact-resistant windows to ensure optimal protection against storm-propelled debris. When searching for an installer, prioritize those with substantial experience and a strong grasp of these instructions or other relevant installation specifications. At Indoors B.V., we offer installation according to the code.

Impact products styles

Much like conventional doors, impact doors, and windows are available in diverse styles, colors, and sizes. This extensive variety permits homes to maintain visual appeal while ensuring security. Impact-resistant windows and doors offer a broad spectrum of design styles, including single-hung windows, horizontal roller windows, casement/projected windows, picture, architectural windows, and sliding glass and French doors. All of them are available in different colors and styles. You don’t have to choose between aesthetics & hurricane protection. Thanks to impact-resistant windows and doors, you can have both!