How’d They Do That? The Science and Engineering Behind Hurricane Impact Windows

We’ve all heard about the incredible strength of hurricane impact windows and the unparallelled level of security they provide for your home and family during a powerful storm. But how do they do it? Glass windows have been around since the first century, but only in the past few decades, with the advent of modern technology and engineering, have scientists been able to develop windows that can face Mother Nature’s wrath head on and win.

Windows are one of the most critical parts of securing your home during a hurricane. If debris or wind shatters your windows, your home will have extreme wind and water damage as well as glass shards throughout. Moreover, the rush of outdoor air into your home will alter the air pressure in your home, which can lead to your roof blowing off and walls collapsing.

A standard single pane window can easily shatter if it is hit with debris. In contrast, hurricane impact windows are made with laminated glass, which contains multiple layers of protection. It features two layers of glass bonded together with a super strong interlayer between them. The interlayer is typically polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). The interlayer holds the glass together and prevents it from shattering. If a projectile hits the glass, it may spiderweb, but the interlayer keeps the spiderwebbed glass intact, preventing further damage to your home. To provide even more protection, hurricane impact windows feature at least two, and sometimes three, panes of laminated glass.

Extra strong window frames, usually made from aluminum, reinforced wood, fiberglass or reinforced vinyl, support the window glass even when high winds and rain pound on them for hours. Standard window frames are not built to withstand this level of pressure.

Completing the window are extra strong weather stripping and multiple fasteners to hold the window in place in the wall and prevent water and wind intrusion between the window frame and the wall.

All hurricane impact windows are subject to rigorous testing procedures. Four of these include:

• Throwing a nine-pound 2X4 piece of wood directly into the window at a speed of 50 feet per second to ensure the window won’t shatter if hit by large debris.
• Throwing small steel ball bearings at the window at 89 mph to ensure the window stays intact if hit with gravel or other small debris.
• Placing the window in a special chamber that generates hurricane force winds in multiple directions to ensure it can withstand the pressure
• Pouring a heavy flow of water over the window for an extended period of time to ensure it is watertight.

Hurricane impact windows are your home’s best protection against the devastation of a hurricane. No other type of window comes close to providing the protection, as well as the aesthetics, and level of comfort, that hurricane impact windows provide. If you’re ready to learn more, contact South Florida’s preeminent hurricane window provider: CitiQuiet Windows and Doors. We serve all of South Florida and make the window purchasing process easy and enjoyable.

Since 2012, CitiQuiet Windows and Doors has been engineering and installing high-quality impact windows, doors, and shutters for residential and commercial buildings throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties. 

Based in Boca Raton, CitiQuiet Windows and Doors offers a turnkey service to clients including initial design, engineering, permitting, installation and finish work.  From elegant French doors to hurricane impact-resistant windows and sliding glass doors, CitiQuiet Windows and Doors has your solution. 

At CitiQuiet Windows and Doors, we carry only the highest-quality products from the nation’s top manufacturers – and we stand behind everything we sell.  For a free estimate, contact CitiQuiet Windows and Doors at 561-241-9463, visit us atcitiquiethurricanewindows.com,  or stop by the showroom today at 6530 West Rogers Circle, Suite 29, Boca Raton, FL 33487.

With an A+ rating from Better Business Bureau (BBB), CitiQuiet Windows and Doors consistently strives to exceed customer expectations.