[NJblue]

When we were looking at houses in TV, our sales rep said that all homes built in recent years complied with the new Florida building codes to improve their resilience to hurricanes. Included in this added protection, according to him, was a new standard that windows must adhere to in terms of resisting breakage from blown debris.

We just had a window film salesman give us a pitch for a 3M product that will keep the window from shattering into flying pieces if struck by a projectile (in addition to providing protection from heat gain and UV penetration). He claimed that all windows in TV have no inherent shatter resistance - i.e., that they are no better than they were 20 years ago. When I told him what our sales rep said about the Florida building code that pertains to windows he said that our sales rep was wrong/lying.

Does anyone know for sure which sales person was telling the truth? If the TV sales rep was correct, can anyone point me to the building code that specifies this?

[Taj44]

Originally Posted by NJblue

When we were looking at houses in TV, our sales rep said that all homes built in recent years complied with the new Florida building codes to improve their resilience to hurricanes. Included in this added protection, according to him, was a new standard that windows must adhere to in terms of resisting breakage from blown debris.

We just had a window film salesman give us a pitch for a 3M product that will keep the window from shattering into flying pieces if struck by a projectile (in addition to providing protection from heat gain and UV penetration). He claimed that all windows in TV have no inherent shatter resistance - i.e., that they are no better than they were 20 years ago. When I told him what our sales rep said about the Florida building code that pertains to windows he said that our sales rep was wrong/lying.

Does anyone know for sure which sales person was telling the truth? If the TV sales rep was correct, can anyone point me to the building code that specifies this?

Hurricane iimpact resistant windows are very expensive. We have a designer built in 2006, and it does not have hurricane resistant windows. Here is a link that descriibes how a true hurricane impact resistant window works:

http://www.fhaproducts.com/windows.php

When you read it you will understand why the windows are so expensive.

This is some info I read regarding films on windows for hurricane impact resistance: "Window films make several claims, primarily impact resistance, solar and UV protection. While certainly better than no protection, films often provide the least protection of the options currently available. One advantage film offers is that glass is held together after an impact. Films main problem is that often window are not fastened properly in the house frame or the glass is not fastened securely into the frame of the window so that no matter how effective the film is, the glass comes out of the window frame or window itself comes out of the wall. Your hurricane impact protection is only as strong as the weakest link. Film has the advantage in price - it is generally the least expensive of the options. If you are sure that your windows and window glass are securely fastened and/or this is the only option you can afford, some protection is better than no protection. "

Hope this helps.

[784caroline]

I fully agree with TAJ44. WE are looking into enclosing our lanai with windows and had some companies wanting to use the exisiting aluminun 2x2 that were holding the screen in to hold our windows. Windows are heavy ...heavier than acrylic and reputable companies would not even suggest that as an option. As TAJ44 states, the window itself can withstand a hurricane but if the frame holdnig the windows cannot, it does not matter.

WE are in a 100 MPH rated hurricane zone. Most windows will meet that criteria...acrylic windows will not they are rated for 70 MPH at best. BUt you need to focus on the framing as well as the windows to have some peace of mind.

[NJblue]

Yes, I understand that true hurricane "proof" windows are very expensive. However, I was told by our TV sales agent that the new code for windows provided a considerable improvement against breakage than whatever the "old" technology offered. While perhaps not hurricane proof, this new standard is a considerable step up from the way houses/windows were built before this new code. At least that's what the TV sales rep said.

Based on the above two comments, it seems that perhaps I was sold a bill of goods by the sales rep????

[Bob S]

Your sales rep was only partially correct. The current code is the 2007 Florida Residential Building Code. Design wind loads for all structures have been increased all across Florida since the Hurricane Andrew days. Design wind speeds vary across Florida from 100 MPH up to 150 MPH. The Villages are in the 100 MPH zone. (In contrast most of the US is designed for only 90 MPH winds.)

The Florida code requires that windows be protected from flying debris only in areas with 120 MPH winds or 110 MPH if near the coast:
"WIND-BORNE DEBRIS REGION. Portions of hurricane-prone regions that are within 1 mile (1.61 km) of the coastal mean high water line where the basic wind speed is 110 mph (48 m/s) or greater; or portions of hurricane-prone regions where the basic wind speed is 120 mph (53 m/s) or greater; or Hawaii."

As for the film, it will not offer much protection from flying debris other than keeping the glass fragments together. The window will still break, but may fall in as more of a complete unit.

I hope this helps.

[BogeyBoy]

You might want to discuss this in more detail with the company trying to sell you the film. When we lived in Naples we had film installed and they had a method of installation which improved the film/glass/frame connection. They showed us a pretty impressive video with the broken glass remaining attached to the frame after impact. Of course it cost a lot more than the standard film. I believe it is the same film (or a variation of the same film) used in government buildings in case of bomb blasts.

Our main concern at that time was a hurricane hitting when we were not there. As luck would have it were always there when hurricanes hit and we went through our ritual of putting up our steel storm shutters - so the film never got a test.