Understanding Glazing / GLASS
Hurricane Resistant Impact WinDows and Sliding Glass Doors go through a series of six rigorous tests before they pass the TEST.
The Six Basic Criteria Tested:
1) Air infiltration,
2) Water resistance,
3) Forced entry,
4) Wind resistance,
5) Flying debris impact resistance,
6) 9,000 internal and external pressure cycles.
TEST VIDEO:
This cycling simulates the buffeting effect of hurricane winds after the window is impacted and typically broken. The objective of these procedures is to ensure that the windows and doors, typically the weakest elements of a structure, do not compromise the home during a storm.
Five benefits of installing insulated impact glass windows
• Immediate protection from hurricanes
Protecting your home has never been easier. With every impending storm, you can rest assure that your home will be secure.
• Protection from burglary and vandalism
The same impact-resistant glass and heavy construction that keeps flying objects from penetrating these doors and windows also provides a strong deter ent to intruders, thieves and vandals.
• Noise reduction
FHA windows and doors act as a significant sound barrier reducing 50% of outside noise, enhancing the peacefulness and tranquility of your home interior.
• Sun protection
Laminated glass used in impact windows and doors blocks 98% of harmful rays, protecting your furniture, rugs, artwork, and family.
• Value
The installation of insulated impact glass windows and doors maintains historic returns of 125.3%to 163.3%.
What is Heat-Treated Glass?
Heat-treated glass is glass that has been processed through a tempering oven to increase its strength to resist impact, mechanical loads and thermal stress breakage. There are two distinct heat-treated glass products, heat-strengthened and fully tempered.
Where should I use it?
- Sliding Glass Doors: Entrance, Storm and Sidelites
- Tub and Shower Enclosures
- WinDows: Commercial/Residential,Fixed and Operable
- Displays, Partitions
- Storefronts and Handrails
Laminated glass:
Besides increasing the strength of glass to act as a barrier against wind blown debris from storms, laminated glass also reduces transmitted noise by more than 50% over standard annealed glass.
Additionally, the PVB interlayer contained in laminated glass filters the sun’s ultra violet rays thereby blocking these harmful rays from fading fine furniture, draperies and carpeting. This extra benefit is particularly appreciated in intense sunny climates.
Insulated Glass: When laminated glass is used as part of an insulated glass unit, the benefits go beyond just impact protection. The result is lower energy costs, better condensation resistance and significantly less transmitted noise.
Remember The Savings...
When you use hurricane code approved WinDows and Sliding Glass Doors throughout your Home or Condo Building, you may be entitled to a premium reduction. Each insurance company may have a different qualifications and requirements. Please contact your insurance company to find out how to receive a premium reduction with your new tested and approved impact windows and doors.
Take A Closer Look At Our Recommended Glass Types
Featuring:
Single Glazed Impact
Insulated Impact
Insulated Non-Impact
NON-IMPACT GLASS 
PAGE ONE of GLASS CHART (PDF)
IMPACT GLASS PAGE TWO of GLASS CHART (PDF)
Understanding The Characteristics Of High Performance Glass
Roller Wave Distortion in Heat-treated Glass
Annealed glass that is processed through a horizontal oscillating tempering furnace will contain surface waves creating waviness or roller wave distortion, when viewing reflected images from a distance. The industry standard for heattreated glass, ASTM C1048 Standard Specification for Heat-Treated Flat Glass-Kind HS, Kind FT Coated and Uncoated Glass, specifically addresses distortion in paragraph 7.4.1, Read Below...
"Thermally tempered and heat-strengthened glass is made by heating glass in a furnace to a temperature at which the glass becomes slightly plastic. Immediately after heating, the glass surfaces are rapidly cooled by quenching with air from a series of nozzles. The original flatness of the glass is slightly modified by the heat treatment, causing reflected images to be distorted. When viewing images through the glass, the distortion, in most glazing applications, is less than that of the reflected images and is not as noticeable."
Paragraph 7.4.5 states further that regardless of the flatness achieved, the perceived reflective distortion is primarily due to the symmetry of the object being reflected. For instance, linear objects (telephone poles and building curtain walls) and moving objects (such as cars, etc.) may appear distorted, whereas irregular free-form objects (such as trees, clouds) may have little perceived distortion. Roller wave distortion is inherent in all heat-treated glass.
View The Characteristics Of High Performance glass page