Glass Doors and Windows That Resist Hurricane Winds

Nature’s fury, as it is known, describes any natural storm or disaster that may cause extensive damage to both wildlife and property in an area. This may range from a volcanic eruption to an earthquake to an avalanche or hurricanes and tornadoes, and modern buildings are often constructed with these hazards in mind. Natural disasters typically can’t be prevented or diverted, so property must be ready to endure them instead. Some buildings have specialized foundations and structure to resist earthquakes, such as along California’s San Andreas fault and in much of Japan. Many other buildings have elevated foundations, drains, and other anti-flooding measures, while many buildings along the American east coast are prepared for the arrival of hurricanes. These devastating storms arrive every year during hurricane season (June through November), and buildings can’t simply be relocated to avoid those storms, and neither can hurricanes be prevented or diverted away from a city. Instead, sliding glass door systems with impact resistant glaze, along with high impact glass windows, may be used to make buildings safer during a hurricane. Hurricane glass doors and hurricane proof windows may prevent a lot of property damage during these storms.

When Hurricanes Strike

Hurricanes arrive every year and bring a massive amount of rain and flooding, powerful winds, and windblown debris, so specialized sliding glass door systems and windows are useful for preventing extensive property damage. Historically, a total of 158 hurricanes struck the United States in the 20th century, with 57 of them striking Florida alone and another 26 impacting Texas along the Gulf of Mexico. Any hurricane, even a smaller one, can be devastating, and statistics suggest that hurricanes so far in the 21st century have become even more powerful and frequent. Many experts attribute this to climate change, and what can be said for certain is that Hurricane Irma represented a new height in hurricane power. In 2017, this category 5 storm broke records with its devastating 185 MPH winds (which lasted 37 hours), and this storm also boasted a staggering seven trillion watts of energy during its lifetime. This hurricane destroyed nearly 90% of the buildings in Barbados and thus left nearly 60% of the people there homeless.

What is more, 2017 was the year when 10 different storms in a row developed into full hurricanes, a feat not seen since 1893. Meanwhile, some hurricanes are known to spawn tornadoes while they are over land, and in 1992, Hurricane Andrew demonstrated this when it spawned 62 tornadoes during its lifetime. And any hurricane will bring enough winds, rain, and flying debris to pose a serious threat to property, not to mention flooding with all that rain water. Thus, contractors along the east coast, especially in Florida, are prepared with cutting-edge sliding glass door systems with high impact glaze and windows that can endure strong winds. This can save property and even save lives.

The Right Glass for the Job

As mentioned earlier, buildings can’t be moved out of a hurricane’s path, so they are built for endurance. This ranges from a tough structure and anti-flooding measures all the way to impact-resistant sliding glass door systems and windows that keep the interior safe during a storm. Commercial buildings such as condos, apartments, hotels, and skyscrapers always have many windows in them, but these windows may prove a liability during a hurricane. It is not an option to simply remove those windows or build a building without them, so instead, the right glass is used for them. Contractors constructing a new building will reach out to the right suppliers for impact glaze windows and sliding glass doors, and this allows a building to be hurricane-proof from the start. And when an older building is purchased, the buyer may have old windows removed and replaced with newer, more modern and effective models of impact-resistant glass if need be.

When a hurricane strikes, strong winds and debris may blast apart ordinary windows and glass doors, allowing water, winds, and debris to get into a building and cause extensive property damage. But this is prevented when windows and glass doors with an impact-resistant glazing system of +105/-130 are used. Winds in excess of 100 MPH can be endured, and flying debris will bounce right off them.