Impact Windows.Net

New Energy Conservation Code in Effect

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:42:00 +0000

Effective March 15th, 2012, the Energy Conservation Code will affect the glazing of impact-resistant windows and doors for both new construction and retrofit projects. Projects approved after March 15th will need to comply with maximum U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) values as shown in the table below:

Product	U-Factor	SHGC
Non-impact windows and doors	0.65 or less	0.30 or less
Impact-resistant windows and doors	0.75 or less	0.30 or less

The code states that both new contruction and renovation projects must comply with the values presented above. However, for renovation projects, the code is up to interpreration by the local building official. The Florida Statute defines a renovation as construction that exceeds 30% of the assessed value of the property. Per this statute, retrofit jobs that do not exceed 30% of the value of the property may not be required to meet the values above. Nevertheless, it is important to consult with the building official having jurisdiction before making a decision one way or the other.

Impact Windows and Vinyl Frames

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:55:00 +0000

Our clients always ask us for impact-resistant windows that meet current Energy Star criteria so they can obtain the Federal Tax credit. The reality is that aluminum-frame windows do NOT meet this criteria. To accomplish the insulating ratings required by the Energy Star program, we need to use hurricane windows made with vinyl frames. Unfortunately for Miami-Dade residents, there is only a handful of Miami-Dade-Approved impact vinyl windows.

How can I find out the list of approved products?
To obtain information about which impact-resistant products are Miami-Dade County Approved, our readers can check the Miami-Dade's Building Code Compliance Office. For your convenience, we compiled the list of approved impact windows as of July 04, 2010. The list can be found below. It is important to understand that this list will change overtime as new products are being approved and older products reach expiration.

Manufacturer	Awning	Horizontal Roller	Single Hung	Double Hung	Casement	Fixed
AWP, LLC	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Benor Windows	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Custom Window Systems, Inc.	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Galaxy Windw and Door, Inc.	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Jeld-Wen, (FL)	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Jeld-Wen, Inc(OR)	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Kolde and Kolde Millwork Company	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Megrame U.S. Windows and Doors, LLC	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
PGT Industries, Inc	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Pittburgh Corning Corporation	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Rgency Plus, Inc	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Schuco USA, L.P.	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Silver Line Bulding Products Corporation	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Teeem USA, LLC	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
YKK AP American, Inc	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No

How to read the list above
The table shows different window types and which manufacturer has a Miami Dade product approval for the specific type. Also, you can find a window manufacturer up and down the list. If you run across the table, you can find out whether this manufacturer has the window type approved.

Impact Windows and Bulding Permits

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:30:00 +0000

Do I need to pull a permit if I am only changing ONE window in my house and installing an impact window? Do I need to pull a permit even though I am not changing the location or the size of the opening? We have several clients asking these questions when they are thinking about replacing one or more of their existing windows. The answer is yes, you must pull a permit if you are replacing any exterior window or door.

Impact Windows and Wind Engineering
The Florida Building Code requires you to obtain a building permit to replace an existing window for an impact window (this rule also applies if you install a non-impact window). To obtain the building permit, you will need a wind engineering report, specifying what the wind loads are for each opening in the house. The impact window or door that you are purchasing MUST have a design pressure that exceeds the wind loads calculated by the engineer. Otherwise, installing impact windows and doors is pointless.

Do Impact Windows Have Different Ratings?
The impact windows that we install in Miami must have the Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance, or NOA. To check impact windows ratings, you could review the NOA of the specific window or door. NOAs will have a table showing the corresponding maximum design pressures for an impact window depending on the size and glazing option used. So, it is not enough for an approved impact window to be installed in your house without checking against a wind engineering report.

If the explanation above is not clear or you have additional questions, please contact me at carlos@astorusa.com.

House Passes Home Star Bill

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 02:05:00 +0000

US House of Representative passed the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act (H.R. 5019) by a vote of 246 to 161. The legislation would provide rebates to homeowners who renovate their homes with more energy-efficient windows, doors and skylights. To become law, though, the US Senate must approve the Bill.

In short, the Bill includes two types of consumer incentives:

1) Silver Star provides up-front rebates for specific energy-saving investments, including windows and doors. Homeowners receive up to $1,500 per improvement—capped at a total of $3,000 or 50 percent of the total project cost. To qualify, homeowners need to replace at least eight exterior windows or skylights, or 75 percent of the exterior windows and skylights in their homes. Not all windows meet the minimum requirements as they need to have special insulating characteristics: U-value and 0.30 Solar Heat Gain Coefficient no greater than 0.30. Skylights and doors, on the other hand, must meet 2010 Energy Star criteria to qualify.

2) Gold Star provides larger rebates to homeowners who conduct a comprehensive energy audit and implement measures to reduce energy use. Consumers receive $3,000 for a demonstrated energy savings of 20 percent, plus an additional $1,000 for each additional 5 percent energy savings—capped at $8,000 or 50 percent of the project cost.

Vinyl impact windows and doors meet these requirements. If you need additional information about this topic, feel free to write me an email at carlos@astorusa.com or leave me a comment below.

Laminated Glass Used for Impact Windows and Doors

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:22:00 +0000

I always have people asking me what type of material is used in the laminated glass for impact-resistant windows and doors. A typical laminated glass is comprised of one outboard anneal glass, an interlayer and an inboard glass. Two types of interlayers are commonly used: Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) and SentryGlas Plus (SGP).

PVB interlayer is fabricated by Dupont under the registered brand Butacite. This interlayer helps by retaining glass shards in case of breakage. Dupont offers this interlayer in clear, translucent white and other solid tints. In Florida, the translucent white is a popular choice when privacy is desired, such as in cabana bathrooms (bathrooms leading to a backyard or pool area). This option is a nice alternative to obscure glass.

The SGP interlayer, also manufactured by DuPont, is more rigid and less likely to tear than PVB. This interlayer permits less glass deflection, a good characteristics for hurricane zones. As a result, impact windows manufacturers use SGP in their larger windows, or those windows designed for the highest wind zones.

If you need additional information not covered on this blog, feel free to write to me at carlos@astorusa.com or leave a comment in the form provided below.

Impact Windows and Condensation

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:23:00 +0000

You noticed "sweating windows" after you had your new impact-resistant windows and doors installed. First explanation that came to your mind was an improper installation by your window contractor. Well, it is most likely not the case at all. Generally speaking, condensation on the inside of the glass is a not a sign of defective windows. Instead, it is a symptom of a moisture imbalance (mainly excess humidity trapped) in your home.

Causes of Condensation

Lack of proper ventilation is the main cause of excess humidity trapped in a house. The excess humidity is created by daily activities, such as cooking, showering, bathing, clothes washing and drying, as well as the use of humidifiers and unvented gas heaters.

It is important to point out that when you replace standard-glass windows for impact-resistant windows, your house will be significantly better sealed against air exchange (inside-outside circulation). This new condition accentuates the symptoms. So, when you have brand-new windows installed combined with a house heating and cooling system not properly designed, or outdated, you will start to accumulate excess humidity inside your house during the winter months. When temperature difference between the outside (cooler) and the inside (warmer), you will notice how water drops will begin to accumulate on the glass surface of your windows. The amount of water will be proportionate to the amount of humidity trapped in your house. Now, people ask themselves why this phenomenon appears in the windows. The reason is that the glass on your windows and doors tends to have lower temperatures than other surfaces in your house.

Consequences of Condensation

If condensation is chronic in your house, then you have excessive humidity. This excess moisture can have, and will most likely have, serious consequences, including mold and mildew development. After these conditions are maintained unchanged for some time, you will notice that your personal property, especially clothing, will be damaged. More importantly, the excess humidity can result in serious health threats.

Possible Causes with Solutions

Inadequate ventilation of windows: Try as much as possible to allow air circulation in and out of the house. Keep window coverings sufficiently open during the day to allow proper circulation.

Cooking and dishwashing: Install vent stove range hoods and dishwashers ducted to the outside of the house.

Showers and Baths: Make sure that exhaust fans are installed in bathrooms. These fans must be ducted to the outside of the house.

Ironing, washing and drying laundry: Install duct pipes which take the air to the outside of the house.

If you have any questions or want to share additional information regarding this topic, drop us a comment below.

Impact Windows and Homeowner's Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:39:00 +0000

How much is homeowner's insurance in Florida? If you are a homeowner living in Florida and shopping for homeowner's insurance (windstorm insurance), this information might be helpful.

The office of the Governor has a website called Shop and Compare Rates. On this site, you can find average approved insurance rates for a typical Florida home. If you follow the instructions, you will get to a page on which you can select your County. On this page, you will get a list of several insurance companies and their respective approved Homeowner's Insurance premiums. You will notice two columns. One shows the price without wind mitigation, while the other lists the price with maximum wind mitigation.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Illustrative Video about Impact Windows and Doors

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:15:00 +0000

For those looking for an easy explanation (with clear illustrations) of how hurricane-driven forces and wind-borne debris can significantly damage a house, the Federal Alliance for Same Homes (FLASH) organization has put together a series of great videos covering this topic. The video embedded below highlights how vulnerable window and door components are in the event of a hurricane. With great video simulations, it shows how the building envelope can be breached if window and door openings are not properly protected against the enhanced wind pressures and wind-borne debris.

The video recommends to always use products which have been tested and approved by the following standards, evaluation reports or approval systems:

SBCCI
SSTD 12
ASTM E 1886
ASTM E 1996
Miami-Dade Protocols
TAS 201, TAS 202, TAS 203

You can find additional information about hurricane protection and impact windows at www.flash.org. FLASH has more educational videos, in addition to a variety of written reports.

If you find this information valuable, let me know.

How to protect yourself from hurricane product fraud

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:57:00 +0000

With opening day of the 2009 Florida hurricane season only a month away, it’s a good time to caution consumers about false advertising and promotional scams for window films. A previous post advised that so-called “hurricane protection film” was no better than a band aid at stopping wind-borne debris from penetrating household window glass. Their intended application is actually automotive glass to help screen UV rays.

Consider this? You could go to your local auto parts store and buy a sheet of stick-on UV film. It’s as thin as a bread wrapper with paper backing to protect the adhesive. Before you buy this stuff and go to the trouble of pasting on a bedroom window, ask yourself a simple question. Would this film stop 2x4 flying at 60+ mph from breaking through the glass during a hurricane? Well, this is the same stuff that the “hurricane film professionals” would install at your home.

There is only one “approved” glass for windows and patio doors that can stop flying hurricane-driven debris. Impact-resistant laminated glass. Think of it as a glass sandwich, consisting of two panes of glass laminated together with a polymer interlayer. It is the only true hurricane-resistant glass that is laboratory tested, stamped with an approval number in accordance with current Miami-Fade or Florida building codes.

Don’t take our word for it. Contact the International Hurricane Protection Association (IHBA) at http://www.ihpa.com/ In December 2008; they announced the formation of the Consumer Safety Task Force for Hurricane Protection Products. This newly formed group works in tandem with the Florida Attorney General’s office to help protect consumers “who have been, or are being subjected to deceptive or misleading trade practices by unscrupulous hurricane profiteers”, quotes the IHBA press release.

So, what should you do if someone tells you that they can give you “approved hurricane protection” for a fraction of the cost of impact glass or hurricane shutters? Just ask these three simple questions: (1) Does the product have an approval number issued by the Miami-Dade County Building Code or the Florida Building Commission? (2) Is the contractor licensed to install the product with a permit? (3) Will your insurance company accept the product for hurricane protection?

We hope you are a better informed consumer after reading this post. You can get help from law enforcement if you like. Or, just slam the door on these guys and get in touch with a licensed window contractor.

If you have any questions or want to share additional information regarding this topic, drop us a comment below.

Energy Consumption in a Typical Home

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:05:00 +0000

Even though this blog focuses on impact-resistant windows and doors and hurricane protection, I could not help pointing out the data that I am about to present below. Since energy efficiency has become such a hot topic during the last few years (and properly so), I was wondering how, that is, in what proportion a typical house or family uses energy. Searching on the Web, I came across this data gathered by the US Department of Energy in 2007.

Space Heating (28%)
Small Electronic Devices & Motors (16%)
Space Cooling (11%)
Water Heating (11%)
Lighting (11%)
Refrigerators & Freezers (8%)
TV, Cable & Computers (6%)
Laundry & Dishes (5%)
Cooking (3%)
Furnance Fans (1%)

Unless you had given it some thought before, it is probable that you will be surprise that heating the house takes more than double the amount of energy that it takes to cool it off. So, I hope that this bit of information might bring some perspective or insights next time you are using your HVAC unit.

Linking this information back to our main topic of impact windows and doors is not hard. Impact windows have significantly improved insulating qualities than standard-glass (single glazed) windows and doors.

If we have some out there reading this blog, feel free to drop us a comment or share information with us about these topics. If you need to get additional information about the data above, you can browse to the US Department of Energy.

Can window films stand up to wind-borne debris as often claimed?

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:12:00 +0000

If you think that retrofit window film installations will stand up to hurricane force winds and flying debris, think again. Misleading claims in product flyers or on websites may have confused you. It’s easy to jump to this conclusion due to false statements and the public’s experience with auto glass films – except for one important detail. Auto glass is tempered to contain glass in highway accidents, not hurricanes. Technically, the installation of home widow films doesn’t even come close to the ASME standards that are proscribed for replacement impact windows by Miami-Dade building codes. But, some recent hurricane protection promotions would lead you to think otherwise.

Among all the available options, including plywood, window film certainly has a price advantage and can provide good solar and UV protection. But what about frame strength, correct fastening within the opening and the attachment of the glass itself? Close inspection of windows installed in older homes frequently proves to be substandard. Ok, so some glass will stick to the film, but the entire installation will more than likely blow out of the wall when facing hurricane force winds.
Protect yourself from misleading promotions. If you want true hurricane protection, hold film installers to the same test standards that replacement impact window manufacturers and installers must meet.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorwindows.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Impact Glass Distortions: one of life’s better trade offs

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:04:00 +0000

Life as we know it often has trade offs or compromises. For example, you won’t find a vehicle that gets 30 miles per gallon that can pull your 3,000 lb. camper to a vacation campsite.

There is also some degree of compromise if you are in the market for impact windows to protect your home from hurricane force winds. You should know that these glass types do not always provide a crystal clear view, and are not totally free of imperfections or distortions. This is due to the fact that the heat strengthening, tempering and lamination of glass can result in some distortions or imperfections that can occur naturally during processing. For the most part these inherent problems are not aesthetically objectionable.

So, how you identify a "normal" or "expected" distorsion level versus a defective glass panel? Glass companies must adhere to precise ASTM quality standards that proscribe acceptable levels of imperfections or blemishes. Astor Windows distributes products that are highly regarded for quality of manufacture. No matter which glass type you select, we make sure that all products meet the most stringent quality standards in spite of the fact that they may have some aesthetic imperfections.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorwindows.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Brace Yourself from the Winds of Change in Windstorm Insurance Rates

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:17:00 +0000

It should come as no surprise that the June 1 beginning of hurricane season has politicians, regulators and insurance providers alike making windy projections about windstorm insurance rates. Will homeowners be left spinning in the wind while rate hikes are debated?

Scientists continue to debate the impact of global warming on hurricanes. However, it appears that insurers have decided that costs will be higher. The industry is betting on more hurricanes, cutting coverage and increasing premiums in Florida. Homeowners have already taken a big hit since 2004, with increases ranging from 100 to 300% in some instances. The rationale behind projected insurance increases is complex and is not yet approved by Florida regulators.

The editors of this blog will be asking the insurance industry and individual agents about possible discounts for homeowners who install impact-resistant windows and doors. We want to know if products that can withstand flying debris and stop structural roof damage can blow the roof off rising insurance rates. Stay tuned.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorwindows.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Tips on Choosing a Hurricane Windows Contractor

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:05:00 +0000

Choosing a window contractor can be difficult if you are not familiar with the business. Consumers need to know the right questions to ask in order to correctly differentiate one company to the other. You will be surprised of how many times homeowners make the wrong choice simply because they did not ask the right questions. Below, you can find a number of important questions to ask window contractors when you are bidding your replacement window project:

Does the company keep customer satisfaction ratings? If so, what are the ratings?
Who are the employees/technitians who will be installing the windows and doors?
Are the technitians certified by the window manufacturer? Can they provide proof of it?
How many years of installation (labor) warranty is the company offering?
What is the warranty of the product being offered?
How many customer references has the company provided to you?
How many of the customers references have you called to verify window company performance in previous jobs?
For how much is the window company's general liability coverage?
For how much is the window company's workers' compensation coverage?
Who is the window company's license qualifier?
Is the person the owner of the company?
Has company provided copies of the qualifier's license?
Has window company speficified that someone from their organization will be present at every building inspection necesarry to complete the job?
Is the company an authororized distributor of the window manufacturer and has shown proof?
Is the company a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB)? Does the company have a clean track record with the BBB?
Does the company use an independent engineering firm to establish the site specifications of the impact products to be installed at your property?

You should copy this list and create a table to see how the bidding companies compare to one another.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorusa.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Energy Efficiency and Hurricane Windows – Part III

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:08:00 +0000

We will continue our energy efficient series by providing key facts to know about Energy Star® windows and doors. The Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency developed an Energy Star® designation for products that meet certain energy performance criteria. Recognizing that these
criteria could not be the same for all of the areas of the United States, the Department divided the country into four zones:

Northern Zone (mostly heating necessary)
Central Zone (both heating and cooling necessary)
Central South Zone (both heating and cooling necessary)
Southern Zone (mostly cooling necessary)

Since this blog specializes in hurricane impact resistant windows and doors, we will concentrate on the Southern Zone, which includes Florida.

For the Southern Zone region, the Department of Energy recommended that windows should have a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of 0.40 or less as this factor is the most important window property in warm weather. In addition, the Department made a recommendation regarding U-factors. They sustain that while a low U-factor is useful during cold days when heating is needed, a low U-factor is also favorable during hot days. As a result, they suggest a U-factor no greater than 0.65 on these warm regions.

Hurricane windows and doors that meet or exceed the criteria above are considered Energy Star® windows and doors.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorwindows.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Energy Efficiency and Hurricane Windows – Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:25:00 +0000

As we discussed in our previous post, when purchasing windows, including hurricane windows, it is important to know about three key glass properties: the SHGC, U-Factor and VT (for term definitions, please read our previous post). Below, we would like to show you how these glass properties vary as you change the thickness and/or tint of the window glass. You will notice that we chose the 5/16-inch, clear glass as our window point of reference in terms of price. This window is our starting point, giving it a value of 1. The "Price Ref." column shows the additional price, presented as a percentage, to pay for upgrading the tint or the thickness of the glass. For your information, all of the windows in the example below are hurricane windows (i.e., impact-resistant windows).

On the table above, you notice how you can improve the SGHC by adding a tint to the window glass. It is also important to highlight that even without a tint, hurricane windows offer a significant reduction in solar radiants. For example, the 0.63 factor means that 37% of the solar heat is block by the clear glass window.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorusa.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Energy Efficiency and Hurricane Windows – Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 +0000

Energy efficiency is a "hot" topic today. I will not try to explain everything about energy efficiency on hurricane windows and doors because it will be unrealistic. However, I would like to quickly present to you to the key facts to know about energy efficiency and glazing.

First, we need to briefly define a few terms, including SHGC, U-Factor and VT, which are important to understand energy ratings.

SHGC stands for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, a number between 0 and 1 that provides a measure of how well a product blocks heat from the sun. The lower the SHGC, the better a specific product is at blocking unwanted heat gain. As an illustration, a window that features a 0.60 SHGC means that it allows 60% of the available solar heat to come through. In warm weather, a low SHGC is desirable. As a point of reference, the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) recommends installing windows and doors with a combine SHGC of 0.40 or lower. In the past, there were not hurricane windows in the market that could match that recommendation. Today, new lines of hurricane windows exceed these requirements.

U-Factor is another important factor for hurricane windows and doors. The U-Factor measures how well a product prevents heat from escaping a property. U-Factor ratings, which range from 0.20 to 1.20, are particularly important in cold weather during winter heating season. The lower the U-Factor, the better a window or door is at keeping heat inside the property.

VT stands for visible transmittance, an indicator of how much light comes through a hurricane window or hurricane door. The higher the VT, which is expressed as a number between 0 and 1, the higher the potential for day lighting.

On the following issue, we will continue expanding our conversation about energy efficient hurricane windows and key indicators.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorusa.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Key Facts about Egress Windows

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:09:00 +0000

If you are replacing the existing windows of your property, you should know that the new windows must comply with the existing Florida Building Code egress rules. The Code stipulates that bedrooms must have at least two ways of egress in case of emergency. A door to a different room or to the outside counts as one way of egress. To comply, a bedroom has to have a second way of egress through a window or through another door, such as a patio door. If your bedroom does not have a patio door, then at least one window must have egress dimensions determined by the Code. The window must feature a clear opening that must meet all of the following criteria.

* Minimum width of 20 inches

* Minimum height of 24 inches

* Minimum net clear opening of 5.0 square feet at grade floor and 5.7 square feet otherwise.

It is very important that your window contractor takes into account this rule to avoid installing a window style that will not pass inspection. For example, a single-hung which is 37 inches wide by 50 5/8 inches tall does NOT pass egress. However, a casement window of the same dimensions does pass egress.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorwindows.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780. If you have any questions or want to share additional information regarding this topic, drop us a comment below.

What's the Wind-Borne Debris Region?

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:41:00 +0000

Wind-borne debris regions are defined as areas along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts where the design wind speed is 120 mph or above, or within one mile of the coastal mean high water line where the wind speed is 110 mph or above. In these regions, the standard requires the designer, either an engineer or an architect, to assume that the windows and doors will be broken by wind-borne debris unless those openings are protected against such items. Protection can be achieved through the use of hurricane shutters or impact-resistant glass.

The wind-borne debris region extends about five miles inland in most cases and considerably further in others. But, in the Panhandle region (sections of northern Florida from the Walkula/Franklin County line to the western edge of Escambia County), the legislature designated the wind-borne region as the land within one-mile of the Gulf Coast.

After Hurricane Andrew, in 1992, Miami-Dade County established the first requirements for wind-borne debris protection and developed test requirements that shutter and impact-resistant glazing systems must pass, under the code (Fla. Building Code § 1626). Since then, the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) has developed testing standards. Products must pass one of these tests to be accepted for use where protection is required. The exception is plywood panels that conform to a set of prescribed specifications, according to Rick Dixon of the Florida Department of Community Affairs. Today, the Florida Building Code uses the America Society of Civil Engineers Standard (ASCE) Standard 7 as the basis for establishing wind-borne debris regions and wind-borne debris protection. The standard requires builders either to (1) construct buildings that can withstand the additional pressure that results when wind gets into a building through a hole in the wall or broken door or window and pressurizes it (like blowing air into a balloon) or (2) protect glazed openings in walls (e. g. , windows and glass doors) from debris borne by high winds (refer to Florida Building Code, Chapter 16).

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorusa.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Building Features that Reduce Wind Damage

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:21:00 +0000

Homeowners should be aware of several building features which reduce wind damage during storms. Some of these features include the following:

Hurricane clips and straps that hold the roof structure to the walls.
Roof coverings that meet FBC requirments.
Exterior opening protection against wind-borne debris. For example, hurricane shutters, impact-resistant windows and doors.
Secondary water resistance systems.

In order to find out which of these wind-resistive contruction features a property has, homeowners can hire a home inspection service company to field verify those features. These inspections take between 45 to 90 minutes depending on accessibility to home attics. Now, recently built homes are more probable to have some or all of the features described above. For example, homes built in Miami-Dade and Broward counties after 1994 are more likely to comply to have these features. For the rest of Florida, houses built after March 1st, 2002 needed to comply with the Florida Building Code which demanded these features.

Please keep in mind that insurance companies offer windstorm premium discounts to structures that have wind-resistive construction features.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorusa.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Should You Consider the Impact Windows Option?

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:47:00 +0000

Deciding whether to change the existing windows of a house is an important decision to make since windows have a significant influence on the ventilation, interior temperature and lighting of a house. Equally important, replacing windows is a major investment that makes a tremendous impact on the house's architectural identity. Therefore, when it is time for a window facelift, homeowners need the honest advice from a professional window company that can explain the advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives available to them. One of most important decision is to make a choice between purchasing standard-glass windows with hurricane shutters and installing impact-resistant windows that do not require shutter protection.

STANDARD VERSUS IMPACT-RESISTANT WINDOWS
Cost, convenience, appearance and time commitment are the four major differentiating factors to consider when choosing between standard-glass and impact-resistant windows. With regular, standard-glass windows, the Florida Building Code demands the installation of storm panels in every house opening in order to provide for hurricane protection. The combined initial cost of purchasing and installing standard windows with shutters is less than buying and installing impact-resistant windows. However, the cost comparison can change substantially over time if we factor the time commitment for installing and uninstalling storm panels every time there is a hurricane warning, especially if mounted panels are used.

Impact windows are an excellent alternative to hurricane shutters or storm panels. When struck by flying debris during a storm, they are designed to stay in one piece, protecting the building from the devastating effects of high winds. In addition to hurricane protection, impact windows and doors provide the following important benefits:

Energy-efficient windows
Improve burglary protection
Insurance Premium wiscounts
Signicant noise reduction 100% UV protection

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorusa.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Benefits of Installing Impact Windows

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:39:00 +0000

In addition to hurricane protection, installing impact-resistant windows and doors provides other important benefits:

BURGLARY PROTECTION
Impact windows’ and doors’ main design characteristics are the shatter-resistant glass securely fastened to a heavy-duty aluminum frame. The impact-resistant glazing consists of two layers of annealed or tempered glass bonded to an intermediate layer of a shatter-proof membrane. This membrane is typically made of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), a plastic film which varies from .015 to .090 inches in thickness, depending on the design pressures needed. If the outer glass breaks, the shattered pieces will adhere to the PVB film. In contrast, standard-glass windows are made of standard float glass that, when broken, will fracture in large sharp shards. Given these characteristics, it is very difficult for an intruder to break into a house through an opening with impact-resistant glass.

IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Impact windows and doors are built of heavy-duty aluminum frame with double glazing panes which make the windows much more energy efficient. Impact windows provide excellent insulating capabilities, helping isolate interior spaces from the outdoor weather changes and contributing to important utility bill savings.

INSURANCE PREMIUM DISCOUNTS
If all of the house openings are protected with impact-resistant windows or doors, policyholders can obtain up to 45% premium discounts. In order to apply for the discount, homeowners need to call a home inspection company so they perform a wind certification inspection. Check with your insurance carrier to obtain more information on the process.

SIGNIFICANT NOISE REDUCTION
Impact-resistant windows and doors help reduce outdoor noise significantly. Homeowner testimonials confirm that impact-resistant glass is a great contributor to bringing peace and quiet environments inside the house or property. For people who live near busy intersections, highways or heavy traffic, installing windows and doors have proven to be an effective noise attenuation solution.

MAXIMUM UV PROTECTION
Impact-resistant windows and doors provide 99% blockage of ultraviolet (U-V) light, protecting valuable interiors, including your favorite photographs, loveseat, Persian rug and even flooring, from fading or discoloring after repeated exposure to direct sunlight. This characteristic is particular important Florida residents who enjoy the direct sunshine all-year round.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorusa.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

What are Impact-Resistant Windows?

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:22:00 +0000

Also known as hurricane windows or high-impact windows, impact-resistant windows are an excellent alternative to hurricane shutters or storm panels. When struck by flying debris during a storm, they are designed to stay in one piece, protecting the building from the devastating effects of high winds. The main assembly difference between a standard and an impact-resistant window is that the latter is securely fastened to a heavy duty aluminum frame. Unlike the single-glazed design on standard windows, the impact-resistant glazing consists of two layers of annealed or tempered glass bonded to an intermediate layer of a shatter-proof membrane. This membrane is typically made of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), a plastic film which varies from .015 to .090 inches in thickness, depending on the design pressures needed. If the outer glass breaks, the shattered pieces will adhere to the PVB film. In contrast, standard-glass windows are made of standard float glass that, when broken, will fracture in large sharp shards.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorusa.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

How to find out if the windows I am purchasing are real impact resistant?

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:20:00 +0000

For a window or door system to be considered impact-resistant certified, it must meet testing standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). One of the most rigorous requirements comes from the Florida Building Code which, given the increase in frequency and strength of hurricanes in recent years, has incorporated many of the lessons learned from prior hurricane-driven disasters. The Florida Building Code, for example, requires that every exterior opening in a structure be protected against wind-borne debris. This protection can be accomplished by either storm shutters or by impact-resistant windows and doors.

To learn whether or not a product is considered impact resistant, ask your window dealer for a copy of the Notice of Acceptance (NOA) issued by the Miami-Dade County. The NOA is the document issued by the County which provides specific information, including dimensions, parts, materials, accessories and installation guidelines, about the particular product in question. The NOA certifies whether or not the product has passed the impact-resistant test. This product also sets forth an expiration date until which the approval has been issued for. NOAs can be downloaded at the Miami-Dade County's website.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorusa.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.

Impact Windows and Insurance Discounts

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Paesano) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:54:00 +0000

Installing impact-resistant windows and doors in your house allows you to apply for special insurance premium discounts in the State of Florida. A state legislation that took effect March 1, 2002, included a requirement for insurance companies to provide property insurance discounts for homes that have construction features that reduce the losses during windstorms. The new insurance rate discounts took effect in 2003. According to Bob Ricker, president of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, “credits for impact-resistant windows have always been part of Citizens mitigation program.” However, Mr. Ricker specifies that in order to obtain the discounts, all of the house openings must be protected. Mr. Ricker further stated that “policyholders with questions about mitigation should contact their insurance agents to make sure they are receiving proper credit for any steps taken to strengthen their home.” According to an article published on Citizen’s website, premium discounts of up to 45% can be available to those policyholders who show proof of risk mitigation alternatives. You can access additional information at Citizens’ website.In accordance with Florida statute 627.0629 regarding residential property insurance, all insurance companies that provide homeowner's insurance to residents in Florida must offer some type of discount for dwellings that have an effective windstorm protective system installed. The first paragraph of the statute reads as follows: “Effective June 1, 2002, a rate filing for residential property insurance must include actuarially reasonable discounts, credits, or other rate differentials, or appropriate reductions in deductibles, for properties on which fixtures or construction techniques demonstrated to reduce the amount of loss in a windstorm have been installed or implemented. The fixtures or construction techniques shall include, but not be limited to, fixtures or construction techniques which enhance roof strength, roof covering performance, roof-to-wall strength, wall-to-floor-to-foundation strength, opening protection, and window, door, and skylight strength. Credits, discounts, or other rate differentials for fixtures and construction techniques which meet the minimum requirements of the Florida Building Code must be included in the rate filing. All insurance companies must make a rate filing which includes the credits, discounts, or other rate differentials by February 28, 2003. By July 1, 2007, the office shall reevaluate the discounts, credits, other rate differentials, and appropriate reductions in deductibles for fixtures and construction techniques that meet the minimum requirements of the Florida Building Code, based upon actual experience or any other loss relativity studies available to the office. The office shall determine the discounts, credits, other rate differentials, and appropriate reductions in deductibles that reflect the full actuarial value of such revaluation, which may be used by insurers in rate filings.”

To qualify for these discounts, most insurance companies require a certification of the key construction features. These certifications must be approved by a professional engineer, registered architect or building official. The best cost-efficient way to obtain this certification is by calling a local home inspection company that offers the service. For more information, you can visit windloadcalculations.com which is one of the many companies that can provide the service.

Visit Astor Impact Windows for information about purchasing impact windows and doors. You can also email us at sales@astorusa.com or call us at 1-800-573-1780.