Understanding Hurricane Impact Window Certification

Built to endure extreme coastal conditions, impact-resistant windows offer advanced protection from powerful winds and windborne debris, helping keep homes and families safer during hurricanes and severe storms. Simonton’s impact-resistant products are engineered with reinforced construction, impact-resistant glass and structural glazing to pass rigorous testing to achieve superior design pressures that meet or exceed some of the toughest impact certifications in the industry. This thorough testing provides confidence that Simonton impact products will help defend your home from destructive hurricane-force winds.

Benefits of Impact-resistant Windows & Doors

Understanding how Simonton impact-resistant certified windows and patio doors will protect and enhance your home makes them the ideal choice for areas prone to hurricanes, strong winds and flying debris. Along with durable windows and doors with reinforced profiles, impact-resistant glass provides much-needed protection against strong winds and flying debris.

What is a design pressure rating for windows?

A higher design pressure (DP) means a stronger window and door. The design pressure is the amount of load, per square foot, that a window can withstand. Testing requires a window to withstand pressure from various wind speeds and cyclical pressure. Measuring the amount of wind speed a window or door can withstand before it breaks establishes its structural strength and design pressure.

The benefits of impact-resistant laminated glass.

• Defend your home against extremely high winds and flying debris with impact-resistant glass. Impact protection helps keep destructive winds from entering a house, which can cause severe damage.
• Ensure peace of mind that your home is always shielded from a storm event with 24/7 impact protection without costly, time-consuming storm shutters or plywood.
• Enjoy a quiet, peaceful home with impact-resistant laminated glass that reduces outside noise by up to 50% over standard glass.
• Impact-resistant windows and patio doors can help reduce insurance premiums by providing added protection against severe storms.
• Block up to 99% of damaging ultraviolet rays from entering your home with laminated glass.

What certifications should impact-resistant windows have?

When it comes to impact window and patio door certifications, the International Building Code (IBC) drives building product specifications for the United States. Each state then adapts the IBC to conditions that residential homes may encounter in its specific region. AAMA Gold is the validator of Simonton product testing for coastal certification and thermal performance that meets or exceeds the IBC, Florida Building Commission and Texas Department of Insurance. You can choose a Simonton product that provides the impact certification level you want and need for your home. However, for any project in a coastal or high wind area, please consult with state and local municipalities regarding the required certification level and installation requirements.

Impact Window Certifications

HVHZ Certified

Maximum impact performance for windborne debris areas and hurricane-force winds. Passing the most rigorous testing, select window and patio door sizes are certified for High-Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ), meeting the highest impact standards set by the Florida Building Commission for Miami-Dade and Broward County.

Select styles and sizes of Simonton StormBreaker Plus® achieve superior design pressures with ultra-durable SafePoint® Max+ impact-resistant glass and maximum structural reinforcements. The Simonton MaxView™ Multi-Slide Patio Door also offers configurations that meet HVHZ.

• For residential areas where the ultimate design wind speed is 150-180 mph.
• Windows must withstand testing consisting of three separate impacts from a 9.0 lb, 8ft 2 x 4 lumber shot at 50 ft/sec or 34 mph.

Missile D Certified

Superior impact performance for windborne debris areas and hurricane-force winds. Meets Missile D impact specifications for the Florida Building Commission and the Texas Department of Insurance evaluation for the Texas Coast.

Available Simonton Collection: Select Styles and Sizes of Simonton StormBreaker Plus achieve excellent design pressures with SafePoint Max impact-resistant glass and strong structural reinforcements. The Simonton MaxView Multi-Slide Patio Door also offers configurations that meet HVHZ.

• For residential areas where the ultimate design wind speed is 140 mph or greater.
• Windows must withstand testing consisting of two separate impacts from a 9.0 lb, 8ft 2 x 4 lumber shot at 50 ft/sec or 34 mph.

Missile C Certification

Ideal impact performance for inland areas that are still impacted by hurricane winds. Meets Missile C impact specifications for areas where Missile D performance is not required, but local code requires impact-resistant windows and patio doors.

Select Styles and Sizes of Simonton 5500 and Brickmould 600 Collections achieve high design pressure with SafePoint® impact-resistant glass and structural reinforcements.

• For non-windborne debris areas in residential areas where the ultimate design wind speed is less than 130-140 mph.
• Tests from a 4.0 lb, 4ft 2 x 4 lumber shot at 40 ft/sec or 27 mph.

Learn more about Simonton’s impact-certified products, view real-world impact testing and hear the remarkable story of how Simonton StormBreaker Plus safeguarded a home during a catastrophic hurricane.

Building professionals can access detailed installation requirements and specialized guidance for all Simonton impact-rated products on our Coastal Impact Installation page.