Impact Windows Wind Ratings

Typically this test is a three pronged test that is based on the structural components air and water pressure.

Impact windows wind ratings.

For example windows in miami may be subject to design pressure ratings of 50 to 70 psf allowing them to withstand wind speeds of 140 to more than 160 miles per hour. Areas prone to hurricanes and storms involving high wind speeds are categorized into four zones each with their own building code certification standards. Wind and impact window ratings are important. These types of storms can hit anywhere at any time.

Impact windows are a great way to help reduce damage from severe thunderstorms that can have damaging wind. Let s consider a window or door with a dp rating of around 50. However some manufacturers misrepresented that rating when providing hardware. This allows them to remain intact even during the windiest storms or most rapid flooding.

A higher dp value indicates a window or door that can withstand more wind water and or structural load than a window with a lower dp. All impact windows should have a design pressure rating. It should pass a test pressure of 75 pounds per square foot or about 200 miles per hour. The higher the number on the scale the better the resistance to the benchmarks.

There is no replacing the peace of mind that a homeowner with impact windows goes to bed with. In practicality a window or door with a structural dp rating of 50 has passed a structural test pressure of 75 pounds per square foot equal to a 200 mph wind. The design pressure required depends on both an area s design wind speed found on irc maps and the building s exposure rating from a to d. Products with impact resistant glass are rated for their ability to withstand wind speeds in various predetermined wind debris zones called impact zones or iz for short.

Depending on the wind speed zones established in the irc windows need to meet design pressures ranging from 30 to 80 psf and they must meet impact resistance standards under astm e1886 or e1996. In order to quantify this rating the windows must go through rigorous design pressure test to ensure the windows can hold up to dangerous storm conditions.