Flying Debris Demo
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Click on photo to view an actual impact video |
Miami-Dade County has the strictest test protocols in the country for wind-borne debris, air and water tests. The Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance (NOA) for impact-resistant products is the best way to be sure that a window has been tested and meets all the requirements for hurricane protection in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward counties). The Florida Building Commission recognizes Miami-Dade NOAs as approved products. WinGuard with aluminum frames carries Miami-Dade approval on all products.
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The Process
Here’s how the Miami-Dade County product approval process works:
- Windows and doors send to an approved lab where each is tested for air and water leakage, structural pressure, forced entry and impact resistance.
- Two impacts are conducted on each window and three on each door. (Two out of three windows also get a structural impact.)
- Then with no repairs or adjustments, the impacted windows are subjected 9,000 cycles of positive and negative wind loads to certify that the product can still survive hurricane-force winds.
- This entire process is videotaped.
- The videotape, test report, drawings and accompanying engineering data are submitted to Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office, Product Control Divisions, for review by a licensed engineer.
- After approval, a recommendation is sent to the Building Code and Product Review Committee for final approval and a Notice of Acceptance is issued.
The Impact Test
The High Velocity Hurricane Zone section of the Florida Building Code requires that every exterior opening – residential or commercial – be provided with protection against wind-borne debris caused by hurricanes. Such protection could be shutters or impact-resistant products.
There are two types of impact-resistant products: large-missile resistant and small-missile resistant.
Large-missile resistant
A product is declared large-missile resistant after it has been exposed to various impacts with a piece of lumber weighing approximately 9 pounds, measuring 2” x 4” x 6’ in size, traveling at a speed of 50 feet per second (34 mph). The product must pass positive and negative wind loads for 9,000 cycles, with impact creating no hole larger than 1/16” x 5” in the interlayer of the glass.
Small-missile resistant
A product is declared small-missile resistant after it has been exposed to various impacts with 10 ball bearings traveling at a speed of 80 feet per second (50 mph). The product is then subjected to wind loads for 9,000 cycles.
Which Product is Required?
In a structure where doors and windows are located 30 feet or less from ground level, you must install products that are large-missile impact resistant. Where doors and windows are located more than 30 feet above ground level, you may install products that are either large-missile resistant or small-missile resistant. WinGuard Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors with aluminum frames have Miami-Dade County product approval for both large- and small-missile resistance.
Source: The Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office
WinGuard Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors with vinyl frames pass ASTM E1886/E1996 (Missile Class D) for large missile impact resistance.
NOTE: The Florida State Product Approval System accepts Miami-Dade and ASTM test protocols for its approval process. International Building Codes accepts ASTM test protocols for its approval process.
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Energy Efficiency
The right windows and doors can make a tremendous difference in how comfortable a home will be. In warm regions, finding energy-saving windows that keep out the heat of the sun goes a long way towards lowering your cooling costs, reducing fading of your carpets, paint and furniture, and keeping you more comfortable. You can tell a lot about how a window or door will perform by looking for the NFRC and ENERGY STAR® labels. There you can find information about a windows U-factor, Solar Heat Gain, Visible Light, and how they can make a difference in the comfort and lifestyle of your home.
PGT is a proud partner of the US Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR program and offers ENERGY STAR qualified window and door configurations. Performance criteria for windows and doors vary depending on what region of the country the window is being sold. The ENERGY STAR criteria for residential windows and doors are tailored to four climate zones as shown below. A product’s energy efficiency for a given climate is based on its impact on heat gain and loss in cold weather and heat gain in warm weather. So windows that are part of an energy efficient home improvement plan in Florida would not necessarily be energy efficient windows in New York and vice-versa.
ENERGY STAR windows and doors are an easy way to identify window products that utilize the latest window technology. To qualify for the ENERGY STAR label, windows must be certified by the National Fenestration and Rating Council (NFRC). ENERGY STAR uses the U-factors and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients (SHGC) to label windows and doors that qualify for your climate.
U-Factor – The lower the U-Factor, the greater the window’s resistance to heat flow and the better its insulation value. A good U-factor is 0.35 or lower.
SHGC – A number that represents the amount of the sun’s heat-causing energy allowed through a window. The lower the number, the less solar heat passes through the window. Look for an SHGC of 0.40 or lower.