courtesy
of National
Hurricane Center
WINDOW
SHUTTERS
One
of the best ways to protect a home from damage
in wind storms is to install impact-resistant
shutters over all large windows and glass
doors. Not only do they protect doors and windows
from wind-borne objects, but they can reduce damage
caused by sudden pressure changes when a window
or door is broken. Laminated window systems
(plastic bonded to glass) are another option,
and are a particularly good choice for either
building a new home or adding to an old one.
The
easiest designs are those that simply cover the
opening with a structural panel such as plywood.
In past hurricanes, many homeowners upon
returning have noticed their temporary plywood
shutters blown off because they were not adequately
fastened. If you have a wood-frame house,
use adequate fasteners to attach the panels over
the openings when a hurricane approaches. Have
these temporary shutters stored and ready to use
since building supply stores generally sell out
of these materials quickly during a hurricane
warning. If your home is made with concrete blocks,
however, you will have to install anchoring devices
well in advance.
The
APA - The Engineered Wood Association offers
a series of Hurricane Shutter Designs. Each design
is available for $1, or you can download all five
designs from the APA's website
at no cost.
Manufactured Shutters
If
your residence has permanent shutters, evaluate
their effectiveness. Manufacturers are responsible
for testing their shutters up to the standards
necessary to resist wind forces and wind-borne
debris. Some shutters are very flexible, especially
those that roll up.
If
struck by a rigid piece of debris, shutters may
bend and break the window. To determine whether
your shutter can resist this impact, gently lean
against it and see if it yields. You can also
inspect your shutters to see if they are properly
attached to the house and will not fly off during
a storm by inspecting the shutter connectors for
obvious excessive wear or missing connectors.
Ask the shutter manufacturer for proper installation
criteria.
Currently,
only the South Florida Building Code and the Standard
Building Code Congress have missile impact test
standards. Permanent and temporary shutters should
meet one or both of these standards:
The
above information is taken from IBHS's
instructive pamphlet, "Is Your Home Protected
from Hurricane Disaster? -A Homeowner's Guide
to Retrofit."
