Wind Protection

[NotDeadYet]

I have these: http://www.wayne-dalton.com/Fabric-Shield.asp

I have these too. And they are Miami Dade rated. Citizens gives the maximum discount for them. (Citizens has about three levels of discounts for hurricane protection.)
They prevent breakage the same way any hurricane shutter does - a flying missile does not penetrate. There is no issue with them blowing off, because if properly installed they don't flap around. I don't think they would work on a porch though, too much flapping.
I chose these because one person can put them up in a relatively short period of time, and they roll up for storage. Also they let a lot of light through, so it is not like the plywood cave. And they were less expensive than real working shutters, which the house also does not have room for around all the windows.

 

[30ashopper]

I have these too. And they are Miami Dade rated. Citizens gives the maximum discount for them. (Citizens has about three levels of discounts for hurricane protection.)
They prevent breakage the same way any hurricane shutter does - a flying missile does not penetrate. There is no issue with them blowing off, because if properly installed they don't flap around. I don't think they would work on a porch though, too much flapping.
I chose these because one person can put them up in a relatively short period of time, and they roll up for storage. Also they let a lot of light through, so it is not like the plywood cave. And they were less expensive than real working shutters, which the house also does not have room for around all the windows.

These look interesting. How do they fasten to the house? Is there a lot of hardware visible when the shutters aren't installed?

 

[ASH]

The flexible panels may work if the windows and doors are set deep enough back in the wall. When debris hits the panels, it flexes to absorb the hit and the debris pushes the fabric several inches, possibly contacting glass that would cause breakage.

Seems like a very good upgrade idea for any home built pre-code.

I am a window and door guy and have witnessed first hand what a 2 X 4 can do to the exterior of a building.

If you can't do the windows as hurricane rated, the next best thing is a system that is permanent on the building such as roll down shutters or a system that comes in multiple smaler pieces that can actually be handles easily in windy conditions. You do not want to pick up a sheet of plywood in a 40MPH wind and walk around with it or worse yet, start climbing a ladder with it.

 

[NotDeadYet]

How do they fasten to the house? Is there a lot of hardware visible when the shutters aren't installed?

There are a couple of hardware options, "male" and "female." (Don't we love these terms ;-))
I chose the male, because it was cheaper, and since the house is old, I was not particularly concerned with the appearance. The fabric panels have grommets that slip over the permanent hardware and are fastened down with wing nuts. The hardware goes on two of the four sides of each window - on my house it is the solid trim pieces around the window openings. When not in use, I cover the hardware up with those little plastic caps, and honestly, I never notice them anymore. I think the female would be less noticeable, probably. Obviously you need something sturdy to attach to, and the installers have to get the measurements right so they don't flap. When putting them up, the hardest part is tugging on the panels to get the grommets to slip over the screws - it is a tight fit.
Hope this helps.

 

[Matt J]

The flexible panels may work if the windows and doors are set deep enough back in the wall. When debris hits the panels, it flexes to absorb the hit and the debris pushes the fabric several inches, possibly contacting glass that would cause breakage.

Seems like a very good upgrade idea for any home built pre-code.

I am a window and door guy and have witnessed first hand what a 2 X 4 can do to the exterior of a building.

If you can't do the windows as hurricane rated, the next best thing is a system that is permanent on the building such as roll down shutters or a system that comes in multiple smaler pieces that can actually be handles easily in windy conditions. You do not want to pick up a sheet of plywood in a 40MPH wind and walk around with it or worse yet, start climbing a ladder with it.

Yes, and care to tell everyone what "penetration" is actually defined as when talking about hurricane windows and doors. I think most people would be shocked.

 

[John R]

These look interesting. How do they fasten to the house? Is there a lot of hardware visible when the shutters aren't installed?

I have the females. Depending on the construction, they either are inserted flush to the finish, or stand off about an inch. Mine stand off. The panels are secured by flattop screws via a phillips head screwdriver.

 

[ASH]

Yes, and care to tell everyone what "penetration" is actually defined as when talking about hurricane windows and doors. I think most people would be shocked.

A 9 pound 2 x 4 that is 8 feet long is shot out of an air cannon at 50 feet per second or about 34 MPH striking the center of the window. The glass can break, but the breakage cannot create a hole that you could pass a 3" sphere through or a rip in the glass interlayers that exceeds 5 inches in length.

After all this, they subject the window to 9,000 wind cycles that simulate hurricane force winds in an attempt to either push the glass out of the window or to suck it out. After 9,000 cycles, the glass is checked again for the 3 inch sphere or the 5 inch rip that would indicate a failure.

I once witnessed a test where the 2 X 4 went through glass being tested at too low of a building temperature making the glass more brittle. The 2 X 4 continued through the door and exited the building through the 8 inch thick concrete block wall.

 

[DuneLaker]

Native plants and trees offer the best protection if available. They are especially useful in keeping neighbors debris from flying into your house. Scrub oaks can be trimmed for view, but left dense enough to offer sun and wind protection. Through Opal and Ivan, etc. never lost a shingle (individually nailed) or window. Have yet to cover windows with anything, although this does not mean I won't if more poorly constructed docks, awnings, etc. get installed in wind blowing distance.

 

[Matt J]

A 9 pound 2 x 4 that is 8 feet long is shot out of an air cannon at 50 feet per second or about 34 MPH striking the center of the window. The glass can break, but the breakage cannot create a hole that you could pass a 3" sphere through or a rip in the glass interlayers that exceeds 5 inches in length.

After all this, they subject the window to 9,000 wind cycles that simulate hurricane force winds in an attempt to either push the glass out of the window or to suck it out. After 9,000 cycles, the glass is checked again for the 3 inch sphere or the 5 inch rip that would indicate a failure.

I once witnessed a test where the 2 X 4 went through glass being tested at too low of a building temperature making the glass more brittle. The 2 X 4 continued through the door and exited the building through the 8 inch thick concrete block wall.

Thanks, some window sellers act as though this is some sort of huge secret never to be revealed to the end user.

While I appreciate the honesty I'd rather not have a hole to begin with, hence the fabric shield. Hubby is an architect and unfortunately the biggest cause of failure to a structure is the breach of any part of it.

 

[ASH]

I offer AIA Continuing Education Credits with a program I offer for builders and architects about this information. I spent 10 years developing hurricane resistant windows and doors for the Marvin brand prior to coming to the Panhandle.

My understanding is that it takes a hole somewhere in the neighborhood of 10% of the surface envelope of a building before the home can pressurize to the point that it could lift the roof off.

I don't worry about glass nearly as much as I worry about failure of locking systems, hinges and structural components built into hurricane resistant windows and doors. Wood splits from the initial impact and then fatigues over time and pressure cycles. Screws begin to pull out of wood. The twisting of stiles and rails under pressure allows locking systems to seperate because of the twisting action. Lots of things go wrong under extreme pressure. I can honestly say I have probably seen it all in this area.