RI & MA Replacement Windows Can Withstand Hurricane Earl
Posted by Renewal by Andersen on Tue, Aug 31, 2010
With Hurricane Earl approaching, many Rhode Island and Massachusetts homeowners are thinking about how to best protect their homes. With what was forecasted to be an active hurricane season, you can protect your biggest investment with hurricane rated windows. Impact resistant windows are constructed to withstand the high winds and horizontal rain associated with hurricanes. The Design Pressure (DP) Rating measures the strength of the window when it is closed and locked. The Renewal by Andersen Eagle Window has a DP- 50 rating, which allows the window to withstand 173 mph winds and horizontal rain without water or air leaking out. To compare, a category 5 hurricane has wind speeds of 155+ mph while Hurricane Earl, which slated to make its way towards the Northeast later in the week, is currently a category 4 storm.
To achieve this high level of resistance, the windows use either insulated or monolithic laminated glass based on your coastal situation. Laminated glass, if broken, will remain in the frame of the window for safety and added protection from storms or even intruders. The laminated glass, in conjunction with structural enhancements, gives the window the strength needed to withstand the tumultuous weather.
In order to test the window’s effectiveness, a wood 2x4 is launched out of a cannon at the speed of 50 feet per second, and then the window is forced to withstand 9,000 pressure cycles, which emulates the unrelenting high winds of a hurricane.
To protect your Rhode Island and Massachusetts home this hurricane season, be sure to check out our DP- 50 hurricane rated windows. For a FREE estimate, call us at 1-800-975-0222 or visit us at www.renewalbyandersennow.com.
Photo Credit: Flickr member Sister72
