Impact Resistant Windows
Consumer Impact Resistant Window Information
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Impact Resistant Window Standards
The American Society for Testing and Materials sets the standards for impact resistant windows and conducts experiments to make sure that certain models of windows will protect your home and its envelope from wind damage. Their laboratories use large and small cannons to determine the stress that windows can take before they are broken or compromised. There are standards for large and small missiles, which represent the debris that might cause damage to your home in the event of a hurricane or other massive weather event.
Large Debris
A 6-foot-long 2 x 4 that weighs 9 pounds must not be able to break the window when launched from a cannon at 50 feet per second.
Small Debris
Thirty pieces of roof gravel are shot many times at the window at 80 feet per second or 50 mph to test the durability of the window.
Learn more about the ASTM’s window testing procedures.