The Importance of Impact-Rated Products

Above: Commercial office building in Houston, Texas, damaged by strong winds.

When hurricanes storm through communities, they can ravage and destroy buildings, homes, businesses and other property. Hurricane impact-rated systems are one way to help alleviate and prevent this destruction. 

Hurricane impact-rated systems refer to glass and fenestration products that are specifically designed and tested to withstand the high winds and flying debris associated with hurricanes. These systems are especially important in areas prone to hurricanes, like coastal regions in the United States.

Hurricanes Milton and Helene were two such hurricanes that caused widespread damage across the southern United States in the fall of 2024. Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, caused economic losses estimated at 250 billion, while Hurricane Milton’s estimate is around 50 billion, according to The Harvard Gazette.

“Extreme weather events increasingly pose significant threats to human health, infrastructure and economic stability across North America. The devastation from hurricanes and tornados has led to a staggering loss of life, homes and livelihoods, particularly affecting vulnerable coastal states,” says Jennifer Brereton, vice president, marketing and customer service, Binswanger Glass.

“In these regions, windows, doors, skylights and façades need to survive the storm without having the external surfaces of the building breached. Wind-borne debris often wildly flies about, impacting the buildings,” says Brereton.

The importance of impact rated products

Hurricanes and other extreme weather events can have a devastating effect on homes, even if only one system is damaged. “Impact-resistant products are essential for protecting from rapid internal pressurization,” says Dean Ruark, vice president, engineering and innovation, PGT Innovations. “If a single window or door fails during a storm, it can create intense pressure on the building’s roof and walls, often leading to catastrophic structural failure.”

Looking back at the 2024 hurricane season in the U.S., it was particularly active, with warmer waters causing rapid intensification of storms. The impacts of climate change are also increasingly apparent. According to the National Center for Environmental Information, there is a 59% chance that 2024 will rank as the warmest year on record.“Impact-rated products are crucial for safety and protection, as they can withstand strong impacts from storms or break-ins, minimizing the risk of injuries and property damage,” says Gendy Samaan, general manager, Binswanger Glass. 

One real-life example of the importance of impact-rated systems is when a strong storm hit the Houston area in May of 2024. Binswanger’s Houston Metro Branch Manager Steven Schrant received an emergency call from the owner of a high-rise office building  about severe damage from a violent storm. The building did not have impacted-rated systems in place. If it had, the damage could have been preventable. “The rain was blowing sideways, and the power was out across the city,” says Schrant.

Schrant gathered his gear and put out a call to the entire Houston team to ask for help. The team arrived on-site during the storm. They devised a safety plan, met with the superintendent, assessed the situation, determined next steps, and were eventually released after midnight. 

“One of our core values at Binswanger Glass is to always ‘Do what’s right for the customer, period,’” adds Schrant. “This was put into action when our customer faced an emergency and needed our help.”  

The future of impact-rated products and the industry at large

Josh Jensen, president of YKK AP’s residential business group, says that these more frequent weather events often cause building codes to be reviewed and modified, which drives changes to product development and design.

Jensen says that when it comes to impact-rated systems, customers have been asking for larger window lites, a bolder aesthetic and energy efficiency. “These trends will likely remain; however, we will likely see higher demand for hurricane-resistant windows and doors in coastal areas, particularly Florida,” says Jensen.

In Florida specifically, Ruark says that many new Floridians are less familiar with hurricanes, which has driven a surge in demand for impact-resistant products.

“Currently, most of the conversation centers on designing for surge and wave action, as recent hurricanes have been predominantly surge-related. However, when we see wind-driven storms like Hurricane Andrew in 1992—or more recently, Hurricane Dorian in 2019—that bring significant debris impacts to structures, the focus traditionally shifts to improving impact-resistant products and standards. Both surge and wind resilience will likely shape future industry standards and building codes,” says Ruark.

When it comes to what customers are asking of their hurricane impact-rated products and what the trends are for these products, experts say that is heavily driven by building code requirements.

Ruark says that the Florida Building Code is proving effective, where homes built to recent codes are withstanding the barrage of hurricanes that have made landfall in Florida in 2024.  He says that PGT Innovations is exploring “code-plus” options, such as those in the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s Fortified Program, which prepares buildings for even more severe wind events than what the current codes mandate.

“New products and companies are entering the hurricane-impact industry, introducing more suppliers and enhancing efficiency. This is strengthening the supply chain, adding new choices and reducing lead times, which benefits architects, glass manufacturers and building owners alike,” says Brereton. “The growing frequency of natural disasters calls for a proactive approach to enhancing building safety and resilience. Storm impact-rated glazing provides a dependable solution for safeguarding lives and properties against the severe effects of extreme weather conditions.”

Binswanger’s Samaan says that moving forward, the industry should focus on developing more resilient products, enhancing existing systems for extreme weather resistance, and proactively educating customers about the benefits of  impact-rated solutions.