Designing for hurricane resistance involves nearly every part of a project—the roof, the foundation, walls, windows and, of course, the doors. Because hurricane-resistant design encompasses so many aspects of the built environment, there is not a universal testing standard for a product or system to achieve a hurricane rating. Instead, building professionals often need to look at data from multiple tests to determine if a product or system can withstand the various forces a hurricane exerts on a home or building.
When it comes to sliding glass doors, a system must pass several tests to be considered hurricane-resistant. Select manufacturers may go through the process of attaining a Florida Product Approval, a state-issued certification that a product meets requirements for use in high velocity hurricane zones (HVHZ), to streamline hurricane-resistant design. But not all do.
With this in mind, building professionals are encouraged to understand what performance capabilities are most important for determining the hurricane resistance of a sliding glass door. These capabilities include:
· Resisting water infiltration
· Wind resistance
· Impact resistance
1. Keep interiors dry by mitigating water infiltration
Rain and hurricanes go hand in hand. While not as visually impactful as other dangers inherent to tropical storms, water infiltration caused by wind-driven rain can cause long-term damage from rot and mold. It can also attract termites and other pests. This is true even when a home or building seems to have weathered a storm without damage.
Sliding glass doors that mitigate water infiltration can support occupant protection. They can also be an integral part of efforts to mitigate long-term structural damage from storm-driven rain. As such, sliding glass doors that contribute to a more water-resistant façade can be essential to hurricane-rated design.
Testing standards like ASTM E331-00 recreate conditions similar to extreme tropical storms—including water and cyclic pressures. Door systems that pass this test, like Vista Multi Slide™ from Euro-Wall, are certified to protect interiors from water damage.
2. Minimize immediate damage with wind-resistant sliding glass doors
Hurricanes and other tropical storms are defined by their incredible winds, which sometimes exceed 150 miles per hour (mph). While high winds can rip off shingles, shudders and other parts of the building envelope, the most costly damage often comes from uplift. Uplift pressures can destroy roofs and cause severe structural damage.
Reducing uplift often means specifying walls, windows and doors that can withstand air infiltration, wind load and cyclic load. Sliding glass doors that meet requirements for ASTM E283-04 (air leakage while under pressure differences), TAS 202-94 (resistance to uniform static pressure) and TAS 203-94 (cyclic wind pressure loading) resist failure caused by wind as determined by the parameters of these testing procedures.
Resistance to wind and wind-driven rain are essential to a hurricane rating, but air pressure is not the only way high winds can damage sliding glass doors and other openings.
3. Withstanding impact is essential for a hurricane rating
High-velocity winds can uproot trees, snap limbs and send all sorts of debris flying. Impact from windborne missiles can damage roofs and walls as well as shatter windows and sliding glass doors. Even if these openings resist hurricane-force winds, when they break, their wind and water resistance is entirely negated. This makes impact resistance a key component of hurricane-rated design.
Vista Multi Slide is certified to TAS 201-94 (impact resistance) standards, so it can resist damage from large missile impact. This ensures that it will not only remain intact under a wide range of hurricane conditions, but also that this sliding glass door will maintain its ability to protect against wind and water infiltration. As a result, it can contribute to a hurricane-resistant exterior.
Hurricane ratings for each part of the building envelope improve overall resilience
While hurricane-resistant sliding glass doors are an essential part of creating a resilient home or commercial space, they’re only one piece of the envelope. True storm protection requires a comprehensive approach, one in which walls, windows and all exterior components work together to keep occupants safe.
At Euro-Wall, we make it easier—and more enjoyable—to design for both resilience and refined aesthetics. Proudly built in Florida, our full line of impact-rated doors and windows offers some of the industry’s largest sizes, highest load capacities and strongest panel systems, all while delivering the clean, modern design options architects and homeowners love.
With Florida Product Approvals and Texas Department of Insurance certifications, our systems are engineered to perform under the harshest conditions and are backed by a team known for personal, project-specific support from start to finish.
Whether you're designing a coastal dream home or a commercial masterpiece, contact Euro-Wall today to build with confidence, style and strength.
