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Each year hurricane season drives home and business owners to search for the
best ways to protect their property.
Covering windows with plywood is popular among coastal residents, but the
product and the means of attachment are not tested nor approved for winds of
any real strength. An airborne piece of plywood driven by hurricane strength
winds can cause tremendous damage. Plywood also takes up a lot of space and can
warp during storage. And it’s no easy task to install plywood while standing on an extension ladder!
Metal shutters are another common option in some geographic areas, but they
close out light and air as well as wind. They’re extremely heavy and difficult to manage, and they create a “dark cave effect.”
Thanks to the newest technologies, there is an alternative. StormSmart
Industries, the nation’s largest manufacturer of hurricane protection systems, has recently introduced
a hurricane wind abatement system in Texas that is already a mainstay in
Florida. The system and installation options are practical and easy to use.
Impact-resistant screens are made of a heavy-duty, geosynthetic polypropylene
mesh, not unlike the heavy mesh material in a trampoline. The heavy duty
screens block flying debris and 97 percent of wind and driving rain—all while allowing natural light into the building. Multiple installation
systems range from those that are installed manually to fully automated roll
down systems with remote control operators. All of the installations meet and
exceed the strict requirements of the Florida Building Code as well as the
Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. They are lightweight, easy to install,
and allow light and air to filter through.
“We compare the system to a bullet-proof vest,” said Marketing Director Trent Dunn of StormSmart Industries. “It’s a flexible material that protects the envelope of your home, just as a
bullet-proof vest protects a human body. Even though you may take a hit, the
vest protects you and keeps you alive. The new storm protection systems are
based on that principal.”
Installation doesn’t require any special tools, and virtually anyone can do it. The screens also
store conveniently when the hurricane is over.
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The two main types of systems are Direct Mount, which is installed directly into
an opening, and the Roll Down system that can be rolled either manually or with
a remote control device. With the direct mount application, a home or business
owner manually installs the screens when the storm approaches, and removes them
after it passes. With a roll-down application, the screens are left permanently
mounted in an aesthetically-pleasing hood above the openings they are designed
to protect. When a storm threatens, the screens can be lowered manually or by
use of a motorized system that puts them into place with the touch of a button.
A large opening of approximately 12 feet by 9 feet only weighs a few pounds.
This makes the system ideal for second-story windows, because it’s much easier to carry a lightweight screen up a ladder than a sheet of plywood
or a heavy metal shutter. The material can be machine-cut and sewn by the
manufacturer into any shape. That makes it perfect for curved or other
geometrically-shaped windows.
Geosynthetic polypropylene hurricane screens are flexible so shock loads are
distributed evenly throughout the attachments. The full range of installation
systems and colors carries new products with their in-depth testing,
engineering, and code approval so they are ready to protect you and yours.
The screens have been manufactured and installed for many years although they
were principally distributed in Florida. As the eastern region of Texas has
taken several hurricane hits in recent years, it is timely that the hurricane
protection screens have been made available for Texas homes as well. They’ve been thoroughly tested during the recent past’s active and destructive hurricane seasons, and have delivered outstanding
performance. Home and business owners love them both for their protective
qualities, as well as their simplicity and ease-of-use.
Storm abatement screens are not only useful during hurricanes. At other times
they serve to provide relief from the sun or wind. With an adequate wind and
debris protection system protecting your home, you’ll rest assured.
By Warren Clark
BMC West Building Materials |
