Hurricane Testing

Building Envelope Protection = Property & Life Protection:

During a severe weather event, the most critical factor for increasing the chances of a building’s survival is protection of all the openings to the outside.  Once the wind enters the structure, the pressure changes lead to disastrous results.

Impact testing simulates windborne debris striking a window during a hurricane. Within the laboratory setting, this is done by firing a 2×4 projectile at predetermined locations on the window and seeing if there is any penetration.

The cycling portion of the testing ensures that a window having withstood impact by the 2×4 can then stand up to the rapid increases and decreases in pressure within the building during a hurricane.   Within the laboratory setting, this is done by introducing 9,000 cycles of differing pressures to the impacted unit.

Common test methods and standards surrounding hurricane testing are: State of Florida TAS 201, 202 & 203, ASTM E1886/ E1996, AAMA 506, Miami-Dade County Testing Protocols, etc.


Click here to see an NCTL hurricane test that was featured on the Discovery show Time Warp


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Benefits of Impact & Cycling / Hurricane Testing:

  • Ensures consistent product quality
  • Fair product comparisons
  • Informed product selection
  • Performance standards compliance – TDI, Miami-Dade, FL, etc.
  • Property and life protection
  • Highlight new technology & refinement
  • Display a product’s benefits
  • Accurate, unbiased results
  • Streamlined research & development process
  • Uniform code compliance requirements
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