Hurricane
Protection Disclaimer
Hurricane
Proof Film?
I remember many years ago serving as one of the directors
for the International Window Film Association and at the
same time on what use to be called the "Ethics"
committee, whereas we would contact certain dealers that
were just too zealous in their advertising, claiming such
things as Hurricane Proof, No need for shutters, there was
even one guy stating bullet proof your windows, a claim
I assure you he would not stand behind
(literally) and while all of this is wrong, on the other
hand we have the shutters and impact windows people stating
(for obvious reasons) that film and nothing is one and the
same, which makes them just as wrong. So to clear up the
controversy I'd like to share with you the truth of what
film does and does not do:
1. Film does NOT make your home or office hurricane
"proof"
Then again nothing
does, you will find that there is not one company that sells
shutters and/or impact glass that can tell you or better
yet put in writing that once their product is installed
you are now hurricane PROOF. What film does offer is tremendous
protection at a very cost effective price. In fact, one
of the best features on safety film is the fact that it
is always on, giving the customer 24 hour protection not
only against storms that are announced but those that are
not, as we know so well in South Florida, while offering
of course vandalism protection as a fringe benefit.
2. Film does NOT have a Metro-Dade Code Compliance
number
That's right,
so... especially for new construction film cannot take the
place of shutters and/or impact glass. but please allow
me to throw some ironies at you...
- Most film manufacturers have passed many of metro Dade
protocol tests for hurricane wind and impact tests. Such
as the TAS-201,202,203 which involves a plethora of impact,
wind and cycling tests, in fact some manufacturers have
even passed the large missile cat c which in simple lay
terms involves a 4.5lb 2x4 bouncing off a regular slider
at a speed of 40 ft per second, in fact again, there is
a specific manufacturer that has passed a test called the
ASTM-E330 at a pressure of 260psf, ladies and gentlemen
that is equivalent to 322mph! (executed and recorded in
a metro-dade certified laboratory) but the way the code
is set up, none of this has any validity.
- Film does not have a metro dade compliance number but
it is our film that was allowed in lieu of shutters by the
City of Coral Gables for a luxury Condo Building called
Segovia Towers, further irony is that Metro-Dade's own Courthouse
Center has no shutters but our film for storm protection.
-Florida Statue even has a provision for Film involving
Condos:
The board may,
subject to the provisions of s. 718.3026, and the approval
of a majority of voting interests of the condominium, install
hurricane shutters and may maintain, repair, or replace
such approved hurricane shutters, whether on or within common
elements, limited common elements, units, or association
property. However, where laminated glass or window film
architecturally designed to function as hurricane protection
which complies with the applicable building code has been
installed, the board may not install hurricane shutters.
3. Film
May or May NOT bring you an insurance discount:
In recent cases
we have found that getting your discount or not has a lot
to do with your insurance agent and/or home inspectors knowledge
of what film can truly accomplish, that's why we urge you
to see for yourself, ask for the manufacture's certified
tests and compare it to your insurance affidavit, get your
insurance agent involved and most of the times you'll find
that a discount is not only deserved but a must. As we speak
leaders of the window film industry are making sure that
all of these issues are clarified.
4. Bottom
Line... Get The Facts and Weigh your Options and Costs
My advise to
you is get as much information as you can, weigh the total
costs, the options and if you go with a film system make
sure that an anchoring system is included, this will help
in giving you an extra edge of protection, make sure the
company is licensed and insured and has not only experience
and proper references but more importantly the proper backing
from the manufacturer.
In closing, there
is still so much unsaid, for example what happens to those
who live in buildings where shutters are impossible to install
and impact glass cost prohibitive or the elderly that can't
afford physically or financially shutters and/or impact
glass or even historic buildings where shutters can be a
eye sore and impact glass can be a construction nightmare,
in many of these cases a security film system is not only
the right solution it's the only one.
Rafael
Fernandez
Exclusive
Lumenesse Dealer for South Florida
Former director of the International Window Film Assoc
Former member of Unified Building Code Commitee
Former instructor for the AIA
Founder of 3M's Dealer Advisory Council
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