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Overview
The biggest challenge in
protection against hurricane forces is in choosing which
product(s) will work best for your particular home or building.
There are a myriad of options available. For example, in
considering a window opening, do you select impact windows or
one of the ten primary hurricane shutter options? Most
companies specialize in one or more of these options and must
obviously sell you on their solution.
Introduction to
Hurricane Proof
Hurricane
Proof was created to provide the highest value products in any
and all categories of hurricane protection. Highest value means the
best performing product for the price you pay. Hurricane Proof
began in the spring of 2008 serving the south Palm Beach
County region and will eventually expand to all
hurricane impacted areas in the U.S. Hurricane Proof is a
member of the My Safe Florida Home
program.
Qualification of Hurricane
Proof
Hurricanes cause catastrophic damage to homes and businesses. Experts
predict that the U.S. is at the beginning of a long cycle of frequent
hurricanes. The cost of hurricane protection and clean up is high.
Insurance companies are refusing to provide coverage. Governments are
challenged to resolve the crisis of insurance coverage and hurricane
damage. A market solution is needed.
Product Certification
While it is possible to build structures that
are completely “hurricane proof”, there are compromises of cost and appearance. Hurricane Proof 's focus
is on providing the greatest protection possible in all categories and
consult with our clients regarding the practicality of each option. All
of our trades’ products will meet the nation’s toughest hurricane product testing
standards, typically those of Miami/Dade. The Miami/Dade testing standards have been
the code requirements for building in Dade and Broward Counties
and have now become the Florida statewide standard for costal locations most vulnerable
to hurricanes. These are designated as High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ). Some of
Hurricane Proof’s product categories will feature products that exceed
the Miami/Dade code requirements.
The testing for opening protection against hurricane windborne debris
required for a Miami-Dade Product Approval include the following:
- TAS 201 Large and Small Missile Test
Standards,
- TAS 202 Uniform Structural Load Standards,
and
- TAS 203 Uniform
Cyclic Pressure Test Standards.
The Miami-Dade test standards surpass all
others in that it does not allow the test missile (9-pound 2x4 at 34
mph) to penetrate the tested unit or protective system (hurricane
shutter) and does not allow it to break the glass behind the
protective system. Other standards allow the test missile to
penetrate the protective system provided the opening does not
increase in size as it is subjected to wind pressures and so long as the hole is small enough so that a 3-inch diameter sphere
will not pass through the hole. The focus of these alternative test standards is
to prevent pressurization of the home and reduce the chances of additional pressure
related failures of the home.
The Miami-Dade standard targets protection of
the window behind the protective system. Consequently, a protective system that meets the Miami-Dade Standard and
is installed according to their product approval requirements will
provide the highest level of protection available in a commercial
product. Hurricane Proof’s products will continue to evolve as technologies in the
industry improve.
Customer Benefits
exclusively from Hurricane Proof
- Single source for any type of hurricane
protection product
- Objective information…No vested interest in
“pushing” any particular type of product
- Increased insurability and decreased
insurance premiums
- Increased personal safety
- Reduced building damage and increased
building value
- Decreased time for
hurricane preparedness and post-storm recovery
Hurricane Proof
889 NW 6th Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Phone: 561-338-3200
E-mail: info@hurricaneproof.com
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