August 1992. Miami, Florida. Hurricane Andrew. Category Five.
This catastrophic storm taught researchers that violent winds alone are not the major cause of window failure and the devastation that follows. More significant is the impact of flying objects. This discovery changed hurricanes codes forever. Codes now focus on impact protection for windows and doors in addition to the ability to withstand high wind velocities. PGT® was the first to offer a complete line of residential aluminum impact-resistant windows and doors over ten years ago and helped develop the testing protocols still used today.
Our exclusive windows and doors combine heavy-duty frames with impact-resistant laminated glass to ensure nothing unwarranted invades your home in the event of a major storm. A special silicon glazing process is used to keep the glass from breaking away from its frame. Impact-resistant glass is comprised of two panes of glass bonded together with a special interlayer of clear polyvinylbutyral. A combination of this glass and heavy-duty aluminum frames provides amazing protection from flying debris and high winds. Although wind-borne debris may crack the glass on impact, the interlayer keeps the overall window intact, preventing destructive winds from entering your home.
The WinGuard® product line was designed to the highest standards. WinGuard® with aluminum frames meets Florida’s most stringent code requirements for wind-borne debris protection. The products have Miami-Dade and Florida State Product Approvals and pass TAS 201, 202 and 203 for air, water, structural, and both small and large missile impact protection.