RETROFIT Improvements MakingHomesSafer inDisasters

Hazards

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Purpose•Toprotectwindowanddooropeningsfrompenetrationbyflyingdebrisduringastormevent

Benefits•Protectthehomeanditscontentsfromdamage

•Preventinjuriestothehome’soccupants

•Reducethepotentialofwindbornedebrisbreachingawindowopening

•Reducethepotentialofwind-drivenrainenteringintothehomeandsoakingitsinterior

•Keepwindpressurefrombuildingupinsidethehomeandliftingtheroofoff

IllustrationsAfter RetrofitOption 1:Permanent storm shutters (Bermuda shutters)

SummaryDuringastorm,unprotectedwindowglasscanbebrokenbyhighwindsandwindblowndebris.Oncepenetrated,windowanddooropeningsallowrain,debris,andwindintothehomecausingdamage.Windcanraiseinteriorpressuresignificantlyandmajorstructuraldamagemayoccur.Theroofmaydetachfromthestructureandleavethehomeopentoweatherconditionsandfurtherdamage.Onemethodofprotectingwindowopeningsistoinstallpermanentimpactresistantshutters.Theinstallationofpermanentimpactresistantshuttersisthemostreliablemeansofprotection;however,thereareothermethodswhichincludeusingtemporarywoodorimpactresistantpolycarbonatecoversorreplacingexistingwindowswithimpact-resistantwindows.Permanenthurricaneshuttersmaybeinstalledatanytimebecausewindowsareeasilyaccessiblefromtheexteriorofahouse.Precutshuttersofmetalorimpactresistantpolycarbonatecanbepurchasewiththetracksforinstallationpermanentlymountedonthehome.Whenneeded,theshutterscanbequicklyinstalledusingafewsimpletools.Costwillvarybydesignandfeature,butexpecttopaymorethanthecostofreplacementwindows—upto$50persquarefootforoperablepermanentshuttersthatareimpactrated.Shuttersshouldhavethecapabilityofbeingopenedandclosedfromwithinthehouse,withoutelectricalpower,inordertoprovidemaximumbenefit.Consultwithyourcontractoraboutthisandothersafetyfeaturesthatcanbeincorporatedinyournextremodelingproject.

Hurricane ShuttersFloodWind Rain Seismic SnowFireRetrofit Opportunity

•Whenthewindowsareupgraded•Whentheexteriorcladdingisupdated

Option 2:Permanent rolldown shutters

Option 3:Wingnut attachment

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Potential Damage

Key Steps •Permanentimpactresistantshutterswillbearateststandardcertification,suchasASTME-1886,ASTME-1996,TAS202(Miami/DadeCounty).

•Temporaryshuttersshouldhavepermanently-mountedhardwareforquickinstallation.•Considerinstallingatranslucentmaterial,suchasimpactresistantpolycarbonate,onatleastonewindowtoallowdaylighttopassthroughandtoprovideaviewtothehome’sexterior.

•Windowswhicharelessaccessiblearecandidatesforimpactresistantwindowglazingorremotelyoperatedshutters.

•Motor-drivenshuttersshouldincludeamanualoverridewhichshouldbeaccessiblefromthehome’sinterior.•Yourcontractormayhaveadditionalideasonhowtoimprovethesafetyofyourhome.•Formoredetailsaboutthisretrofitimprovement,pleaserefertothelistofResourcesinthesectionbelow.

ResourcesFEMA,Protect Your Property from High Winds: Protect Windows and Doors with Covershttp://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3263FloridaDivisionofEmergencyManagement,Openings (Windows and Doors)http://www.floridadisaster.org/hrg/content/openings/openings_index.aspFloridaDivisionofEmergencyManagement,Shutter Selection Matrixhttp://www.floridadisaster.org/hrg/downloads/HRG_Shutter_Matrix.pdfFloridaDivisionofEmergencyManagement,Priorities & Incentiveshttp://www.floridadisaster.org/hrg/content/priorities/priorities_index.asp#completingInsuranceInstituteforBusiness&HomeSafety,Guide to Shutter Installationhttp://www.disastersafety.org/content/data/file/shutter_matrix.pdf

Photo:www.fema.gov