Cyclone Resistant Glazing

Please note: The attached file below contains a presentation in pdf format from the BEST5 conference. Open with Adobe Acrobat for best results.

As urban areas become developed in regions prone to severe weather, the risk of financial and human loss increases. Severe weather such as hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons have caused billions of dollars of damage and thousands of deaths globally. Traditional glazing structures used in buildings are particularly vulnerable to damage by windborne debris. Once the glazing system fails, the building envelope is open to water and wind causing further damage. If the glazing system is designed properly the damage and potential economic losses are reduced. When Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida in 1992 causing $28 billion in damage, the need for building code revisions became apparent. As a result, building codes were established for glazing systems to withstand the force of a strong hurricane. Laminated glass systems using Ionoplast interlayers are capable of meeting the highest level of hurricane performance and have been used South Florida hurricane since 1998.