PROTECT WINDOWS AND DOORS WITH COVERS Protecting Your Property from High Winds FEMA April 2008 High winds and windblown debris can easily break unprotected windows and cause doors to fail. Once wind enters a structure the likelihood of severe structural damage increases, and the contents of the building will be exposed to the elements. The most reliable method of protecting windows and doors is installing permanent storm shutters. Alternatives include using temporary plywood covers, replacing existing glass with impact-resistant glass, and covering existing glass with a protective film. Permanent storm shutters are usually made of aluminum or steel and are attached to a building in such a way that they can be closed quickly before a storm arrives. One type is the “rolldown” shutter (see figure), which is contained in a housing mounted above the window and lowered when necessary. Manually operated and motor- driven models are available. [Begin figure] This figure shows that the rolldown shutter is permanently attached to the building. That the shutter is held by guide tracks along the sides of the window and is secured by a latch at the base of the guide track. [End figure] While permanent storm shutters can usually be closed quickly and easily, temporary covers can be an economical alternative and can be installed fairly quickly if the necessary preparations are made. Plywood covers can also be used to protect sliding glass doors and French doors (see figure). [Begin figure] This figure show a structure with plywood coves installed and about to be installed. It also shows a detail of a plywood cover installed on a window with screws or lag bolts. [End figure] BENEFITS OF UTILIZING THIS MITIGATION STRATEGY * Helps to prevent damage to a structure and its contents * Helps to prevent injuries to occupants TIPS Keep these points in mind when you install shutters or use temporary plywood covers to protect your windows and doors: * Always consider using permanent storm shutters if you live in an area where you know you will need to act quickly to protect your windows. If your property is in an area where you will have little warning of high winds, permanent shutters that can be closed quickly, such as the rolldown shutter, are better than temporary plywood covers, which must be retrieved from storage and mounted with bolts or screws. * If you decide to buy permanent shutters, look for models that meet the wind load and impact standards established for your area. These standards can be obtained from your local building official. If you have any questions about the strength of a specific model, check with the manufacturer. Permanent shutters are available in a wide range of sizes, so you can use them to protect many types of windows and doors, as well as large areas of glass. * If you decide to use temporary plywood covers, you may want to hire a contractor or handyman to make them for you. If you do the work yourself, you will need to cut the plywood and drill holes for screws or lag bolts in each cover and in the wall around each window. The screws or lag bolts should be placed along the top, bottom, and sides of each cover, and they should be long enough to penetrate the wall studs around the window, not just the siding or wall covering. * Don’t wait until a hurricane or tornado warning is issued to make temporary covers; you probably won’t have time. Make them during the “off season” so that you’ll be ready to install them at any time. Store the mounting screws or lag bolts with the covers, in a place where they are readily accessible – don’t stack heavy boxes or other hard-to-move materials on top of or around the covers. Use a numbering or lettering system that shows which cover goes with which window. * If you buy motor-driven shutters, make sure they also can be operated manually if the power fails. * If you are constructing a new building in an area subject to high winds, avoid designs that include large areas of glass, windows with multiple panels, and double entry doors. The widths of individual doors and windows should not exceed 3 feet. * Check local code requirements for windborne debris in your area. ESTIMATED COST Storm shutters can cost $50 to $60 per square foot of window. A set of shutters for a 3-foot by 4-foot window will cost approximately $600 to $720. The cost of a plywood cover will also depend on the size of the window. If you do the work yourself, you can expect plywood to cost about $0.60 per square foot. Screws or lag bolts, including washers, will cost about $0.10 to $0.15 each. For example, protecting a window that is 3 feet wide and 4 feet high will cost about $10. This figure covers only the materials you will have to buy and excludes the cost of any tools you use and the value of your time. If you hire a contractor or handyman to do the work, you will have to pay for time as well as materials. OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), http://www.disastersafety.org. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), http://www.flash.org. FEMA 247, Against the Wind: Protecting Your Home from Hurricane Wind Damage, December 1993, http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1641. FEMA 488, Hurricane Charley in Florida: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Observations, Recommendations and Technical Guidance, “Hurricane Recovery Advisories,” April 2005, http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1444. FEMA 489, Hurricane Ivan in Alabama and Florida: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Observations, Recommendations and Technical Guidance, August 2005, http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1569. FEMA 499, Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, Technical Fact Sheet No. 26, August 2005, http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1570. FEMA 549, Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, July 2006, http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1857. International Residential Code® (IRC®) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, Section R301.2.1, Wind Limitations, 2006. To obtain copies of FEMA documents, call the FEMA Publications Warehouse at 1-800-480-2520 or visit FEMA’s Library online at http://www.fema.gov/library.