What are Impact Rated Doors?
Impact Rated Doors are rated to stay strong under the force of hurricane winds and flying debris. In order to be approved as “impact rated” the design must pass the rigorous Miami-Dade High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) Test or the rigours Florida Product Approval. Only after passing this tests can a door be Impact Rated.
Why Does Florida use Impact Testing?
In August of 1992, the category 5 Hurricane Andrew smashed into south Florida. The consequences were devastating. Over 60 people lost their lives and the region sustained an estimated 26 billion in property damage. The state determined the damage could have been reduced if windows and doors withstood some of the hurricane winds and flying debris. To protect future homes, they created a series tests for windows and doors. It’s that HVHZ Test that approves your door as Impact Rated.
Do Impact Rated Doors Look Normal?
Impact Rated Doors truly give you the best of both worlds. Your home is structurally protected, and you don’t have to sacrifice any aesthetic value whatsoever. Impact Rated Doors are indistinguishable from any other door. They follow the same trends and designs of even the stylish doors in glossy home magazines.
The secret to the extra protection is between the seams. Impact Rated Doors have a special steel plate that protects against flying debris. If you find an Impact Door with glass plates, those plates also abide by Miami-Dade’s Hurricane Testing or the Florida Product Approval standards.