After Hurricane Andrew – which flattened buildings across Miami-Dade County in 1992 – South Florida implemented much stricter building codes. While many coastal areas had already required that windows and doors meet impact certification requirements, those destined for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties faced new demands. In addition to passing impact testing, they needed to be tested for and pass rigorous requirements for High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ).
At Kolbe, we've offered a wide variety of impact certified products for many years. We're proud to report that our Ultra Series beveled direct sets – which were already available as impact certified units – have also passed High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) testing. This means that they meet the strictest requirements for wind velocity in Florida's Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which can have wind speeds over 170 mph. Our Ultra Series Beveled Direct Set windows have been certified in both single glazed and insulated versions, as well as with steel-reinforced and non-reinforced mulls.
Florida's stricter codes have helped to mitigate hurricane damage and Kolbe has stepped up to meet those codes. Learn more about our solutions for meeting the demands of high velocity hurricane zones on our Impact Resistance page.
