Riot Glass® retrofit systems consist of custom-made security glass and framing designs that provide maximum protection against forced entry and ballistic threats.
Riot Glass® can be used to secure any building. Virtually invisible yet nearly indestructible, it blends seamlessly in almost any existing window, door, or storefront.
Hurricane Curtains: Do You Even Need Them If You Have Riot Glass?
Written By: Brad Campbell | January 26, 2021
Hurricane curtains, commonly known as hurricane fabric, are becoming increasingly popular over other hurricane mitigation barriers like plywood boards, storm panels, and shutters.
The popularity of this storm resistant fabric is due in large part to its ease of use, but how effective is it and are there any hassle-free alternatives available?
What Exactly Is Hurricane Fabric?
How Fabric Hurricane Shutters Work and What Their Benefits Are
Hurricane curtains are basically pieces of trampoline-like fabric that you stretch over your glass doors and windows and clip into place. The fabric protects against wind and rain during a storm and bounces away flying storm debris to keep your glass intact.
Image via https://www.hurricanefabric.com/
Benefits of cloth hurricane shutters:
Very lightweight
Easy to install and remove
Don’t take up a lot of storage space
Resists wind, water, and flying debris
Florida building code approval/approved for use in Miami-Dade County
Approved by many major insurance companies
Can be professionally installed or installed by you
Available in different colors
Allow natural light into your home or business
Hurricane fabric is an appealing option for protecting homes and businesses against storm damage because it’s much lighter and easier to put up than plywood boards or metal hurricane panels.
Image via https://www.hurricanefabric.com/
Hurricane curtains are also available in a variety of attachment styles including grommet, rolling screens, sliding screens, and strap and buckle models.
Grommet and strap and buckle curtains are meant to be taken down when no longer needed, while sliding and rolling screens are mounted permanently beside or above windows and put into place when needed.
The permanently mounted models can be professionally installed if you’re not big on DIY projects. The grommet and strap and buckle varieties are really easy to install yourself and only require one person to put the curtains in place before a storm, unlike other types of barriers.
Once the fabric is in place, you have a flexible barrier over your doors and windows that can deflect wind, rain, and flying storm debris from your home or business.
The level of protection these curtains provide is enough to earn them building code approval in Florida and other Southeastern states as well as approval for use in Miami-Dade County. It’s also approved hurricane protection for many large insurance providers.
That being said, it is still possible for storm debris to damage the fabric and potentially break through to break your window glass. Another disadvantage of the deflective fabric is that debris can bounce off and fly into other nearby property, causing damage elsewhere.
So, besides the ease of use why would you want to use hurricane fabric instead of solid hurricane mitigation barriers like storm panels or shutters?
Well, for one thing it’s much more affordable than permanently installed hurricane shutters like roll-down shutters or accordion shutters. Additionally, it can be folded or rolled up when not in use for easy storage, which means it takes up much less space than boards or panels.
Image via https://www.bobvila.com/
Finally, it’s a much more visually appealing option than wooden or metal boards, panels, and shutters. The fabric is translucent, so light will still be able to filter in through your windows. Hurricane curtains are also available in a variety of colors to match the aesthetic you want.
Can You Use Riot Glass® Instead of Hurricane Fabric?
How to Use Laminated Security Glass for Storm and Hurricane Mitigation
If you’re not familiar with Riot Glass®, here’s the rundown:
Riot Glass® is our proprietary line of laminated security glass panels. These panels consist of a highly durable and impact resistant thermoplastic interlayer sandwiched between two layers of glass.
The unique composition makes Riot Glass® up to five times stronger and 100 times stiffer than other types of safety and security glass on the market. Our security glass laminates are favored by many coastal clients because of their ability to protect properties against storm damage.
How Riot Glass® protects your glass in a storm or hurricane:
Strong enough to resist storm debris impacts
Provides 24/7 glass protection
Retains its shape and strength if it breaks
Helps keep water and storm debris out
Reduces the likelihood of injury from broken glass
Our Riot Glass® panels are available in a variety of thicknesses and strengths, many of which are capable of staying completely intact when impacted by flying storm debris.
