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HURRICANE SHUTTERS STEEL BUILDINGS
For people who live in coastal counties from Texas to Maine and in other hurricane prone areas like Florida, shutters are an excellent investment for protecting their lives and property. Shutters are not only meant to protect windows and doors, but also possessions and people inside the building. They offer protection against strong winds and wind-borne debris. Once a window or door is shattered by hurricane winds, one thing is sure to happen - incredible pressure is brought to bear on the interior walls and on the building’s roof. This can lead to roof and wall failure – exposing the entire contents of the building to the storm. Shutters to reinforce doors and windows are the first line of defense against the hurricane. Steel garage building doors sliding glass doors, French doors or any type of door with considerable glass in it, should be shuttered or reinforced. During the onslaught of Hurricane Andrew, much of the damage to lives and property could have been prevented if hurricane shutters were installed over windows and doors.
The best kinds of shutters are those that offer the greatest protection. They should be affordable and are easy to install. The choice of shutters depends on individual circumstances. For those with a tight budget, plywood shutters may be the only affordable option. For the elderly or disabled, they can choose shutters that are easy to install with either an automatic closing mechanism or accordion-type shutters. For most people, the best choice is steel panels, which offer the best protection. However, they are expensive and are not easy to install. Another option is aluminum panels. These are lighter and easier to install, but they offer less protection and may not meet the building code of a particular area.
Whichever choice is made, keep in mind that shutters are only as good as the quality of their installation. When done by qualified and professional workmen, shutters or their anchors are properly installed and the quality of materials, meet the area’s building code.
These are the various types of shutters to choose from, depending on the particular needs:
1. Automatic Rolldown Shutters. These are pre-installed, PVC or metal louver shutters that are housed in a box above each window. The shutters can be rolled down along a set of tracks placed on either side of the window and locked at the bottom. They can be motorized so that they can be closed with a flick of a switch, This type of shutters are also available for large windows and doors but reinforcing rods must be inserted after deployment to insure shutter strength. Prices range from $20 to $35 per square foot of window or door area.
2. Accordion Shutters. These are pre-installed and often housed in a box at the side of the window or door. They are pulled out when deployed and are locked either in the middle to the accordion panel. Prices range from $15 to $20 per square foot.
3. Bahama Shutters. These shutters are also pre-installed and function as shade when not deployed. They are installed by putting the supports out of the way then locked down onto the building. Prices vary but cheaper ones may not provide enough protection from flying debris. Prices range from $15 to $20 per square foot.
4. Awning Shutters. These shutters are similar to Bahama shutters because they can be used shade. But instead of a louvered shade, awning shutters, as the name implies, act as an awning that provides shade and will fold down and fasten to the wall when a hurricane threatens. They are priced similar to Bahama Shutters – from $7 to $15 per square foot.
5. Storm Panel Shutters. These shutters are either aluminum or steel and can be stored away when not in use. When needed, they must be placed on pre-installed steel channels that are anchored at the top and bottom of the window. However, they require some physical effort to install. Prices range from $7 to $15 per square foot.
6. Plywood Shutters. These are the least expensive of all. One disadvantage is that the building owner should make the shutters by himself. In addition, they are very heavy and very awkward to install. To offer protection, they should be made of at least 5/8" plywood, then fastened to the building either with lag bolts or barrel bolts.
Besides shutters, building owners are offered other products that claim to provide protection from the damages brought about by a hurricane. Two of these products are the plastic film and shatter resistant glass windows. The plastic film is meant to protect only the glass. When using either of these products, the window frame will still suffer damage from the impact of debris and could fail. In contrast a shutter would take most of the damaging effects of the storm. Besides, films and glass resistant windows might not meet the building code of a particular area.
