Hurricane Shutters

[missstructures]

I was asked by someone who is trying to enclose a patio in their house with foldable glass panels (to have the option to keep it open) - if you put shutters - does that only alleviate the glass from having to be impact proof - or can the shutters be considered the exterior building envelope (the glass would not have to be designed to take the wind pressure)? This is in South Florida.

FBC Chapter 2410.2:
"Exterior wall cladding, surfacing and glazing shall be designed and constructed to sufficiently resist the full pressurization from the wind loads prescribed in Chapter 16 (High-Velocity Hurricane Zones) and the concentrated loads that result from hurricane-generated wind-borne debris.

Exception: Exterior wall cladding, surfacing and glazing when protected by fixed, operable or portable shutters or screens which have product approval to resist full pressurization from wind loads as well as large and small missile impacts as outlined in the high-velocity hurricane provisions of Chapter 16 , without deforming to the point where the substrate being protected is compromised."

 

[csd72]

I imagine that the shutters are only there to protect the windows from debris and do not seal off the building.

If this was the case then the windows would still need to take the wind pressure.

 

[missstructures]

Well what I'm trying to see is if the code allows me to use the shutters as the closing element (not the windows).

 

[CFSEng]

If the shutters are designed to resist full pressurization (wind) and impact loading as stated in the code, then I would think the windows would not need to be since they are 'inside' the envelope.

 

[csd72]

CFSEng,

I have never heard of pressure resistant shutters, do these exist? I would love to know.

 

[CFSEng]

I should have said panels and not shutters. Typically most shutters are slotted, and not solid.

But even using a pressure resistant panel, I would think the panel would need to be relatively well sealed to the structure to limit the air pressure on the window. I guess if the assembly was relatively well sealed (like a roll-up type panel) then the windows may not see much wind. I would recommend reviewing the product literature, test compliance report and its NOA required for miami-dade.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

http://www.113calhoun.org/pdfs/shuttips.pdf

and

http://www.apawood.org/level_b.cfm?content=app_res_hurshut1

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net