Recent hurricanes that have affected the United States have caused many tragedies, including extensive property damage. These storms led to the development of building code certification standards for windows and doors installed in coastal areas prone to hurricanes and strong winds—from Texas to Maine.

The certifications are designed to ensure homes can withstand extreme weather. In fact, windows and doors are crucial to maintaining a home’s structural integrity. If a window or door is broken, wind can enter the home and cause increased pressure that may lift the roof and push walls outward.*

Wind-borne debris regions

Areas subject to strong winds or hurricanes are categorized into four different wind-borne regions (or zones). the zone you live in determines the types of windows and doors your home must have to meet building codes. JELD-WEN offers products that meet the requirements for Zone 4, which means they’re appropriate for the other zones, too.

Design pressure ratings

Homes in any of the wind-borne debris regions must also have windows and doors with specific design pressure (DP) ratings, which include both positive and negative numbers. The positive number corresponds to pressure created by wind blowing at a window and door. The negative number represents vacuum pressure on the inner side of the window or door. DP rating requirements are site specific, so consult your architect or contractor for the ratings needed for your area and home.

As wind blows at a window or door (positive DP, illustrated here in blue), a vacuum is created on the opposite side (negative DP, illustrated here in red).

Testing requirements

To meet building codes, windows and doors within hurricane areas must pass certain requirements, such as impact resistance and wind pressure tests. These requirements vary by area, so consult your builder or contractor for specific criteria.

Different testing results are required in each of the four wind-borne debris regions. Many JELD-WEN^® windows and doors have passed these necessary tests (see chart below); for certified products, click on the certifications tab.

* SOURCE: Federal Emergency Management Agency
** Impact resistance testing for Zone 4 may also include multiple hits per test unit and mullions.