JELD-WEN Expands Options For Impact-Resistant Windows
New products with the industry’s best warranties, DP ratings and widest range of options

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. April 15, 2008 — Severe weather can cause major damage to a home, sometimes with little warning. JELD-WEN, the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors, now offers a wider range of impact-resistant glass for protection from the next big storm.

This year, the company is expanding its ImpactGard® protection with more affordable options for windows and patio doors that meet the specific needs of storm-prone regions:

• JELD-WEN® Wood windows will continue to offer the ultimate in storm protection with a SentryGlas Plus (SGP) interlayer. Available with both monolithic and insulated glass options and a full warranty, JELD-WEN’s Custom Wood windows feature top-of-the-line ImpactGard protection.
• JELD-WEN’s Vinyl and Aluminum window offering of ImpactGard protection has expanded substantially this year. In addition to the original SGP interlayer options offered in the past, a new SGP interlayer option is now available. JELD-WEN has also introduced two new options that feature a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer, which is commonly used in the industry.

These significant changes result in four different impact-resistant glass options to meet a wide variety of building codes, feature offerings, budgets, and warranty coverage considerations. The new ImpactGard protection offerings feature industry leading warranties, including:

• A 10-year warranty on the interlayer and unit for ImpactGard SGP Plus
• A 10-year warranty on the interlayer for ImpactGard SGP with monolithic glass
• A five-year warranty on the interlayer and unit for ImpactGard PVB with insulated glass
• A five-year warranty on the interlayer for ImpactGard PVB with monolithic glass

“Builders and homeowners are increasingly focused on windows and doors that will stand up to storms,” said Brian Hedlund, window product marketing manager for JELD-WEN. “In addition to these performance needs, window and door styles are also evolving. Our products take both considerations into account – they adhere to the nation’s strictest building codes and yet look great with any architectural style.”

How ImpactGard Protection Works
ImpactGard protection consists of laminated glass with an interlayer sandwiched between two sheets of glass to deliver extra impact resistance. It may be insulated with an additional layer of Low-E coated glass, separated by a metal spacer, which increases its energy efficiency.

ImpactGard protection helps prevent wind damage by resisting impacts from debris and keeping the building envelope intact during storms. In fact, windows with ImpactGard SGP protection can withstand a nine-pound 2x4 board traveling at 34 miles per hour. Even if the glass cracks under pressure, the fragments will adhere to the interlayer, minimizing the danger of falling or flying glass.

JELD-WEN is the only manufacturer in the nation to offer impact-resistant technology for its complete wood, vinyl and aluminum window lines. Wood windows with ImpactGard protection are available nationwide. Vinyl and aluminum windows with ImpactGard protection are available in the southeastern states.

Maximum window strength is important in severe weather because a broken window or door can affect a home’s structural integrity.  Positive and negative air pressure caused by a storm can cause serious damage, and if a window or door breaks, that pressure can literally destroy the entire structure. Windows and doors are rated by how resistant they are to positive and negative air pressure, wind and rain. This rating is called design pressure (DP). The higher the DP rating, the greater the protection.

“ImpactGard protection delivers reliable peace of mind,” Hedlund said. “Not only is ImpactGard excellent protection in stormy regions, it is also energy efficient.”

Storm-resistant windows more secure, with added sound and UV reduction features JELD-WEN® windows with ImpactGard pass American Society for Testing and Materials standards for preventing forced-entry resistance for increased security benefits. ImpactGard protection also reduces ultraviolet exposure by blocking 95 percent of harmful rays, which can cause furniture, fabric and other materials in the home to fade. Exterior noise also is reduced. Compared to a single pane of glass that has a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of around 27, an insulated laminated glass unit can achieve an STC rating of up to 35, which means it can block even loud construction noises.

For more information about JELD-WEN Windows and Patio Doors with ImpactGard protection, please visit www.jeld-wen.com or call 800-877-9482, ext. PR-600.