Residents in Miami must put up with hurricanes of varying magnitudes, with each year being different than before. New luxury homeowners are asking their Architects to provide spectacular and unique designs while meeting the high velocity hurricane requirements.
One of the best options available to luxury homeowners in Miami and surrounding areas include frameless impact windows. In fact, many of the new luxury homes being designed in South Florida are now upgrading to frameless impact windows, which offer the perfect blend of functionality and style.
What Are Frameless Impact Windows?
Despite the fact that these windows are frameless, they offer complete protection against hurricanes. These windows are large missile-tested and have been Florida Product Approval certified to meet HVHZ requirements also recognized by the Miami-Dade NOA process.
Benefits of Installing Frameless Impact Windows
A vast majority of Miami luxury homes are now upgrading to frameless impact windows, fueled primarily by rising interest by designers and architects. They are pushing the envelope to have more windows in larger sizes, enhancing aesthetics from the outside-in and the inside-out. The increased natural light is scientifically proven to improve both well-being and demeanor. More natural light also reduces the need for other artificial light sources.
Building owners, architects, and designers working on luxury projects often want the very best for their clients. They’re constantly looking to push the boundaries of innovation, and these windows offer the perfect choice.
Here are some of the many benefits homeowners receive when upgrading to frameless impact windows.
Peace of Mind
Missile-tested, approved, and made using the very best materials, SLIMPACT windows meet all the impact codes. You don’t have to worry about destruction to your property as the hurricane certification process ensures that the windows will not allow envelope wind or water penetration at the tested design pressures.
SLIMPACT has been engineered to use three or four layers of laminated glass with the highest performing inter layers at thicknesses of 1-1/4” to 2”, which is three times (3 X) more than the regular hurricane glass. With SLIMPACT, you buy three windows in one! The structural silicone joints are possible thanks to DOW Industrial technology with 20 years of warrantied performance. These features ensure durability and performance for homeowners long-term.
Control Glare
SLIMPACT frameless impact windows feature low e-coatings available in low iron transparent options or combined with tints meeting coastal turtle code requirements. These options help control visible light, glare, or heat gain.
The inter-layers minimize 99.9% of UV rays, reducing the damage to your furniture and other exposed surfaces over time.
Unobstructed Views
More often than not, luxury homeowners are leaning towards modern designs with plush vegetation or water feature views. Frameless impact windows offer unobstructed views of your surroundings, bringing the outside elements closer to the inside of the home.
If you are looking for something that is unique and stylish, frameless impact windows are an ideal choice. With glass panel sizes going from 5’ to 10’ widths up to 12’ to 20’ heights, SLIMPACT windows can be used to create stunning views with virtually no obstructions.
Lower Insurance Premiums
With better hurricane protection comes lower insurance premiums, as these windows are tested and approved for large-missile protection. This means that your house remains protected from all outside elements.
Why Is Hurricane Protection Necessary in Miami?
South Florida is known for many things, including its tropical beaches, the sunshine, and the temperate weather throughout the year. More importantly, it is a hurricane-prone zone, susceptible to strong winds and tropical storms. In 2022, South Florida experienced two tropical storms, at the start and end of the hurricane season, with actual hurricanes hitting within no more than 200 miles away in other parts of Florida.
That’s primarily because South Florida sits pretty between the wind currents that flow from the Caribbean and the Atlantic. The requirements for hurricane protection were instituted after 1992 when Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 storm, caused destruction throughout Miami.
At the time, it was the worst disaster in the United States, resulting in damage worth more than $30 billion. As a result, widespread changes were made to the Florida Building Code, and impact-resistant building products became the standard.
How Impact Glass Makes a Difference
Impact glass is specially designed and tested to withstand any severe missile impact without sustaining significant damage. In testing, once the windows are impacted and broken, they are subjected to 9,000 cycles of positive and negative pressures designed to cause the windows to collapse and fail. SLIMPACT can withstand some of the highest possible pressures, ranging from +/- 65 to +/-110 Allowable Design Pressures. These windows are made from high-end glass and combine sentry glass inter-layers, including aluminum frames at the head and sill.
Severely strong missile impact may crack the actual glass, but the inter-layer ensures that the windows remain intact. This prevents both high winds and those with malicious intent from entering your place. Yes, SLIMPACT is also great for protection against burglars and has even withstood informal small caliber ballistics testing!
Standard impact-resistant windows are decent, but they don’t offer much in the way of design. The SLIMPACT line is incredibly versatile and customizable for use in various configurations. More importantly, when you’re willing to invest so much money into a luxury home, you obviously want the very best for your place. Why compromise by installing standard windows when you have a better option?
For starters, you have the standard four-sided fixed extra-large single-lite windows ideal for punched openings from 96-180 SF in size. Another option is to go for the in-line multi-panel configuration, which connects multiple fixed units in a parallel configuration to make the opening much bigger. This option also allows you to replace sliding multi-panel aluminum doors that are not practical for Miami’s humidity, mosquitos, and no-see-ums. These large openings can be complimented with a SLIMPACT pivot door if overhangs like a terrace or entrance are present.
This means that almost any configuration can be achieved using multiple panels. The versatility of these windows means that you can also install them in a neo-angle configuration, combining numerous units at angles for segmented radius applications.
On top of that, these windows can also be installed at a 90-degree angle, resulting in an all-glass solution that eliminates the need for using any post supports.
Architecture Perspective
Paul Fischman, principal of one of South Florida’s highest-regarded architecture firms, Choeff Levy Fischman, recently used SLIMPACT to create one of the most impressive window wall installations yet to be seen in Miami.
We asked Paul why he decided to use SLIMPACT frameless impact windows. He answered, “I used frameless windows to maximize vistas and continuity in these high-performance glazing systems while minimizing the site encroachments of heavy and deep frames, mullions, stiles, etc. This allows the architecture to express itself on the inside and outside without competing with the heavy site lines of standard impact-resistant glazing. SLIMPACT is higher performing with a minimalist design that is void in most other glazing manufacturers.”
SLIMPACT Frameless Windows Redefine Luxury
Slimpact windows by Faour Glass is the ideal choice for luxury homeowners looking for state-of-the-art performance and protection from their windows. It’s a stunning addition to any house and lets you enjoy gorgeous views around your home.
