Storm-Resistant

The SL70 system was used in an East Hampton, New York, residence (top and middle) by Silberstang-Lasky Architects and (above) a Manhattan Motorcars dealership in West Hampton, New York, by Shawn F. Leonard, AIA.

Hurricane-resistant and thermally broken glass wall system gains AAMA approval
While NanaWall Systems’ SL72 folding-glass-wall system is already Miami-Dade-rated to withstand hurricane-force wind, rain, and flying debris, the company has added another hurricane-resistant option to its line with the SL70 thermally broken system. The SL70, an aluminum folding system designed to provide an opening glass wall up to 36' wide, offers a thermally broken design tested to American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) hurricane standards.

According to NanaWall president Ebrahim Nana, the thermally broken design was added after customers requested a hurricane-approved system with better U-values for colder climates. The system is thermally broken with a 3⁄4'' polyamide plastic reinforced with glass fibers. The thermal barriers provide increased strength, superior humidity control, improved acoustics, and energy savings.

The system is ideal for the Eastern Seaboard, where both impact-resistance and cold weather issues arise. “We see there is a need in [places like] Long Island where projects are near the water and need to be energy-efficient,” says Nana. “We are seeing it even as far south as Hilton Head, South Carolina, where they prefer AAMA standards.”

NanaWall has successfully tested and passed the SL70 insulated hurricane-impact glass in both inswing and outswing applications for 53 stacking configurations with both the raised sill and saddle sill. Testing for large missile impact was conducted per ASTM E1886, and testing for cyclic pressure was conducted per ASTM E1996. The SL70 system has also received statewide approval in Florida. The system can be fully or partially opened with a swing entry/exit panel(s) option.

Thermal breaking does not add to the cost of the SL70 system, but making it hurricane-resistant doubles the price point compared to a nonapproved system. Nana warns architects to be wary of companies that try to save costs by claiming to have done testing but have not, or those that “rent” an approved products’ Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance) to gain a permit, and then swap out the units for cheaper options. He suggests architects check the Miami-Dade Web site, www.miamidade.gov/buildingcode, to make sure everything is valid. Nana Wall Systems, Mill Valley, Calif. www.nanawall.com

[Reader Service: October 2007 #214]

Certified windows/doors
Kolbe offers 99 impact-certified products in its line of K-Force impact windows and doors tested to meet or exceed the strict building codes of the high wind zones extending from Texas’s Gulf Coast to Maine’s North Atlantic seaboard. K-Force’s impact-laminated glass and specialized glazing-retention system provides security without extra locks, unsightly brackets, or visible rods. Kolbe’s Heritage Series wood, Classic Series clad products, and Ultra Series extruded aluminum-clad units can be specified with K-Force impact performance in casement, awning, and double-hung windows, and sliding and swinging doors. Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork, Wausau, Wis. www.kolbe-kolbe.com

[Reader Service: October 2007 #215]