Can Impact Windows Withstand Category 5?

Last Updated: March 2026
The short answer is: certain impact windows are tested to withstand wind pressures associated with Category 5 hurricanes, but not all impact windows carry that level of rating. The answer depends entirely on the specific product’s Design Pressure (DP) rating, which varies by manufacturer, window style, size, and frame material.  

“Category 5 rated” is a marketing term, not an official product certification. No testing standard (ASTM, Miami-Dade, or Florida Building Code) categorizes windows by hurricane category. Instead, windows are rated by their Design Pressure, which measures the maximum wind pressure they can resist. A higher DP number means a stronger window, and certain DP ratings correspond to the wind pressures generated by Category 5 storms.

Below you will find answers to additional frequently asked questions from our readers about impact windows and extreme hurricanes.

What Is the Saffir-Simpson Scale and What Does Category 5 Mean?

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, maintained by NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, classifies hurricanes into five categories based solely on maximum sustained wind speed:

Category	Sustained Winds	Damage Potential
Category 1	74 – 95 mph	Some damage: roof coverings, vinyl siding, gutters. Unprotected windows may break from flying debris.
Category 2	96 – 110 mph	Extensive damage: major roof and siding damage. High probability of broken unprotected windows.
Category 3 (major)	111 – 129 mph	Devastating damage: roof decking removal, gable end failure. Windows and doors at serious risk.
Category 4	130 – 156 mph	Catastrophic damage: severe roof structure loss. Most unprotected windows will be broken by debris.
Category 5	157+ mph	Catastrophic damage: high percentage of frame homes destroyed. Area uninhabitable for weeks or months.

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center, Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

An important detail from NOAA’s hurricane damage potential data: damage does not increase proportionally with wind speed. It increases exponentially. A doubling of wind speed from 75 mph to 150 mph does not double the damage potential. It increases it by a factor of approximately 256. This is why Category 5 storms are in a class of their own, and why window ratings matter so much at these extreme wind speeds.

How Are Impact Windows Actually Rated for Wind Resistance?

Impact windows are not certified by hurricane category. They are rated by Design Pressure (DP), which measures the maximum positive and negative air pressure (in pounds per square foot, or psf) the window can withstand without failing.

The DP rating is determined through testing under ASTM E1886 and E1996 standards. The test has two components:

Missile impact test: A 9-pound 2×4 lumber projectile is fired at the window at 50 feet per second (approximately 34 mph). The window must survive impacts at the center and corners without being penetrated. This simulates flying debris, not the wind speed itself.

Cyclic pressure test: After the missile impact, the window is subjected to thousands of cycles of positive and negative pressure to simulate the sustained and fluctuating wind loads of a hurricane. The pressure levels correspond to the window’s rated DP.

The DP rating relates to wind speed, but the relationship depends on several site-specific factors defined in the Florida Building Code. These factors include the building’s distance from open water (exposure category), the height of the building, and where on the building the window is located. Corner zones experience higher pressures than mid-wall locations.

As a general reference point, a DP rating of approximately 50 corresponds to wind pressures associated with Category 5 conditions (157+ mph) for a typical single-story residential building. However, the required DP for any specific window depends on the factors above, which is why building codes specify requirements by location rather than by hurricane category.

Can Storm Smart’s Impact Windows Handle Category 5 Conditions?

Storm Smart’s Smart View Impact Windows are manufactured by Eastern Architectural Systems (EAS) and are available in multiple configurations. Their DP ratings vary based on the specific window style, size, and frame material:

• Window style matters: A fixed picture window has no operable components and handles pressure better than a single-hung, casement, or sliding window of the same size. Fixed windows generally carry higher DP ratings.
• Size matters: Smaller windows of the same style typically carry higher DP ratings because there is less surface area for wind to act upon.
• Frame material matters: Smart View windows are offered in both heavy-duty aluminum and fusion-welded vinyl, each with different structural limits.

Across configurations, Smart View windows carry DP ratings that frequently range from DP-50 to DP-100+, depending on the specific unit. All Smart View windows are:

• HVHZ Certified: Approved for use in Florida’s High Velocity Hurricane Zones, which enforce the strictest wind resistance requirements in the state.
• ASTM E1996 Impact Tested: Verified to resist both large-missile debris impacts and sustained cyclic wind pressure loading.
• Florida Product Approved: Listed in the statewide product approval system for code-compliant installation throughout Florida.

For a specific DP rating on the exact window configuration you need, Storm Smart can provide detailed product specifications during a free in-home assessment.

Will Impact Windows Protect My Home Under Extreme Conditions?

Impact windows are one of the most effective measures for protecting your home during a hurricane, but they are one component of a comprehensive system. Even a high-DP impact window cannot prevent all types of hurricane damage.

What impact windows do protect against:

• Flying debris penetration: This is the primary function. When debris strikes an impact window, the outer glass may crack, but the laminated interlayer holds the fragments together and prevents the debris from entering your home.
• Building envelope integrity: By preventing window breach, impact windows stop the rapid internal pressurization that can lift roofs and blow out walls. Maintaining the sealed envelope is the single most important factor in a home’s structural survival during a hurricane.
• Water intrusion through openings: Intact windows prevent wind-driven rain from entering through broken glazing.

What impact windows cannot protect against:

• Storm surge and flooding: Windows do not prevent water from entering through ground-level flooding. Flood protection requires separate measures.
• Total structural failure: If the roof, walls, or foundation fail due to extreme forces exceeding the building’s design limits, window integrity becomes secondary.
• Repeated extreme impacts: An impact window that survives one debris strike may be compromised for subsequent impacts. The laminated glass holds together but may be cracked, reducing its ability to resist additional strikes.

It is also important to understand that wind speeds in a hurricane vary significantly across the storm and decrease rapidly as the storm moves inland. According to NOAA, peak 1-minute sustained winds diminish by approximately one hurricane category within roughly half a mile of the coastline. A storm that makes landfall as a Category 5 may produce Category 3 or 4 conditions just a few miles inland, which is where the majority of residential structures are located.

What Reinforcements Should Be Added with Impact Windows for Maximum Protection?

Impact windows protect your glazed openings. A complete storm protection strategy also addresses these additional vulnerability points:

• Entry doors and sliding glass doors: These are often the largest and weakest openings in a home. Impact Doors should match or exceed the DP rating of your windows. An unprotected patio door can be the “weakest link” that disqualifies you from the top-tier opening protection credit on your wind mitigation inspection.
• Garage doors: Garage doors represent the largest single opening in most homes. A wind-rated garage door or garage door bracing system is essential, particularly in homes where the garage faces the prevailing storm direction.
• Roof-to-wall connections: Hurricane straps or clips connecting the roof structure to the wall framing prevent roof uplift. This is a separate credit category on the OIR-B1-1802 wind mitigation inspection form.
• Roof deck attachment: Proper nail patterns and fastener types in the roof sheathing reduce the risk of the roof deck peeling away in high winds.
• Secondary water resistance: A sealed roof deck (using self-adhering modified bitumen membrane) prevents water intrusion even if the primary roof covering (shingles or tiles) is damaged.

Homeowners who address all of these areas, not just windows, may potentially achieve the maximum combined wind mitigation credits on their insurance and provide their home with the most comprehensive protection available.

For openings that are impractical to fit with impact glass (oversized lanais, screened porches, irregularly shaped openings), Storm Smart’s Storm Catcher® Hurricane Screens and Accordion Shutters or Roll Down Shutters provide code-compliant alternatives that may qualify for the same opening protection insurance credit.

Learn More about Storm Smart Impact Windows and Doors

Storm Smart’s Smart View Impact Windows and Doors are custom-built with energy-efficient components, available in aluminum and vinyl frames, and HVHZ certified for use anywhere in Florida. Storm Smart also offers Storm Catcher® Hurricane Screens and aluminum shutters for a whole-home protection approach.

Storm Smart’s in-house team handles the entire process: assessment, product selection, permits, installation, and post-installation inspection.

Related Questions About Impact Windows

• What Are Hurricane-Proof Windows Called? – Terminology guide, glass technology, and how to verify certifications.
• Do Hurricane Windows Reduce Insurance in Florida? – How DP ratings and certifications translate to insurance credits.
• Do I Need Impact Windows If I Have Hurricane Shutters? – When to use one, the other, or both.
• Should I Put Shutters on My House for Hurricanes? – The case for protection based on your risk zone and budget.
• Are Hurricane Shutters Worth the Cost? – ROI analysis for shutters vs. impact windows.