Frequently Asked Questions
Products
Impact windows and doors are built to withstand severe weather, potential intruders, and excessive noise. Their durable interlayer prevents debris from penetrating your home, and even if the glass breaks, the fragments remain attached, providing an additional layer of protection and less clean up.
Beyond storm protection, impact windows and doors offer numerous benefits. They enhance home security, reduce external noise, and improve energy efficiency, potentially saving you money on utility bills.
First-floor windows are a common entry point for intruders. Impact windows are designed to resist break-ins. Even if damaged, the shatter-resistant glass remains intact within the frame, deterring potential intruders. A significant number of impact window owners report feeling less concerned about break-ins.
Impact windows and doors absorb sound, significantly reducing noise pollution from sources like airplanes, lawnmowers, and traffic. While not completely soundproof, they can make your home much quieter.
Hurricane-prone regions, particularly in Florida, require impact-resistant products like shutters, plywood, or impact windows and doors for new construction and remodels. Broward and Miami-Dade counties have the strictest building codes in the US. If you’re unsure about local regulations, consult with an authorized Global Impact Products distributor.
Customer Service
To properly maintain your products, please find your product at: https://gipllc.us/products/ and then review/download our authorized maintenance manuals for your review and use.
In the event you need to replace any parts that are no longer covered under warranty, please contact us at service@gipllc.us and provide your name and address. Our Customer Service team will find an authorized distributor near you that will help you quote the parts and install them, if needed.
Requests for labels must be made with the authorized distributor that installed your products and can only be provided if you’re able to supply the original order name or PO issued by Global Impact Products.
In case you don’t know or are no longer in contact with the original distributor, you can send us an email to service@gipllc.us confirming the original order name or PO provided by Global Impact Products.
Damaged or missing parts must be reported upon delivery and up to 24 hours after installation. Delivery refers to the date our authorized distributor receives our delivery of our products.
If you find that your products have a manufacturer’s defect and you would like to request replacement under your warranty, please contact your original distributor as all requests must be made with them.
If you’re no longer in contact with the original distributor or don’t know who they are, please send us an email to service@gipllc.us and include the original order name or PO provided by Global Impact Products as well as any pictures and/or videos of the defect to submit your claim. Without this proof of defect, claims will not be processed.
Our warranty times will vary depending on the product type that was purchased, as Global Impact Products offers a Standard Warranty that covers our Residential and Commercial products.
Please contact your local distributor for further warranty information. Your distributor will explain the details of our warranty for the products that were purchased.
***Please be aware that our warranty coverage refers to product replacement free of charge. However, warranty coverage does not apply to the installation or onsite parts replacement.
Design
Standard height for door handles is 43”. If you have a door that has either larger or smaller than standard dimensions, we suggest validating how it operates, as well as its profile dimensions.
Minimum radius depends on system requirements. You may request the minimum radius for your product at: https://gipllc.us/contact/
Dimensions depend on system requirements. You may request dimensions for your product at: https://gipllc.us/contact/
You may find data at the NFRC’s website, if the product is certified. If not, please reach out to us at: service@gipllc.us for assistance.
Egress is an important safety feature and can help save lives in an emergency situation. Egress is known as the minimum opening dimensions a system must have in order to allow the safe outflow of persons from a building during an emergency. Minimum egress dimensions are listed below:
- Minimum Window Height 24”
- Minimum Window Width 20”
For your convenience, here is a link to the website that contain the documents listed above:
- National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) https://nfrc.org/
Cost Savings
If the structural openings of your home are protected with impact resistant windows and doors, you may be issued a reduced insurance premium and possibly qualify for local rebate programs, if available in your area. We recommend that you ask your insurance carrier about discounts that are available according to your policy coverage.
Impact windows and doors offer the ultimate protection from severe weather events and potential intruders. It also serves to insulate your inner environment from unwanted noise outside of your home. When a storm develops in your area or if someone tries to gain unlawful entry, you’ll have peace of mind that you, your family and your home are already protected. Global Impact Products’ window and door product line offers options such as glass tints, low-E coatings, and argon glass, which can help you achieve ENERGY STAR® ratings and potentially see significant savings on HVAC costs.
Quotes
Heat Strengthened (HS) glass has been treated for resistance. Please see below for a sampling of the specifications for HS glass:
- HS glass offers a flatter surface than tempered glass, reducing optical distortion and making it suitable for applications demanding high visual clarity.
- HS glass is much less likely to break spontaneously.
- HS glass is typically used in laminated glass to increase strength in overhead and sloped glazing applications.
- HS glass can withstand three times more thermal stress than ordinary annealed glass.
- HS glass excels in thermal stability, maintaining clarity and flatness, which is superior to tempered glass, and closely resembles annealed glass.
- HS glass can tolerate temperature fluctuations of 100°C (between 50°C and 150°C), significantly surpassing the 40°C limit of annealed glass.
- HS glass is stronger than annealed glass, offering 1.6 to 2 times the mechanical strength due to its unique surface compression process.
- HS glass is ideal for general glazing applications requiring enhanced strength or thermal resistance, particularly with tinted or coated glass. It’s suitable for highwind load areas. However, HS glass cannot be used in safety-critical applications.
Velocity rates depend on the product as each are tested independently and use various velocity rates. Calculation formulas for wind pressure also vary based on the agency issuing the certification.
- * MPH = Miles per hour
- * MPH = Sqrt (Square root) (PSF / 0.00256)
- * PSF = Pressure of the window
Small missile impact glass (SMI) typically contains a thin interlayer as compared to the thick interlayer used in large missile impact glass (LMI). Due to the various conditions these glass types must endure, the layers of protection are different.
Small missile impact glass (SMI) is typically utilized above 30 feet (on upper level floors 4 and above) as SMI glass must be able to resist high velocity winds.
Whereas large missile impact glass (LMI) is typically located on the lower building floors 3 or below. These floors are the area of building that would have to withstand a heavy impact, should one happen to occur. This means the LMI interlayer gap is thick to endure the extreme forces of severe weather events. LMI glass is also sealed with structural silicone to ensure safety and the best protection possible.
Ready to Bring Your Vision to Life?
Tell us a little about your project, and we’ll connect you with an authorized dealer in your area. They’ll provide expert guidance and personalized support to ensure you get the perfect impact windows and doors for your needs.
