Glass Block Blogger

Tornado Myths and Windows
New York, New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, “By March 23, the tornado season was officially the busiest on record. Scientists are pointing to the extremely warm weather we have had this year. The winter did not freeze the ground and the combination of warmer ground and warmer weather has a tendency to create the type of low-lying thunderstorms that are favorable for tornado development.”

Tornadoes and Hurricanes are an ongoing threat in the North East. If you are building a new home or remodeling, you should take extreme weather possibilities into consideration.

Environment Graffiti covers “10 Dangerous Tornado Myths Debunked”. Number five was “Tornadoes often Skip Houses” They say that Tornadoes may indeed destroy one building and hardly affect the next one. One reason is that different buildings may be built differently, so the strength and construction of each building makes a difference.

Another myth they highlighted was to “Open the Windows to Save the House“. They state that “If the tornado’s winds are strong enough to damage the walls of the house, then the windows will break first. The myth would suggest that this would save the home, but experience has shown otherwise. The windows do not expose enough of the surface to let the wind swirl past; the house still experiences the pressure of the wind.”.

For peace of mind, we must plan our living spaces with security and safety along with the desire of incorporating beauty.

Glass Block has become an excellent solution by its ability to provide an aesthetically pleasing space with the security and safety we demand. As an example, LightWise Hurricane and Tornado Resistant glass block windows from Eastern Glass Block meet the large missile impact tests referenced in the International Building Code and Dade County Approval Protocols. Plus, they are attractive and easy to install. You get privacy and light aesthetics that you can only get with Glass Block.

Some of the features of LightWise Glass Block vinyl windows are:

• Visually stunning, pre-fabricated panels that are easy to install
• No need for shutters
• Protects against flying debris and hurricane force winds
• Available with a range of visibility and privacy options
• Greater security than conventional windows
• Possibilities are limited only by your imagination

Pittsburgh Corning’s new LightWise Architectural Tornado and Hurricane Resistant window has successfully passed the highest standards of performance for FEMA 361 “Design and Construction Guidance for Community Safe Rooms”. The window provides effective protection against air pressure and flying debris caused by tornado-force winds.

For more information, contact us. We can go over the specifications and answer any questions you have.