Navigating the Hurricane Market for Building Product Manufacturers and Architects

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Building & Construction

16 May 2024

Essential Insights on Understanding, Developing, Testing, and Marketing Hurricane-Resistant Glass and Glazing

The hurricane market is a large and growing market, and there is a lot of demand for hurricane-resistant glass and glazing. If you are a building product manufacturer or architect, embarking on a journey into the lucrative hurricane market demands a comprehensive approach. In this blog, Jose Colon, director of U.S. Sales for the Building and Products division of Intertek, discusses the importance of understanding the market dynamics, developing a product tailored to meet these demands, undergoing testing and certification to ensure building code compliance, and effective marketing and sales strategies.

Understanding the Market

The hurricane market is a complex market with a variety of different stakeholders. The key stakeholders in the hurricane market include:

Homeowners: Homeowners are the primary customers in the hurricane market. Homeowners are interested in hurricane-resistant glass and glazing to protect their homes and families from hurricanes.
Businesses: Businesses are also interested in hurricane-resistant glass and glazing to protect their buildings and inventory from hurricanes.
Building contractors: Building contractors are responsible for installing hurricane-resistant glass and glazing in homes and businesses.
Architects: Architects design homes and businesses, and they may specify hurricane-resistant glass and glazing in their designs.
Insurance companies: Insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners and businesses who install hurricane-resistant glass and glazing.

Regulations

The hurricane market is governed by a variety of different regulations. The most relevant regulations are the building codes and standards that govern the construction of homes and businesses in hurricane-prone areas.

The most important building code for the hurricane market is the Florida Building Code (FBC). The FBC sets forth the minimum requirements for glass and glazing in hurricane-prone areas. These requirements vary depending on the wind zone in which the building is located. Florida is divided into four wind zones, with Wind Zone 4 being the most severe.

In addition to the FBC, there are several other building codes and standards that are relevant to the hurricane market. These include the International Building Code (IBC), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 7-16 standard, and the ASTM International American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E1996 standard.

Developing a Product

Once you understand the market and the regulations, you need to develop a product that meets the needs of the customers. This may involve developing a new product or modifying an existing product.

When developing a hurricane-resistant glass and glazing product, there are a number of factors to consider, including:

Wind resistance: The product must be able to withstand the high winds that can occur during a hurricane.
Impact resistance: The product must be able to withstand the impact of flying debris.
Water resistance: The product must be able to prevent water from entering the building.
Energy efficiency: The product should be energy efficient to help reduce energy costs.
Cost: The product should be affordable for homeowners and businesses.

Testing and Certification

Once you have developed a product, you need to have it tested and certified by a qualified laboratory. This will ensure that your product meets the applicable building codes and standards.

There are a number of different laboratories that can test and certify hurricane-resistant glass and glazing products. Some of the most well-known laboratories include the Miami-Dade County Product Control Division and the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

Marketing and Sales

Once your product has been tested and certified, you need to start marketing and selling your product. This may involve developing a marketing plan and reaching out to potential customers.

When marketing your product, you should focus on the benefits of hurricane-resistant glass and glazing. These benefits include:

Protection from flying debris: Hurricane-resistant glass and glazing can help to protect buildings and their occupants from the high winds and flying debris that can occur during a hurricane.
Reduced insurance costs: Many insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners and businesses who install hurricane-resistant glass and glazing.
Increased energy efficiency: Hurricane-resistant glass and glazing can help to improve the energy efficiency of buildings by reducing air leakage and heat transfer.
Improved aesthetics: Hurricane-resistant glass and glazing can be available in a variety of styles and colors.

To learn more about entering the hurricane market, tune into our Natural Disaster Hurricane Series of on-demand webinars, featuring a three-part hurricane Q&A session with our in-house experts.

Jose Colon

Regional Sales Director

Jose Colon is the Director – North America Sales for Intertek's Building & Construction Products division. With 28 years of experience in the Building Products testing/certification industry, Jose has the experience of testing in the lab and in the field which allows him to be able to help clients and Intertek in many ways for all types of projects. Over the years Jose has also represented Intertek in many different building product trade organizations and associations by not just participating, but by actually helping write the test methods and standards that we test to today. Jose is a Red Raider from Texas Tech university with a B.S. in Civil Engineering (May 1996).