How Impact Rated Doors Can Help Solve a 30 Billion Dollar Dilemma

When a hurricane hits, will your home be ready? Each year, hurricanes cause an average of $20 to $30 billion in damages across the U.S.—and in many cases, one key vulnerability makes all the difference: your windows and doors. 

Your home's windows and doors are the most vulnerable points in a storm. When outside pressure breaches an opening and enters a home, the internal pressure increases substantially. This causes a dangerous internal pressure buildup, similar to blowing air into a balloon. This extra pressure must escape—often by blowing off the roof or causing catastrophic structural damage.   

This is where impact rated doors and glass come in.   

While many homeowners turn to hurricane shutters for storm protection, there are some downsides to them.  

• They’re often noisy and bulky   

• They obstruct natural light and visibility   

• They can be unattractive and hard to deploy quickly   

Impact rated doors offer an attractive and permanent solution. There is no need for storm shutters; these doors are certified to withstand both flying debris and extreme pressure. All the safety benefits, none of the drawbacks. You get to have the beautiful entry you’ve always dreamed of and stay safe.  

What Makes a Door “Impact Rated”?   

Standard doors and glass can fail under the intense pressure and impact of a hurricane. Impact rated doors are built to withstand wind borne debris and hurricane force winds, keeping you and your home safe.  

Impact door ratings are determined by how much force the entire door system—including the door slab, glass, and frame—can withstand. Doors can be rated for either:   

• Wind-Borne Debris Regions (WBDR): Require resistance to winds up to 130–140 mph and protection against wind-borne debris.   

• High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ): Require more robust construction to handle winds up to 175 mph.   

Each component is individually tested and must work as a system to prevent failures during severe storms.   

How are WBDR and HVHZ doors made?  

ODL WBDR and HVHZ doors are engineered for strength with:   

• Reinforced fiberglass door skin technology   

• High-density polyurethane foam   

• Composite capped LVL stiles and composite top and bottom rails provide extra protection from water absorption, rot, mold, and wood-ingesting insects 

• Paneled doors are constructed with an enhanced 4” full-length engineered lumber lock stile for rigidity and security   

• Flush glazed doors have full length stiles on both sides 

We design high-quality entry doors for homes in both wind-borne debris regions (WBDR) and high velocity hurricane zones (HVHZ) that don’t compromise on style. 

Impact Rated Doorglass Frames

Our Keystone PVC impact rated doorglass frame has DOW 995 inside, which is an adhesive that helps secure the glass even under impact. This lightweight, composite frame is designed for high durability without sacrificing ease of installation or performance.   

Laminated Doorglass   

The glass itself isn’t ordinary either. Impact rated doorglass uses laminated safety glass—a multi-layered system with:   

• A durable PVB interlayer on the exterior: This helps absorb and disperse impact energy from flying objects.   

• Tempered safety glass on the interior: Even if it shatters, the laminate keeps the glass adhered together, preventing shards from creating a breach.   

This design ensures that, even if the outer layer breaks, the structure of the glass remains intact and prevents outside air and pressure from entering your home.   

The Bottom Line   

Impact rated products are so essential that they’re required by building codes in many high-risk regions of the U.S. By preventing dangerous pressure breaches, these systems help protect the structural integrity of your home and, more importantly, the safety of the people inside.   

Don’t wait for the next storm to expose a weak point in your home. Invest in impact-rated door systems that deliver safety, security, and peace of mind—rain or shine.