Understanding Hurricane Product Approvals -Sliding and Folding Door Sightlines

All the details and limitations are shown in the tested and approved documents filed with the State of Florida.

- How wide are your vertical sightlines going to be?
- How many tracks are tested?
- How wide are those tracks?
- Folding doors always have wider verticals where two panels hinge but they allow a wider clear opening and are on a single track.
- Every manufacturer's tracks vary in width with some being much wider than an 8" wall. One example below is nearly 12" wide for only 4 tracks
- A manufacturer may only have tested 4 tracks but you want 5 panels stacking to one side...
- Your opening size will be limited by the number of tracks and panel widths that were tested.
- Many sliding doors are tested at slightly less than a full 4' or 5' width and if you have a 20', 25', or 30' opening you may end up several inches short.

I help architects, builders, and owners select, specify, and detail luxury residential hurricane glazing systems without manufacturer or dealer biases. I also give classes in all aspects of hurricane windows and doors on glass aesthetics and energy performance, manufacturer product overviews, detailed installation planning and best practices, and understanding hurricane product approvals.