Hurricane screens are a popular choice for storm protection in locations where hurricanes are common, such as South Florida. But the term hurricane screens is pretty generic. They are made and installed by many companies. And different products are constructed of different materials. One of those materials is aramid fiber, which is commonly referred to as Kevlar®. A lot of people ask us about what these are. So we created this guide to cover Kevlar hurricane screens. We’ll discuss what Kevlar screens are and how effective they are in terms of hurricane protection. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about the screens.
What is Kevlar?
DuPont™ Kevlar® is a brand name of an aramid fiber that is produced by Dupont. It is incredibly strong but light-weight and flexible at the same time. Because of these attributes it is commonly used to make things like anti-ballistic products (bullet-proof vests, etc), personal protective gear, and impact resistant applications, such as storm protection.
The next question, of course, is what is aramid fiber?
Without getting into too much chemistry, aramid is a type of synthetic fiber that is super strong and heat resistant.
According to Dupont, the material gets its “super” strength because of its structure, which is made of “many inter-chain bonds“.
How strong is Kevlar?
The fiber is, for lack of better words, extremely strong. Here’s a few pieces of information to put the material’s strength in perspective.
- According to Dupont, it has 10x the tensile strength of steel on an equal weight basis
- According to Fiber Brokers International, it has a tensile strength about 48x that of nylon
What Are Kevlar Hurricane Screens?
Kevlar hurricane screens are hurricane screens made from aramid fibers, such as DuPont™ Kevlar. You can customize hurricane screens made with Kevlar to fit any area of your home. So they are commonly used in a large range of outdoor spaces, such as patios, lanais, porches, and more.
Unlike rigid hurricane shutters aramid based screens are very lightweight and flexible. This makes them easy to deploy and reduces their appearance on your home.
While they are used largely for hurricane storm protection they also provide other functions. Specifically, they can be used as sun shades and to increase privacy.
How effective are aramid (Kevlar) hurricane screens?
In a nutshell, they are highly effective at protecting your home and family from hurricane winds and flying debris.
Our Eurex Shutters PTX™ Hurricane Screens are both Florida and Miami-Dade County approved.
They have been tested and pass the most stringent tests and standards available for hurricane protection. These include ASTM E1886, ASTM E1996, ASTM E330, TAS 201, TAS 202, and TAS 203. They are rated to withstand up to 180 MPH winds.
What do they look like?
Kevlar screens are very attractive. They look similar to high-end shade screens and are available in several color combinations.
Below are images of some of the many installations we have done around Southwest Florida.
Conclusion
Different hurricane screens are made with different materials of construction. One of those materials is aramid, and a popular brand name aramid is DuPont™ Kevlar®. Kevlar is lightweight and flexible, but it is extremely strong. Screens made with Kevlar fabric meet both Florida Building Codes and Miami-Dade County requirements and are rated to withstand winds up to 180 MPH. They also look attractive and provide other benefits, such as shade and privacy.
Contact us if you want to find out more about installing hurricane screens on your home in Southwest Florida. We have been designing, installing and repairing custom hurricane protection systems in SWFL for 35+ years.
