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A Secure Home is more than just Burglar-Proof
Great Lakes Window® replacement laminated glass products provide multifaceted security solutions
TOLEDO, OH, 2006 – Homeowners will do anything to keep their family members and hard-earned possessions safe.
They appreciate the enhanced aesthetics and lower utility bills that today’s attractive and energy efficient vinyl replacement windows offer, but it’s a home that’s considered safe and secure that gives them total peace of mind.
A secure home means more than just protection against burglary.
Accidental impact, intrusive noise and damaging ultraviolet rays are also common problems.
Keeping Criminals Out
A residential burglary in the United States occurs once every 14.7 seconds according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Clock. Over 60 percent of all of the reported burglaries* involved forcible entry, with vulnerable first floor windows and sliding glass doors serving as popular points of entry.
“Homeowners need to know that their loved ones and valuables are safe inside of their homes,” says Jeff Klein, president of Great Lakes Window, a custom-manufacturer of all vinyl replacement windows and patio doors. “To help achieve this, Great Lakes Window products offer enhanced technology designed to strengthen windows and patio doors so that they become resilient enough to serve as deterrents to unwelcome intruders.”
All Great Lakes Window products adhere to ASTM F588 which measures the forced entry resistance of window assemblies. Double-hung windows from the UniFrame® line, the premium collection from Great Lakes Window, are further enhanced with a standard vent lock feature which passed night latch forced entry testing (conducted independently by Ashland Hardware).
Great Lakes Window also makes the Premier Luxury Performance Door, which contains a unique three-point locking system to protect against forced entry. The locks automatically engage in critical points along the jamb when the door is closed and pull the panel tightly up to the jamb. And every sliding and swing vent window by the manufacturer that is over 25 inches tall features two heavy-duty sash cam locks as well as an interior glazing bead – adding another layer of protection by sealing out water and making the glass difficult to remove from outside of the home.
According to John Walsh – product manager for Great Lakes Window – windows and patio doors containing laminated glass with a polyvinyl butylene (PVB) inner layer, available on all Great Lakes Window products, are even strong enough to withstand direct and repeated hits from a crowbar, pipe, brick and other tools that are frequently used in criminal home intrusions.
Sound Security
Walsh says that laminated glass forms a superior line of defense against intrusive and irritating noise. Depending on previous noise levels, windows with laminated glass can significantly reduce perceived noise levels.
“Our security Glass Package includes a 1/8-inch exterior pane of glass and a 1/4-inch interior pane of laminated glass, which holds a Sound Transmission Class (STC) value of 35,” Walsh says, adding that a rating this high is rare in the window industry. “A benefit for the homeowner is that noise from nearby highways, passing airplanes and neighbors’ dogs and lawnmowers is reduced by 35 percent or more than noise that’s transmitted through ordinary glass.”
Doesn’t Have to be a Shattering Experience
Hazardous weather can pose a significant safety threat for homeowners when shards of glass fly, objects fall and walls collapse. The laminated glass used in Great Lakes Window products creates an impact resistant barrier so strong that it virtually eliminates the risk of hazardous shards of broken glass in the home.
Researchers from the Building Envelope Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University simulated earthquake conditions to test the limits of various glass products. They found that laminated glass was superior for its ability to remain intact in the window frame longer than ordinary window glass which tends to shatter and fall from the frames easily.
Sunscreen for the Furniture
In addition to safety and sound reduction, Great Lakes Window products also offer solar protection by absorbing ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, prohibiting the premature fading of expensive interior furnishings. “Over time, UV radiation tends to degrade the dyes found in draperies, carpets, fine art and various fabrics as part of a photochemical process which inevitably leads to deterioration and fading,” Walsh says. “Laminated glass contains a plastic interlayer with a special UV absorber which prevents potentially damaging rays from entering the home.
“From the Hi R+Plus glass system to Maxuus 10, Great Lakes Window products offer a wide range of glass options and upgrades, all with varying levels of protection to combat UV infiltration.”
Warranted Value
Great Lakes Window believes so strongly in the security of its products that it offers a Lifetime Limited Warranty on all window units – transferable with resale value in mind. Additionally, UniFrame windows and patio doors are backed by an unprecedented lifetime pro-rated seal failure and glass breakage warranty.
“Along with aesthetics and energy efficiency, safety and security are primary concerns for homeowners,” says Ralph Pfeiffer, director – marketing for Great Lakes Window. “Replacing old windows with new ones that offer enhancement options such as laminated glass is known to increase property value.”
About Great Lakes Window
Great Lakes Window, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, has been custom manufacturing vinyl custom replacement windows and patio doors since 1981. Great Lakes Window markets its products to a nationwide network of dealers under the UniFrame®, PlyGem LifestylesTM, SeabrookeTM and BayshoreTM brand names and distribution channels with the GrandViewTM series. The company has earned a reputation for continuous innovation, dedication to quality and commitment to energy-efficient products – including double and triple glazed window and door units with Low-E and gas-filling – across the full range of window styles. For more information about products by Great Lakes Window, visit www.greatlakeswindow.com.