Windows Designed For The Rough StuffIf Mother Nature can dish it out, JELD-WEN windows with ImpactGard protection can take it

    KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. September 11, 2006, It is a tough world out there, and now JELD-WEN, the world's leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors, has the windows to match it.

    JELD-WEN® vinyl and aluminum windows and patio doors with ImpactGard™ protection deliver maximum security for homes that face hurricanes and other extreme conditions. Currently available in the southeast, JELD-WEN windows and patio doors with ImpactGard protection are designed to meet the nation's toughest building codes and offer a 10-year warranty that is among the best in the industry.

    Premium Atlantic Window with ImpactGuard is a complete window system that includes laminated glass.

    ImpactGard protection is a complete window system that includes laminated glass, which means it has an interlayer sandwiched between two sheets of glass manufactured to deliver extra impact resistance. What makes ImpactGard protection different is that the interlayer JELD-WEN uses is 100 times more rigid than the industry standard, delivering five times the tear strength. ImpactGard protection is available monolithic or with insulating glass, including optional Low-E glass for greater energy efficiency and year-round comfort.

    Windows and doors stand up against stormy weather

    Maximum window strength is important in severe weather because a broken window or door can affect a home's structural integrity.  Positive and negative air pressure caused by a storm can cause serious damage, and if a window or door breaks, that pressure can literally destroy the entire structure.

    ImpactGard protection helps prevent this by resisting impacts from wind-borne debris and keeping windows sealed and intact during storms. In fact, windows with ImpactGard protection can withstand a nine-pound 2x4 board traveling at 34 miles per hour. Even if the glass cracks under pressure, the fragments will adhere to the interlayer, so the shards remain within the frame and the danger of falling or flying glass is minimized. "For homeowners and builders in hurricane and severe storm regions, ImpactGard protection delivers reliable peace of mind," said Brian Hedlund, window product marketing manager for JELD-WEN. "The storm resistance that this technology offers is key for helping protect structures, and it can deliver so many other benefits, including increased energy efficiency."

    Other benefits just as valuable

    Other benefits of ImpactGard protection include forced-entry resistance for increased safety.  The glass cannot be cut or broken by an intruder, which means break-ins are less likely and there's no need for security bars. These products pass the American Society for Testing and Materials standards for preventing forced entry. ImpactGard protection also reduces ultraviolet exposure by blocking 95 percent of harmful rays, which can cause furniture, fabric and other materials in the home to fade.

      Sound transmission also is reduced. Compared to a single pane of glass that has a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of around 27, an insulated laminated glass unit can achieve an STC rating of up to 35, which has the ability to block even loud construction noises.

     "When most people think of impact resistance, they only consider how it will perform in severe storms. However, the secondary benefits can be just as valuable," said Hedlund. "For example, U.S. Census Bureau research shows that the number-one complaint most people have about their neighborhoods is that they are too noisy. Our laminated insulated glass offering can make a huge difference when it comes to blocking out unwanted noise. For some, that can be nearly as important as how doors and windows will withstand storms."

    JELD-WEN windows and patio doors with ImpactGard protection are available in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Florida.  For more information, visit www.jeld-wen.com or call 800-877-9482, ext. PR-600.

    JELD-WEN, inc., is the world's leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors. Based in Klamath Falls, Ore., JELD-WEN began as a small Oregon millwork plant in 1960 and has grown into a company with more than 150 divisions and more than 20,000 employees worldwide. JELD-WEN is the official window, door and millwork provider of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour. JELD-WEN was the only window or door manufacturer to be named 2003 ENERGY STAR "Partner of the Year" by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. Eleven JELD-WEN product lines and all windows and doors constructed with AuraLast™ wood have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal. JELD-WEN windows and doors have been honored by numerous consumer and industry publications. In 2005, JELD-WEN® IWP® Aurora™ Custom Fiberglass exterior doors received a Consumers Digest Best Buy rating.

     For more information about the exceptional value and reliability of JELD-WEN products, or to find a dealer near you, please visit www.jeld-wen.com or call 800-877-9482, ext. PR-030.