Understanding Hurricane Product Approvals – Pressure Charts

Sliding glass door product approvals show exactly what sizes panels are tested and approved for. For example, a common break point is 72" x 120"—go taller, and the allowable width must decrease. At 144" tall, the max width may drop to 60", and anything larger often requires additional reinforcement.

Pressure charts aren’t guidelines. They’re hard code. Ignoring them leads to last-minute redesigns, permit rejections, or field coordination nightmares—especially if you’re pushing design limits with tall or wide glass.

Each approval can be dozens of pages long and includes critical variables:

• Panel width vs. height limits

• Centerline and track anchoring configurations

• Frame reinforcement requirements

• Attachment hardware, substrate types, and sill embedment

• Design pressures and water infiltration ratings

Understanding these details matters. If your team is designing luxury glass systems that flirt with the limits—especially with large sliding doors—pressure charts are your rulebook. Oversights here cost time, money, and credibility.