New Orleans is one of the most hurricane-exposed cities in the United States. Every homeowner and business owner on the Gulf Coast has felt what happens when a storm makes a direct hit — and glass is almost always the first thing to go. Hurricane-impact glass is the most effective permanent solution available, and for Louisiana property owners, it pays for itself in insurance savings, storm protection, and peace of mind over time.

Star Glass has been installing hurricane-impact windows, doors, and storefronts throughout the New Orleans metro area for decades. This page explains what impact glass is, how it works, what the Louisiana code requires, and what the real-world cost and insurance benefits look like for homes and businesses in our area.

What Is Hurricane Impact Glass and How Does It Work?

Hurricane-impact glass is not the same as regular tempered safety glass. It is a laminated glass product — two or more panes of glass bonded together with a tough interlayer, typically made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or SGP (SentryGlas Plus). This construction gives impact glass two critical properties that standard glass lacks:

1. It Resists Penetration from Wind-Borne Debris

The most dangerous part of a hurricane for a building is not wind pressure — it’s wind-borne debris. A 2×4 piece of lumber traveling at 50 mph hits glass with roughly the same force as a bullet. Impact glass is tested to withstand exactly this: the Florida Building Code large-missile test fires a 9-pound 2×4 at 50 feet per second directly at the glass. Impact glass survives this test. Standard glass does not.

2. When It Breaks, It Stays in the Frame

The interlayer in laminated impact glass holds the broken pieces together even after the glass shatters — similar to how a car windshield behaves. This is the critical difference from tempered glass, which shatters into small pieces and creates an opening. Once impact glass breaks, the interlayer keeps the panel intact in the frame, maintaining the building envelope and preventing the catastrophic pressure changes that cause structural damage during a storm.

Louisiana Wind Load Requirements and Building Codes for Impact Glass

Louisiana adopted the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) as the basis for its statewide building standards. In the New Orleans metro area — which falls within a designated Wind-Borne Debris Region — specific requirements apply to glazing (glass openings) in buildings.

Wind-Borne Debris Region Requirements

The greater New Orleans area, including Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and surrounding parishes, is classified as a Wind-Borne Debris Region. In these areas, all glazed openings in new construction and major renovations must either:

• Use impact-resistant glazing that meets ASTM E1886/E1996 large-missile test standards, OR
• Be protected by approved impact-resistant shutters or panels when the building is occupied and during storms

Impact glass eliminates the need for shutters entirely, which is one of its most practical benefits for both homeowners and commercial properties. No panels to install before every storm. No storage space needed. No scrambling when a storm approaches.

Design Wind Speed

The New Orleans metro area is engineered to a design wind speed of 130–150 mph, depending on specific location and distance from the coast. All impact glass products Star Glass installs are rated and tested to meet or exceed the wind load requirements for the specific location of your project. We pull the required permits and ensure every installation is code-compliant.

Historic Districts

Properties in New Orleans historic districts — including the French Quarter, Garden District, Uptown, and others regulated by HDLC and SHPO — have specific requirements for window appearance and materials. Star Glass is approved for historic district glass work and can advise on impact glass options that meet both storm protection and historic preservation requirements. Not every impact glass product is approved for historic use — this is an area where working with an experienced local contractor matters.

Residential vs. Commercial Hurricane Impact Glass

Residential Impact Glass — Windows and Doors

For New Orleans homeowners, the most common hurricane impact glass projects are window replacements and entry door upgrades. Impact windows look identical to standard windows from both inside and outside — the difference is entirely in the glass construction and frame reinforcement.

• Single-hung and double-hung impact windows — the most common residential replacement
• Impact sliding glass and patio doors — a common vulnerability in New Orleans homes
• Impact French doors and entry doors with glass panels
• Impact skylights and specialty shapes
• Historic-compatible impact glass for HDLC/SHPO-regulated properties

Star Glass fabricates and installs impact glass as a glass-only replacement in many cases — meaning we replace the glass in your existing window frames rather than the entire window unit. This is significantly less expensive and less disruptive than full window replacement when the existing frames are structurally sound.

Commercial Hurricane Impact Glass — Storefronts and Facades

Commercial properties in New Orleans face a different risk profile than residential — larger glass areas, higher wind exposure in taller buildings, and the additional consequence of business interruption if a storm causes glass failure.

• Impact storefront glass for retail and restaurant properties
• Impact-curtain wall glass for mid-rise commercial buildings
• Impact commercial glass doors — single and double configurations
• Impact glass for office and mixed-use buildings
• Laminated glass options that meet both impact and hurricane glazing requirements for commercial code

For commercial properties, Star Glass works directly with architects, engineers, and property managers from the design phase through installation. We provide structural analysis and product specification support for projects requiring engineering documentation.

Insurance Benefits of Impact Glass in Louisiana

Louisiana homeowners’ insurance has become one of the most expensive in the country, and impact glass is one of the few upgrades that can meaningfully reduce what you pay. Here is what the insurance benefit actually looks like:

Wind and Hail Premium Discounts

Most Louisiana homeowners’ insurance carriers offer a wind mitigation discount for properties with impact-resistant glazing on all openings. The discount varies by carrier and the specific product installed, but reductions of 10–30% on the wind portion of your premium are common for homes where all glazed openings — windows, doors, and skylights — are upgraded to impact glass.

To claim the discount, you typically need a Wind Mitigation Inspection Report completed by a licensed inspector after installation. Star Glass provides documentation of the products installed to support this inspection. We recommend requesting a quote from your insurance carrier before and after the installation to confirm the discount amount.

Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance

Policyholders with Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation — the state’s insurer of last resort — may qualify for premium reductions through the Strengthen Louisiana Homes program and related mitigation initiatives. Impact glass installations that meet the program’s requirements can qualify for both premium discounts and, in some cases, partial reimbursement of installation costs. Contact your Citizens agent or visit the Louisiana Department of Insurance for current program details, as these programs and their funding levels change year to year.

The Real Math

A whole-home impact glass upgrade for a typical New Orleans single-family home typically runs $8,000–$20,000, depending on the number and size of openings. If the installation produces a $600–$1,200 annual premium reduction — which is realistic for many Jefferson and Orleans Parish homes — the payback period is 8–15 years on insurance savings alone. Factor in avoided deductibles from storm damage, increased home value, and the non-financial value of not having to board up before every storm, and the economics are strong for most homeowners planning to stay in their homes long-term.

Retrofit Options — Upgrading Existing Windows to Impact Glass

Many New Orleans homeowners ask whether they need to replace entire window units or just the glass. The answer depends on the condition and construction of the existing frames:

Glass-Only Retrofit (Most Cost-Effective)

If your existing window and door frames are structurally sound and in good condition, Star Glass can often replace just the glass with laminated impact glass — keeping the existing frame and hardware in place. This is the most cost-effective retrofit option and is appropriate for aluminum and some vinyl frames in good condition. Glass-only retrofits typically cost 40–60% less than full window replacement.

Full Window Replacement

When existing frames are corroded, damaged, or too old to accept new glass properly, full window replacement is the right approach. This is also required when upgrading from single-pane windows in older frames that were not designed for the weight of laminated impact glass. Full replacement ensures the entire window system — glass, frame, and installation — is rated and warranted as an impact unit.

Safety Film — What It Is and What It Isn’t

Safety window film is a transparent film applied to existing glass that holds shattered glass together after an impact. It improves the performance of standard glass in a storm, but it is not the same as impact glass and does not meet Louisiana building code requirements for impact-resistant glazing. Film is a useful temporary measure or a supplement for openings that cannot practically be upgraded to impact glass, but it is not a code-compliant replacement for laminated impact glass in a Wind-Borne Debris Region.

Star Glass provides free on-site consultations for hurricane impact glass projects. We assess every glazed opening on your property, identify the most cost-effective upgrade path, and give you a written quote that includes product specifications, permit requirements, and installation timeline. Call (504) 368-8826 to schedule.