Disclosed is a sectional door adapted to withstand high wind load and impact from flying debris. The door includes a glazing bead to secure glazing panels into frames formed by the rails and stiles of the door. The bead is connected with the frame by engagement between extensions on the bead and respective lips along the edges of the frame. The bead is pressed against the frame, causing the extension to elastically flex to allow the extensions to fit between the lips. The extensions are received in gaps formed by the lips to secure the bead in place on the frame. Force on the door cause by high winds is communicated from the glazing panel through the bead and to the frame. The door also includes reinforcements arranged along the rails to communicate forces, such as high wind load forces, from the frame to the edges of the doorway surrounding the door. The reinforcements include endcaps that increase stiffness of the rails to prevent the rails from buckling during severe weather events.

A window system is disclosed. The window system provides improved visibility while protecting against wind and flying debris. In some embodiments, the window panel is made using insulated safety glass for added insulation from the elements and impact protection for wind borne debris. Fins (e.g., glass fins) are affixed to a vertical edge of each window panel to provide extra resistance to wind and flying debris while providing improved visibility over window systems that have metal frames. In some embodiments, the glass fins are made from laminated glass to achieve thicknesses of between two and three inches. In some embodiments, especially when the window panel is very tall, one or more horizontal fins are affixed to the inside surface of the glass for added strength.

A window system is disclosed. The window system provides improved visibility while protecting against wind and flying debris. In some embodiments, the window panel is made using insulated safety glass for added insulation from the elements and impact protection for wind borne debris. Fins (e.g., glass fins) are affixed to a vertical edge of each window panel to provide extra resistance to wind and flying debris while providing improved visibility over window systems that have metal frames. In some embodiments, the glass fins are made from laminated glass to achieve thicknesses of between two and three inches. In some embodiments, especially when the window panel is very tall, one or more horizontal fins are affixed to the inside surface of the glass for added strength.

A method is provided for reducing dynamic forces on doors and windows and barriers and their supports. At least one impact receiver 10 is provided to receive the dynamic forces from its source. At least one impact reducer 20 is provided to transfer the dynamic forces from the impact receiver 10 to the supports while undergoing elastic deformation. Elastic deformation of the impact reducer 20 elongates the duration of the dynamic force, and reduces the dynamic forces on the doors and windows and barriers and their supports.

A polymer interlayer having improved sound insulation is disclosed. The polymer interlayer comprises: at least one soft layer wherein the soft layer comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) resin composition having a dispersity in composition of at least 0.40 and a plasticizer; and a stiff layer comprising a poly(vinyl butyral) resin composition and a plasticizer; wherein the polymer interlayer has a damping loss factor () (as measured by Mechanical Impedance Measurement according to ISO 16940) of at least about 0.15 measured at two or more different temperatures selected from 10° C., 20° C. and 30° C.

A polymer interlayer having improved sound insulation is disclosed. The polymer interlayer comprises: at least one soft layer wherein the soft layer comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) resin composition having a dispersity in composition of at least 0.40 and a plasticizer; and a stiff layer comprising a poly(vinyl butyral) resin composition and a plasticizer; wherein the polymer interlayer has a damping loss factor () (as measured by Mechanical Impedance Measurement according to ISO 16940) of at least about 0.15 measured at two or more different temperatures selected from 10° C., 20° C. and 30° C.

A blast-resistant window attachment, or retrofit window insulation system, wherein panes of polymer film, such as TPU or ETFE, are held in a roll-formed stainless steel frame to form a pane assembly. One or more pane assemblies are stacked to make a multilayer unit or are mounted in a robust polymer casing that is sized to fit the window frames of an existing building window or to attach to the wall of the building surrounding the window. The polymer film or films can absorb energy of a blast without breaking provided that the collective thickness of the film(s) is at least 20 mil, and preferably 24 mil or more. The casing is, preferably made from a high strength polymer, such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or a metal such as stainless steel. In experiments conducted by the Army Corp of Engineers, the retrofit window insulation system of the present invention, when securely bolted to the structural components of the building around the window, demonstrates a remarkable ability of the polymer film panes to absorb blast energy and mitigate secondary debris hazards.

A blast-resistant window attachment, or retrofit window insulation system, wherein panes of polymer film, such as TPU or ETFE, are held in a roll-formed stainless steel frame to form a pane assembly. One or more pane assemblies are stacked to make a multilayer unit or are mounted in a robust polymer casing that is sized to fit the window frames of an existing building window or to attach to the wall of the building surrounding the window. The polymer film or films can absorb energy of a blast without breaking provided that the collective thickness of the film(s) is at least 20 mil, and preferably 24 mil or more. The casing is, preferably made from a high strength polymer, such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or a metal such as stainless steel. In experiments conducted by the Army Corp of Engineers, the retrofit window insulation system of the present invention, when securely bolted to the structural components of the building around the window, demonstrates a remarkable ability of the polymer film panes to absorb blast energy and mitigate secondary debris hazards.

A high security two-way virtual cross-barrier observation and communication device has a mounting frame with a hardened core, a pair of digital displays, and a pair of cameras. The mounting frame may correspond to a typical interior door of a building or a relevant component of a vehicle, aircraft, or other relevant application. The hardened core is bullet-resistant and fire-resistant to protect occupants of a protected space from harm. The digital displays and cameras are positioned on opposing sides of the mounting frame, each camera transmitting a live video feed to the opposing display, creating the appearance of a window while protecting occupants. The digital displays may be used to display any desired information. An emergency protocol may be activated to communicate with emergency services. A plurality of laminate layers bond and encapsulate the displays and cameras to the hardened core, forming a rugged, self-contained unit with no moving parts.

A platform screen door system comprising a plurality of fixed panels and a plurality of sliding door panels, which sliding door panels have a proximal side to the fixed panels and a distal side remote from the fixed panel. The sliding door panels are supported by a frame, wherein the frame at distal side has a greater thickness than the frame at the proximal side.