There are many different window ratings out there, used by governing bodies like the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), that can be used by consumers to help differentiate between different windows.  One very important rating category is called the design pressure, or DP.

Design pressure is used to measure the structural integrity of a vinyl window.  The higher the design pressure, the stronger the window.  The stronger the window, the longer the window will perform to specification.

Design pressure is often times overlooked in favor of energy efficiency ratings, such as the U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient, or SHGC.  However, if a window does not have a strong design pressure (above 60), then it will not continue to perform at the same energy efficiency specifications long after installation.

It's important when shopping for window replacements to take into account the design pressure (DP).  Our Soft-Lite Elements windows rate at a remarkable 70DP.  This means that they are rated to withstand wind pressure of up to 203 mph!

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call anytime!

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