Ruskin® has been awarded a patent for the unique blade design on its XP500WD stationary wind-driven rain aluminum louver, which provides both FEMA impact protection and Class A wind-driven rain protection.
The blade’s ability to catch water and channel it away from the louver helps keep water out, boosting its already high performance against wind-driven rain. Combined with FEMA impact protection, the blade design makes the XP500WD a smart choice for extreme weather areas.
Reducing space requirements
“The XP500WD is appreciated by architects and building designers in hurricane- and tornado-prone areas,” said Joe Rockhold, louver product manager, Ruskin.
“It fills two roles in one while cutting costs and reducing space requirements, because it offers buildings a high level of wind-driven rain protection while also meeting the impact standards required in these extreme-weather zones. Before Ruskin developed the XP500WD, a traditional FEMA and secondary wind-driven rain louver were needed, which drove up overall building costs and installation time.”
Impact resistance rating
To achieve both the FEMA standard 361 for impact protection rating and Class A wind-driven rain, the XP500WD went through a battery of tests on its innovative 5½-inch-deep double-drainable sight-proof design.
The louver was tested against AMCA and FEMA requirements to achieve its Class A certification against wind-driven rain and the FEMA standard 361 impact resistance rating. With these certifications, it meets the ICC500 (2014) impact requirements for tornado shelters. With those successful tests, the XP500WD was launched in 2018 as the first louver offering both the wind-driven rain and impact resistance protections. The patent on the design was granted in early 2021.
