Engineering Summary

Thank you for taking the time to evaluate Window Seal, Inc.’s all metal adjustable window bucks. The purpose of this document is to summarize the engineering information relating to the product. A number of documents are available, including:

• Florida Product Approval FL6866
• Engineering evaluation letter from Mathers Engineering
• Installation instructions
• Engineering analysis from Mathers Engineering
• Installation instructions validation letter from Mathers Engineering Independence certification from Mathers Engineering

The product received its Florida Product Approval Number 6866 on August 9, 2006 for non-high velocity hurricane zone (HVHZ) residential and commercial applications. Approval for HVHZ applications is pending completion of product testing.

The engineering evaluations indicate a properly installed Window Seal window buck will withstand pressures from a 160mph/3 second gust wind load. In laymen’s terms, this analysis means that in almost all instances, the window will fail before the buck .

The product is made of 20 gauge G90 galvanized sheet steel. When properly installed and cladded, there is little risk of rust or other deterioration.

There is no significant risk of galvanic corrosion. The pieces of steel are significantly larger than the attachment screws and thereby disperse the galvanic charge across a larger mass, the risk of loss of material at each screw, the likely point of failure, due to galvanic activity, is reduced proportionally to the relative mass of the buck. For any dissimilar metal in contact, the charge is distributed across a much larger area, thereby reducing the corrosion potential at any specific point.

Installation requirements call for the use of #8x¾-inch sheet metal screws for attaching most windows directly to the buck with no need to penetrate the substrate. For applications requiring attachment to the substrate, the use of masonry screws is indicated. Note that since the window buck will not deform before the window fails, there is no increased risk of failure of the masonry screws arising from the gap between the substrate and the buck.

For special applications, Window Seal window bucks can be made of heavier gauge steel, stainless steel or aluminum, as required.