This blog post suggests some helpful hurricane preparation language, rules, and advice.

Your association should have a vastly more detailed set of specifications for shutters, etc. base on your history, location, type of construction, and preferences as a group.

However, here are some helpful language to consider when preparing your own set of hurricane preparation specifications for TEMPORARY WINDOW PROTECTION.

The text below deals mostly with “TEMPORARY WINDOW PROTECTION”. In our opinion, the best way to protect your property is by using windows with impact resistant glass.  It does not require any effort, coverings, or other exhaustive preparation in that time of crisis. It does not require the board or management to do anything g at all with regard to common areas, and personal property that some owners may not attend to and protect, putting other owners at risk.  We  recommend a rule requiring all replacement windows to be impact resistant, to the wind loads required by your wind area, as designated by the state.  Know that first second and third floors do not have the wind loads that floors five and up do.  There is a wind threshold, and you should know what each floor’s wind threshold is, in your building. You should require each owner, per floor and height, to comply with the win d loads required by the state, or your local building codes – whichever has jurisdiction,  for that location, both in proximity to the coast line, and to sea level.

All permanently installed balcony hurricane shutters shall be beige in color, and the style shall be accordion only.  All balcony shutters covering sliding glass doors shall be affixed to the innermost location of the balcony as close to the window and sliding door as possible, and in no case greater than 3 inches from the sliding glass doors and/or window(s). All accordion shutters on windows and doors shall be installed and located as per manufacturer recommendations.

All temporary window protection shall be either ½” or thicker BC or better plywood or standard aluminum panels.  Plywood panels must be either the original wood color or may be treated with either a clear sealer or beige paint that matches the building body color.  If BC grade, the sanded and/or best side must face OUT.  Aluminum panels must remain their original aluminum color, and may not be treated or painted.  All temporary plywood or aluminum panels shall be affixed to the concrete walls directly adjacent to the window or door opening, with fasteners locations as recommended by the manufacturer and/or the local building code.  Fasteners for temporary shutters will be as follows: Panel Mates or similar stainless steel, permanently in place, anchoring system with sidewalk bolts in place, set flush with the wall or floor surface.  These bolt heads shall be painted to match the existing wall color, so that when the plywood or panels are not in place, the anchors and bolts blend into the existing wall surface.  All wall and/or floor penetrations shall be waterproofed using caulk or other means so as to not allow water penetration into the wall or floor structure.

Temporary window protection may be installed no sooner than a hurricane “watch” has been announced for our location by the local government affiliated weather service.  Temporary window protection MUST be removed no later than 72 hours after the severe weather has passed and a hurricane watch (or warning, as the case may be) has been lifted by the local government affiliated weather service, or, if applicable after evacuation, no later than 72 hours after the local governing authorities have re-opened the building for occupancy.  However, should either life safety or security demand they stay in place, temporary shutters may remain until all danger of life safety or security has passed, as determined by the local police or life safety authority.  If insurance demands, shutters may stay closed or in place as long as the insurance adjuster or insurance company representative deems it necessary.