Hurricane Netting Offers Protection Against All Types of Wind Storms

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Why should someone who lives thousands of miles from the Gulf or Atlantic coasts care about hurricane protection? While it might seem that a hurricane protection system would be of little interest to property owners in the West, Midwest or Northeast, the innovative Cat-5 Hurricane Netting system actually has many applications throughout North America.

"Cat-5 Hurricane Netting was developed to meet the needs of property owners in hurricane-prone areas, but its benefits apply equally well in virtually all parts of the country," said Charlie Johnson, National Sales Manager of Cat-5 Protection Inc., which manufactures the innovative new product.

"The Cat-5 system is just as effective in protecting against wind damage from a Northern blizzard as it is in protecting against hurricane-force winds in the Southeast," he said.

Called "the next generation of hurricane protection," the Cat-5 system uses reinforced, tear-resistant netting, which diffuses the force of hurricane-strength winds, greatly reducing the amount of direct wind pressure on doors, windows and walls. The tautly stretched mesh also deflects wind-borne debris.

While Cat-5 Hurricane Netting was originally designed to replace cumbersome, sharp-edged metal panels or expensive, jam-prone roll-down awnings on homes and businesses, it is ideal for use in conjunction with such shutter systems as well. In addition, since its introduction several years ago, it has also proven itself in a variety of other applications, such as protecting vulnerable signage, landscaping and other outdoor structures.

The system offers extended protection for virtually all types of exposed structures and materials including lanais, garage doors, front porches, manufactured homes, sheds, signs, cars, boats, barns/stables, open walkways, airplanes, landscaping, and even loose construction materials and debris, said Johnson.

"While shutters cover only windows and doors, Cat-5 Hurricane Netting can cover an entire building, including the roof," Johnson noted. "It's like a safety belt for your entire home."

Not only does the system deflect wind-borne debris, the mesh design effectively reduces destructive wind pressure by at least 63 percent, and it is the least expensive hurricane protection on the market today Johnson explained.

Cat-5 Hurricane Netting is lightweight and easy to install, requiring no special tools. Specially designed with grommets every 6 inches on center, the system is easy to secure to walls, foundations and soil with standard hardware and approved ground anchors. When installed, it allows light and fresh air to come through after the storm has passed, which is important since power is often out for several days after a major storm.

The netting system is sold in kits of 12 1/2, 25 and 50- foot lengths and eight feet tall, which can be cut on site to fit smaller areas. The system comes with patented clamps used in place of any grommets that are necessary to cut off to make a custom fit. The nets can be joined together to cover an entire structure or other large surfaces. When not in use, it can be folded in the storage container that is provided and stored in a small space.

In addition to a number of high-profile commercial installations, Cat 5 provided systems to numerous homeowners in the Southeast, and to a growing number of customers in other parts of the nation, who use the tear-resistant system to protect their properties against high winds during winter blizzards and other storms year-round.

"Because it's so easy to store and install, the hurricane netting is ideal for use as protection against virtually all types of windstorms on all types of properties in all climate zones," Johnson added.

Cat-5 Hurricane Netting has passed all applicable product tests including ASTM Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference, Large Missile Impact and Cyclic Static Air Pressure Loading tests and the ASTM weatherability, fire and smoke density tests. It is approved as a HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zone) Large Missile Impact Protection System under the Florida Building Code (Approval FL 9356), and has passed the rigorous Miami-Dade County Large Missile Impact and Cyclical Loading test requirements.

For more information, contact Charlie Johnson, National Sales Manager at 877-228-5462, or visit the company's Web site at www.hurricane-net.com.