In hurricane zones and other storm-laden regions, buildings need protection from flying debris. But we can’t live and work in concrete bunkers—and even hospitals, as seen in the accompanying renderings, often have large glass entry walls with multiple glass doors. Now a Dallas-based company has launched a new product line to help protect the people inside from weather-related impacts.

Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope (OBE), a leading global supplier of architectural glass, metal, and hardware, has launched its new StormMax Level E product line as an extension of its StormMax storefront and entrance product portfolio. Engineered to meet ASTM Large Missile Level E standards, FG-5750 & FG-5750T StormMax Storefront and Rugged StormMax Entrances deploy impact-tested glass to deliver “unrivaled defense against the most severe weather and high-velocity hurricane impacts,” the company said.

“As a single-source provider of both glass and metal, OBE is able to offer StormMax Level E along with Level D and Level A to simplify project management and ensure perfect compatibility and regulatory compliance,” OBE Product Manager Regan Axtell said in a statement. 

Aiming to protect buildings in Florida hurricane zones and strong coastal wind zones in the Southeast and Southwest

Image: Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope

OBE says StormMax Level E comes with the highest safety rating in the industry, meeting requirements for essential facilities in Florida’s High Velocity Hurricane Zones and impact resistance wind zones 3 & 4 across coastal states in the Southeast and Southwest. The company said that in addition to Florida, hurricane-impacted states Texas and Louisiana, as well as North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, can benefit from the enhancements in storm protection.

StormMax Level E is said to seamlessly integrate natural light, achieving “breathtaking daylight openings” while maintaining “robust protection” with the ability to accommodate insulating laminated glass, offering superior impact resistance through multiple glass layers and insulating properties.

OBE calls it an all-in-one solution that simplifies installation by providing both glass and frames, tested together to ensure precision, performance, and reliable results.

The company said its new product line meets the requirements of the Florida Building Code, HVHZ, and International Building Code, successfully passing large (Level E) and small (Level A) missile impact tests, including ASTM E1886, ASTM E1996. The product line is certified for Florida Product Approvals and Texas Department of Insurance Product Evaluations.

With around 7,000 employees, OBE operates 85 manufacturing and distribution facilities in five countries.

Named new CEO in June

In June, OBE appointed Mark Adamson as its new CEO. Adamson brought over 35 years of experience in the building products sector to OBE. His resume includes CEO roles at Fletcher Building and Formica Corporation, as well as experience as a private equity operating partner.

Many North Texans should be familiar with OBE products. You may have seen the company’s curtain walls—huge walls of glass for building exteriors—locally because they’ve been installed at The Star in Frisco and at Globe Life Field in Arlington, among other notable installations in the region.

OBE is part of the portfolio of KPS Capital Partners, LP, a family of investment funds with around $21.6 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2024. KPS focuses on making controlling equity investments in manufacturing and industrial companies across various industries, according to the news release.

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