What Is the Best Hurricane Protection in Mexico?
Short answer: no single product is best for every building. The best hurricane protection is the system whose tested impact level matches the building’s risk, whose anchoring is engineered for the actual structure, and that the people on site can deploy before the storm. For beachfront hotels, hospitals, shelters and high-value coastal properties, that means a complete system tested to ASTM E1996 Missile Level E, the level the standard reserves for essential facilities, installed with documented anchoring.
Five questions any supplier should answer
- What impact level was it tested to? Ask for the ASTM E1996 missile level (D or E) and the test report. “Hurricane rated” is not a level.
- Was the complete system tested, including its anchoring? A strong fabric or panel on a weak anchor fails at the anchor.
- Who deploys it, and when? A system nobody knows how to put up in time protects nothing. Ask about training and a deployment plan.
- Does it work without power? Before and during a hurricane, power is uncertain. A motorized system needs a manual backup.
- What about salt air? On the coast, hardware that is not stainless steel becomes the weak point within a few seasons.
How the main system types compare
| System | Strengths | Limitations | Where it makes the most sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane fabric screens | Lightweight; cover large and irregular openings; store compactly; no dependence on power; high-end fabrics are tested to Level E | Must be put up before each storm and stored off-season; performance varies widely between products | Hotels, terraces, large glass façades, essential facilities |
| Rolling shutters | Permanent; deploy in minutes; double as everyday security; integrate into the architecture | Higher up-front cost; motorized units need a manual backup; visible boxes on the façade; less suited to very large or irregular openings | Main entrances and windows in daily use |
| Rigid panels (aluminum or steel) | Strength comparable to metal shutters at a mid-range cost | Heavy to handle; need storage and staff to put up; impractical on upper floors | Standard windows on homes and low-rise buildings |
| Polycarbonate panels | Let light through when installed | Need storage like other panels; performance depends on the specific product and its certification | Openings where keeping natural light matters |
| Plywood | Very cheap and widely available | No standardized certification; poor fit and improvised anchoring | Emergency measure only, never a permanent plan |
Products within each type differ widely. Always compare the test level and the report for the complete system, not the name of the material.
What Level E means
ASTM E1996 is the most widely referenced standard for hurricane impact protection. Levels D and E use the same missile, a 2x4 of about 9 pounds; the difference is speed:
| Level D | Level E | |
|---|---|---|
| Missile | ~9-lb 2x4 | ~9-lb 2x4 |
| Impact speed | 50 ft/s (≈ 34 mph) | 80 ft/s (≈ 54.5 mph) |
| Relative energy | 1.00× | ≈ 2.56× |
| Buildings the standard assigns it to (highest wind zones) | Ordinary buildings | Essential facilities: hospitals, emergency shelters, fire and police stations, and buildings with critical national-defense functions |
To be precise: Level E is not a “military certification”; it is the impact level the standard requires of essential facilities, the same standard used for essential military facilities. Hurricane Solution’s HS-1500 is tested to that level. More detail on Level E and testing and certifications.
Real installations, in Mexico and beyond
Grupo Vidanta, Mayan Palace
Installed in 2008–2009 and confirmed in writing in 2011 by the group’s Executive Maintenance Manager, engineer Héctor Vázquez Gómez y Sánchez. See the case
Sears Playa del Carmen
Protection for a high-risk architectural dome; letter of recommendation from maintenance manager C. Felipe Pérez, dated October 19, 2012. See the case
DIF Solidaridad
A shelter protected with hurricane fabric screens and a trained staff; designated a “Diamond Level Refuge.” Read the DIF Solidaridad case study
U.S. Navy Hospital
The HS-1500 on a hospital with a 274 km/h wind requirement. Read the case study
“We consider Hurricane Solution the provider of the strongest hurricane protection system we have found.” — Lic. María Teresa Ledesma Beltrán, Director of DIF Solidaridad, letter of July 25, 2013 (translated from Spanish).
Hurricane Solution’s storm performance record documents the hurricanes and named storms its installed systems have faced since 2006.
Which system for which building
- Beachfront hotels and resorts: fabric tested to Level E (HS-1500) on façades and terraces, with rolling shutters where openings are in daily use. See hotel protection and hotel deployment.
- Hospitals, clinics and shelters: Level E, and a system that can be deployed without power, with stainless-steel anchoring and a trained staff.
- Luxury residences: HS-1250, certified for Category 5, with a white finish designed for the look of the home.
- Inland homes and tighter budgets: HS-875 polypropylene, certified for Category 3.
- Openings wider than 3.8 m: AquaGrid, designed for large spans.
Frequent questions
What is the best hurricane protection for a hotel in Mexico?
For a beachfront hotel, a complete system tested to ASTM E1996 Missile Level E, with anchoring engineered for the building, stainless-steel hardware and a deployment plan with trained staff. Rolling shutters complement it where openings are in daily use.
Can hurricane fabric withstand a Category 5 hurricane?
It depends on the product. High-end fabrics are tested to ASTM E1996 Missile Level E, the most demanding impact level in the standard; others are tested to lower levels. Always ask for the level and the test report for the complete system.
Which is better, fabric or rolling shutters?
Neither wins on every count. Fabric is light, covers large and irregular openings and does not depend on power; rolling shutters are permanent and deploy in minutes. Many buildings combine both, opening by opening.
Is Level E a military certification?
Not exactly. It is the impact level ASTM E1996 assigns to essential facilities, such as hospitals, emergency shelters and buildings with critical national-defense functions. It is the same standard used for essential military facilities.
How much does Hurricane Solution protection cost?
Hurricane Solution systems range from 120 to 189 USD per m², depending on the system and the installation height. See prices.
What is the best protection for your building?
We answer with a technical assessment of your openings, not a catalog.