SuperMax is our Essential Building Shutter – engineered for the same class of buildings that must stay functional during and after a major hurricane: hospitals, critical care facilities, and other essential structures. Now that same level of protection is available for your home.
Designed for wide lanais, large glass walls, and front entries in Florida’s gated and 55+ communities, SuperMax delivers hospital-grade impact protection in a motorized, easy-to-use roll-down system.
Essential Building Performance – In a Residential Shutter
Most hurricane shutters are tested to Florida Building Code Level D, using a standard 8-lb 2×4 fired at 50 feet per second – roughly 34.5 mph – with design wind pressures set for typical residential construction.
SuperMax goes further. It is engineered and tested as an Essential Building Shutter, with impacts at 80 feet per second – about 54.5 mph – and significantly higher design pressures, similar to what is demanded for essential facilities that cannot fail.
That means your home benefits from a shutter system designed for real, destructive storm forces – not just the minimum residential standard.
SuperMax Essential Building Shutter – Level E impact demonstration
What “Essential Building Shutter” Means for You
For homeowners in Florida’s 55+ and gated communities, SuperMax helps support the real “what will this storm do to our home?” questions that arise each season. When evacuation is difficult – because of health, mobility, or pets – it becomes even more important that your openings are protected by a system designed for higher, essential-level forces.
- Engineered for Essential Building criteria – tested beyond typical residential shutters.
- Roll-down convenience – no ladders, no heavy panels; a key switch or wall control brings the system down into place.
- Helps manage internal pressure by protecting large openings, reducing the risk of sudden structural failure.
- Reduces wind-swept water intrusion at lanais, front entries, and large glass walls.
- Ideal for gated and 55+ communities where wide spans, glass, and outdoor living areas are common.
Tested with Our Own Air Cannon
SuperMax was developed and tested using CHPXL’s custom-built air cannon, capable of launching 8-lb 2×4 missiles at Essential Building speeds. Impact tests were witnessed and documented to confirm performance at:
- 50 feet per second (~34.5 mph) – standard Florida residential Level D baseline.
- 80 feet per second (~54.5 mph) – Florida Level E Essential Building impact level used for SuperMax testing.
This kind of destructive testing is uncommon in the residential shutter market and is one of the reasons SuperMax stands apart from typical home-grade systems.
From Hospitals to Homes
CHPXL’s engineering background includes systems used on hospitals, maintenance hangars, and other critical facilities. SuperMax brings that same mindset to protecting your home – especially in communities where:
- Residents are planning to age in place.
- Evacuation routes are limited or congested.
- Large lanais and glass walls face open wind corridors.
The result is a shutter system that treats your home’s openings with the same seriousness as critical facilities – particularly where evacuation may not be straightforward or desirable.
Why SuperMax Works So Well for 55+ and Gated Communities
- Wide-span capability – protects openings up to 384" without interrupting your view with posts or mullions.
- Clean appearance – housing and side tracks integrate neatly with today’s architectural styles and HOA requirements.
- Simple operation – motorized control is ideal for homeowners who should not be lifting heavy panels or climbing ladders.
- Stronger documentation – Essential Building testing can provide better support if you ever need to discuss storm damage with your insurer.
SuperMax is not just “another shutter.” It is an Essential Building Shutter designed for people who want higher-level, documented protection on the openings that matter most.