I’d like to weigh in on this with my apologies to the considerate readers who have to wade through this rhetoric spewed by “Mr. Smith” who has a vested interest in ‘storm stoppers’. I don’t have a vested interest or obligation in ANY one shutter product. I have valued experience and installation in all approved products.
Mr. Smith has but one drum to beat – the shameful way he contributes the unfortunate deaths of ‘shuttered’ in occupants to twisted lies, he promotes himself, as fact about dangerous products. While the results are unfortunate, they are more often then not a poor example of application and use. Now, I state as record of fact almost every shutter design on the market has an equally necessary egress application of which I will say more about later. Now, this brings us to his only remaining argument of cost. I ask all of you reading this today to call upon any number of these ‘plywood alternative’ suppliers and compare costs with other effective, approved solutions on the market. I can guarantee the experience will not be as he indicates and more then likely you’ll find several products of similar if not more affordable in price, that DO NOT risk your life, or ability for rapid egress in any emergency. So cost is not a factor – never has been. Let’s see what does that leave us with?
As much time as he (Mr. Smith) spends trying to defend and promote his ‘storm stoppers’ product, he could easily remove the negative stigma associated with his products lack of effectiveness by applying for and passing the necessary approvals for such attachments and more importantly, such claims .
Fortunately, hurricane protectives consumers complain against such unscrupulous predatory sales tactics often based on fabrication, lies and scare tactics that Mr. Smith subscribes to here in this post. The majority of businesses in our industry do not prey on the uninformed, while Mr. Smith is but a small example of disingenuous profiteers who do not conduct an honest business. While I’m sure he makes a great deal of money marauding as an advocate of the ‘single product pushers’ safety. Regardless of the body of evidence against ‘storm stoppers’ and the obvious advantage other varieties brings to market, I would not go as far as smearing his product as inferior to any others, just another option to evaluate for your own decision and protection.
It’s often a combination of industry products that provide the best level of protection for the complete envelope of your home. No single product demonstrates a clear superiority of function over any other. Every product has its limitations and use. A hurricane preparedness professional would explain the features and benefits of all of these products to supply the best shutter matched to your level of protection and needs. To suggest any one product ‘does it all’ is deceitful and insincere. There is a body of evidence to verify or reject these claims; it’s called the PRODUCT APPROVAL process.
Mr. Smith or ‘storm stoppers’ could as easily apply for this approval just as his competitors have for similar product designs. Many of his competitors with the same ‘plywood alternative’ design have product approval. Why doesn’t ‘Mr. Smith’ want his product tested along with the rest of his peers? Because in reality his product attachments (tape, Velcro and glue) would not pass the uniformed testing protocols? Thus he would have to settle for his ‘plywood alternative’ bolted on all four sides, and a direct violation of the same egress issue he so clearly points out. Without this ‘Velcro innovation’ (does not pass approval) he just has another ‘plywood alternative’ shutter that’s priced similar to more effective fabric, aluminum and steel panels (ALL passed approval) on the market today.
While Mr. Smith refuses to recognize his products limitations it’s up to you (the consumer)to investigate, compare and evaluate for your own informed decision. Along the way you’ll find the truth somewhere in the middle. For example his poorly maligned debate on his fictitious “egress-denying shutters” needs only review of the very ‘product approvals’ he so pathetically refuses to supply on his ‘storm stoppers’ product. Upon review of these code enforced shutter documents you will find interior latches so commonly placed on accordions that any small child could operate in the event of an egress emergency. He overlooks important details and facts like these unless they discredit his ‘storm stopper’ claims of ‘innovative’ and superior designs and more importantly deny his need for recognition by the hurricane protection industry.
I would agree with ShutterLady, William and Darius, maybe its time for some informed decision based facts to be made available to the public. Do we see another consumer advocacy group website on the horizon?
Truth About Storm Stoppers. Com ? Anyone ?
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I’d like to weigh in on this with my apologies to the considerate readers who have to wade through this rhetoric spewed by “Mr. Smith” who has a vested interest in ‘storm stoppers’. I don’t have a vested interest or obligation in ANY one shutter product. I have valued experience and installation in all approved products.
Mr. Smith has but one drum to beat – the shameful way he contributes the unfortunate deaths of ‘shuttered’ in occupants to twisted lies, he promotes himself, as fact about dangerous products. While the results are unfortunate, they are more often then not a poor example of application and use. Now, I state as record of fact almost every shutter design on the market has an equally necessary egress application of which I will say more about later. Now, this brings us to his only remaining argument of cost. I ask all of you reading this today to call upon any number of these ‘plywood alternative’ suppliers and compare costs with other effective, approved solutions on the market. I can guarantee the experience will not be as he indicates and more then likely you’ll find several products of similar if not more affordable in price, that DO NOT risk your life, or ability for rapid egress in any emergency. So cost is not a factor – never has been. Let’s see what does that leave us with?
As much time as he (Mr. Smith) spends trying to defend and promote his ‘storm stoppers’ product, he could easily remove the negative stigma associated with his products lack of effectiveness by applying for and passing the necessary approvals for such attachments and more importantly, such claims .
Fortunately, hurricane protectives consumers complain against such unscrupulous predatory sales tactics often based on fabrication, lies and scare tactics that Mr. Smith subscribes to here in this post. The majority of businesses in our industry do not prey on the uninformed, while Mr. Smith is but a small example of disingenuous profiteers who do not conduct an honest business. While I’m sure he makes a great deal of money marauding as an advocate of the ‘single product pushers’ safety. Regardless of the body of evidence against ‘storm stoppers’ and the obvious advantage other varieties brings to market, I would not go as far as smearing his product as inferior to any others, just another option to evaluate for your own decision and protection.
It’s often a combination of industry products that provide the best level of protection for the complete envelope of your home. No single product demonstrates a clear superiority of function over any other. Every product has its limitations and use. A hurricane preparedness professional would explain the features and benefits of all of these products to supply the best shutter matched to your level of protection and needs. To suggest any one product ‘does it all’ is deceitful and insincere. There is a body of evidence to verify or reject these claims; it’s called the PRODUCT APPROVAL process.
Mr. Smith or ‘storm stoppers’ could as easily apply for this approval just as his competitors have for similar product designs. Many of his competitors with the same ‘plywood alternative’ design have product approval. Why doesn’t ‘Mr. Smith’ want his product tested along with the rest of his peers? Because in reality his product attachments (tape, Velcro and glue) would not pass the uniformed testing protocols? Thus he would have to settle for his ‘plywood alternative’ bolted on all four sides, and a direct violation of the same egress issue he so clearly points out. Without this ‘Velcro innovation’ (does not pass approval) he just has another ‘plywood alternative’ shutter that’s priced similar to more effective fabric, aluminum and steel panels (ALL passed approval) on the market today.
While Mr. Smith refuses to recognize his products limitations it’s up to you (the consumer)to investigate, compare and evaluate for your own informed decision. Along the way you’ll find the truth somewhere in the middle. For example his poorly maligned debate on his fictitious “egress-denying shutters” needs only review of the very ‘product approvals’ he so pathetically refuses to supply on his ‘storm stoppers’ product. Upon review of these code enforced shutter documents you will find interior latches so commonly placed on accordions that any small child could operate in the event of an egress emergency. He overlooks important details and facts like these unless they discredit his ‘storm stopper’ claims of ‘innovative’ and superior designs and more importantly deny his need for recognition by the hurricane protection industry.
I would agree with ShutterLady, William and Darius, maybe its time for some informed decision based facts to be made available to the public. Do we see another consumer advocacy group website on the horizon?
Truth About Storm Stoppers. Com ? Anyone ?