Defender Series
Florida DBPR
Approved
Impact Rating LMI
Design Pressure +58/-58 psf
Energy
Made in USA
Pella Defender Vinyl Double Hung
Pella's commercial-grade vinyl impact window line, built in Ocala for multi-family projects.
Commercial-grade vinyl impact double-hung with both upper and lower sashes independently operable. Built on the CWS-6100 platform at the CWS Ocala facility.
Florida DBPR
Approved
Impact Rating LMI
Design Pressure +58/-58 psf
Energy
Made in USA
Pella
Product photography coming soon
Impact protection, built for South Florida
The Defender Double Hung is Pella's commercial-grade vinyl impact double-hung window, with both upper and lower sashes independently operable. Built on the CWS-6100 vinyl frame platform at the CWS Ocala facility, LMI impact-rated for Florida coastal installations.
- Florida Building Code product-approved
- Vinyl frame engineered for strength and durability
- Large-missile impact-rated laminated glass
- Energy-efficient Low-E insulated glass options to control heat gain
- Professionally installed across South Florida by Armor Pro
Configurations
X = operable panel (it opens) · O = fixed panel (doesn’t open). Panels read left‑to‑right as viewed from outside (hung windows read top‑to‑bottom). Example: XO = operable on the left, fixed on the right.
Grille Styles
3/4" Contour Grilles-Between-the-Glass1" Contour Grilles-Between-the-Glass5/8" Flat Grilles-Between-the-Glass7/8" Exterior Applied Grille with 1" Contour Grilles-Between-the-Glass
Impact Protection
Tested to withstand hurricane wind-borne debris
Engineered Strength
Built and tested to Florida product-approval standards
Energy Efficient
Low-E insulated glass options reduce heat gain
Limited Warranty
Manufacturer warranty plus Armor Pro install workmanship
At a Glance
Frame Material
Vinyl
Max Size
53.125 x 76 in
Design Pressure
+58/-58 psf
Impact Rating
LMI
Frame Depth
3.25 in
Sizes & Pressures
| Configuration | Min size | Max size | Design pressure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double-Hung | 17.875 x 28.75 in | 53.125 x 76 in | +58/-58 psf |
Glass & Energy Performance
| Glass package | U-Factor | SHGC |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Low-E impact-resistant laminated IG | 0.415 | 0.34 |
| Turtle Glass Low-E impact-resistant laminated IG | 0.415 | 0.34 |
| SunDefense Low-E impact-resistant laminated IG | 0.415 | 0.34 |
Performance Certifications
Energy-performance data on file (manufacturer-published; not third-party certified).
- FL17822.R7
- FL17234.R8
Options
Related Products
More models in the Defender Series.
Ready to install the Pella Defender Vinyl Double Hung?
Armor Pro measures, permits, and installs it across South Florida — code-compliant and warrantied. Get a free, no-obligation estimate.
Comparable from Other Brands
Other double hung models Armor Pro installs.
PGT Custom Windows & Doors
PGT WinGuard Vinyl Double Hung DH5560
See price & specs
Eastern Architectural Systems
EAS 143 Series Double Hung Vinyl
See price & specs
Custom Window Systems
CWS Comfort Shield Vinyl Double Hung
See price & specs
PGT Custom Windows & Doors
PGT EnergyVue Vinyl Double Hung DH5460
See price & specs
Frequently Asked Questions
The Pella Defender double-hung is a commercial-grade vinyl impact window in which both the upper and lower sashes are independently operable, so you can open the top, the bottom, or both for airflow. It's built on the CWS-6100 vinyl platform at Pella's CWS facility in Ocala, Florida, the same platform as the rest of the Defender line. We install it on Florida coastal homes and multi-family projects that want an impact double-hung with classic two-sash operation.
The Defender double-hung installs from a minimum of 17.875 by 28.75 inches up to a maximum of 53.125 by 76 inches, and it's rated to a design pressure of +58/-58 psf. The design pressure your specific opening must reach depends on its size and wind exposure, so we confirm the rating your window needs at quote. That's part of making sure the unit clears your local permit review.
Yes, the Defender double-hung is Large Missile Impact (LMI) rated for Florida coastal installations and carries Florida Product Approvals FL17234.R8 and FL17822.R7. As part of the Defender line it is built for Florida coastal projects outside the Miami-Dade and Broward HVHZ. We confirm the current approval on file matches your jurisdiction's requirements before we pull the permit.
The Defender double-hung uses an impact-resistant laminated insulated glass unit, and its Advanced Low-E, Turtle Glass, and SunDefense Low-E packages are each rated at a U-factor of 0.415 and an SHGC of 0.34. The glass make-up is a 7/8-inch overall insulated unit, and Turtle Glass is the option to ask about if your project sits in a sea-turtle lighting zone. We'll recommend the glass package that best balances solar-heat control and any coastal lighting requirements for your home.
The Defender double-hung can be ordered in all-white, all-bronze, or white-interior-with-bronze-exterior frame finishes, with AutoLock hardware available in white or matte black. It comes with an InView flat fiberglass screen and offers grilles-between-the-glass in 3/4-inch or 1-inch contour, 5/8-inch flat, or a 7/8-inch exterior-applied grille. We'll go over the finish, hardware, and grille choices so the windows match the look you want.
There's no single price for the Defender double-hung because the installed cost depends on the size of the opening, the glass and grille package you choose, the frame finish and hardware, and the condition of the existing opening. The glass option, such as moving to SunDefense or Turtle Glass, is one of the factors that moves the quote. Armor Pro provides a free, no-obligation estimate and will measure your openings before pricing the windows.
No. Defender is impact-rated vinyl, but it carries Florida state-level product approvals rather than a Miami-Dade NOA, so it is for Florida coastal work outside the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. That covers the large band of the state that requires impact glazing but not a full HVHZ approval, such as the Treasure Coast and Gulf Coast counties. For HVHZ multi-family or residential work, the product moves to an HVHZ-certified line such as HurricaneShield. We confirm which approval your county requires before specifying it.
Both are Pella vinyl impact lines built in Ocala on a related platform, but they're aimed at different jobs. Defender is the commercial-grade line, channeled toward multi-family and light-commercial buildings, with a heavier frame and light-commercial AAMA performance grades, but it stops short of HVHZ approval. HurricaneShield is the residential line and is the one carrying the Miami-Dade and Broward HVHZ certification. For a single-family hurricane-zone home we use HurricaneShield; Defender is for buildings rather than houses, outside the HVHZ.
Pella Corporation is a family-owned national manufacturer headquartered in Pella, Iowa, founded in 1925 and now spanning more than 20 plants across the country. For the Florida hurricane market the important detail is that Pella's impact lines, HurricaneShield and Defender, are built in Ocala, Florida by Pella's CWS subsidiary, so the storm products are made in-state rather than shipped in. We install and service Pella across South Florida and handle the order, permit, and installation regardless of which plant a given product comes from.