Are Impact Resistant Windows Required In Florida

If a structure resides in any of these areas it is required by florida building code to have some means of opening protection for example impact resistant windows or doors or shutters that have received a florida product approval.

Are impact resistant windows required in florida. Approved impact resistant windows and doors must be certified to meet either miami dade tas 201 202 and 203 or. It s now realized that windows are a key point of entry for wind rain and wind borne debris. The reason is that local building codes determine the requirements as to whether impact windows and doors are required in a certain application. To simplify the fbc states that if your home is located within one mile of a coastal area that can receive winds in excess of 100 mph windows must be impact resistant or have some type of.

Although not all of florida is required to have impact resistant windows miami dade county has the most stringent requirements in the country when it comes to rain wind and wind borne debris tests. Of course even if your home is not located in this area this may be a good idea. The easy answer is that according to florida building code fbc all windows and doors must be protected if the building structure is within one mile of the coast where wind speed is in excess of 110 mph. E1996 impact tests may be used except in hvhz where only products tested to miami dade protocols are permitted.

If you install impact protection shutters on your replacement door and window it must have an approval number from the state of florida and an evaluation report from the manufacturer. Impact resistant glass windows must meet certain guidelines in order to be marketed and sold as such. This also applies to sliding doors and windows. For structures located in miami dade or broward counties opening protection must meet additional requirements.

When reviewing impact windows requirements the florida building code lists the specific standards that windows and other building materials have to meet. The american society for testing materials astm has strict guidelines e1886 and e1996 for hurricane impact resistant windows before they can be certified as impact resistant. All replacement windows and doors must comply with the minimum 130 miles per hour wind speed resistance specification. The florida building code fbc requires windows to be impact resistant or protected if located within one mile of the coast where the wind speed is 110 mph or greater.

Costs hurricane resistant windows can increase your overall construction cost but they offer great protection during the storm season. Building code standards for hurricane impact resistant windows. The hvhz applies to all miami dade and broward counties regardless of how far from the coast the building is located.