Are Impact Windows Required In Florida

If you want have insurance and other integral parts of a home s protection you may be frustrated to find that impact windows are required in florida.

Are impact windows required in florida.

Areas impact windows are required florida has numerous codes in each area with varying requirements. These windows can not only save your house or commercial building from hurricane debris but also from burglary. 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. The installation of hurricane impact windows in florida is as important as the construction of the window.

There are some specific zones in florida where these windows are required. However you may be excited to find that there are all sorts of other benefits to consider when it comes to the requirement for impact windows. The reason is that local building codes determine the requirements as to whether impact windows and doors are required in a certain application. 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.

For example any new buildings constructed in miami dade county including both commercial and residential buildings need windows that are capable of withstanding winds of up to 175 miles per hour. 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. It requires windows to be impact resistant or protected by a shutter if the structure is located within one mile of the coast where the wind speed is 100 mph or greater. In fact they are far much better than using plywood or hurricane shutters to mitigate tornadoes and other deadly storms that ravage homes at the beach.

However impact windows offer several advantages to both safety and quality of life and are advisable even if not legally required. In florida and more specifically areas around the miami dade or broward counties it is mandatory to have impact windows installed on homes given the prevalence of hurricanes. However as you move further inland and beyond that one mile radius most building departments in the northern part of the state do not require impact products. This also applies to sliding doors and windows.

But why would you need impact windows if you re not in these zones. Built with multiple layers these windows are not easy to break. High impact windows are not required in the entire state of florida but are required in coastal areas with some counties being more strict than others. As always consult your local laws and country requirements when upgrading your windows.

Impact windows are designed to be strong and tough. The question of whether hurricane windows and doors are required in florida is not a simple answer. The florida building code or fbc prescribes performance and construction requirements for exterior windows and glass doors installed in wall systems. However different counties have different codes.

All replacement windows and doors must comply with the minimum 130 miles per hour wind speed resistance specification.