South Florida is a unique place when it comes to home building, and windows and doors are no exception. While all of Florida must follow FBC, areas of South Florida, such as Southeast Florida, have even stricter codes. One such example is the high-speed hurricane zone, also known as HVHZ. HVHZ is an area that includes Palm Beach County, Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and Monroe County. HVHZ requires stronger impact products than other parts of Florida and reaches wind speeds between 170 mph and 200 mph, depending on your exact location. Dimensions aren`t the only things to worry about when it comes to window safety. If you replace windows installed before 1978, they may contain potentially hazardous lead paint. This is particularly worrying for families with young children. Read the EPA`s guidelines for retrofitting homes before 1978 and contact your window manufacturer for more information. The U-factor is a measure of the amount of indirect heat transfer that takes place from the outside to the inside. This usually affects the window frame, and the best way to describe it is through touch testing. When you touch the frame from the inside of your windows, do they feel the same temperature as the outside? In summer, a warm frame will consume air conditioning.
In winter, a cold frame transpires in a warm house, balancing the heating. This is the same principle as a can of cold drink sweating in a warm place. The initial requirements state that there must be a window or opening door in each room that leads directly to the outside in the event of an emergency. There are several ways to fill in the exit code, but this is most often achieved by installing a window that meets the standards. An output-compliant window must meet all of these dimensions: Thousands of homes in Florida were built with aluminum single-glazed windows, which is not allowed in most cases in new construction and window replacement projects, according to the updated Florida Building Code released in July. If your building is to have high DPs, negative DP values for tall buildings can sometimes be as low as -130psf, you may become more limited in size or material types for your hurricane protection. To meet the changing requirements of the Florida Building Code, manufacturers are constantly innovating to create larger, stronger products. Impact window and door manufacturers such as ESWindows and CGI Commercial offer aluminum windows up to 15 feet high and are approved for use in HVHZ. Pro tip: tempered glass makes it 4 times stronger than the same standard glass thickness, so consider using tempered glass for very large windows to increase both safety and strength! Because Florida`s building code requires hurricane-proof shutters or windows (another name for impact windows), homeowners and property managers need to decide what protections are appropriate for their property. Since both options are acceptable under BCF 2017, the decision will likely be due to other factors such as cost, labor, aesthetics, or other additional benefits.
If you`re trying to choose between hurricane shutters or impact windows and doors to protect your home and family, visit our Impact Shutters page to download a free copy of our full analysis on the topic. For any South Florida homeowner or property manager planning a renovation, it`s important to understand the Florida Building Code (FBC) and its requirements. The Florida Building Code was created in 2000 in response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Until then, counties and cities could create their building codes as long as they met the state`s minimum requirements. However, Hurricane Andrew showed how lax codes or misenforcement can put lives and property at risk, causing a national disaster. Municipalities may make stricter changes than the national code, but no local code may be lower than the current edition of the BCF. Determining if you are in HVHZ is the first step in deciding on the right products needed for your project. The next consideration is to know what exposure the building takes into account. The relationship with large open areas (such as bodies of water or large areas of flat land) and the height of the building determine the exposure. Our entire service area falls under Exhibit C or Exhibit D. Exhibit C is less than 60 feet tall for any building and is at least 1,000 feet from a large open space.
Exhibit D applies to any building within 1,000 feet of a large open space at least one mile wide, or to any building over 60 feet tall, regardless of location. Some critical infrastructure buildings, such as schools and hospitals, must meet the requirements of Exposure D, regardless of their size or location. The performance-based code requires that a whole-house energy calculation be done by a qualified professional to determine the energy efficiency of the home. The calculation takes into account the construction of the structure, insulation, heating and air, design, windows and doors. Once all the information has been entered into the equation, the household energy calculation must comply with the International Code for the Conservation of Energy. In this method, aluminum windows could be used in other improvements in construction techniques to meet the code. Florida`s building code can be complicated to understand for those with little or no experience. When considering new impact windows and doors, it is recommended that you consult an experienced professional who understands all of these requirements and has access to a variety of product options to meet FBC requirements. To get a free consultation and quote from Window & Door Replacement Company experts, fill out our form or call 561-623-8446. Because there are so many dated windows in Florida that need to be replaced, Florida`s updated building code and understanding of it will have a huge impact on homeowners.
My two biggest tips for any homeowner are: don`t buy windows until you`re sure they meet the Florida building code in your area, and never let a contractor tell you you don`t need a permit. A common question among Florida landowners is, “Are impact windows necessary in Florida?” The short answer is no. However, when it comes to replacing or installing new windows and doors, the Florida Building Code has very specific requirements, which is acceptable. According to FBC 2017, the version currently applied in our state, all glass openings in a structure must be shock-resistant or use impact coating (such as shutters). Some single-family homes may obtain permission to use plywood, but pre-approved fastening systems must be in place. These changes in building codes are forcing Florida window manufacturers to retrofit their equipment to produce low-e vinyl windows that can meet stringent U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) requirements. Window ordering schedules have lengthened considerably and there is real confusion between builders and owners. The legal guidelines for replacement windows focus mainly on safety and energy efficiency. Most window sellers consider these codes during the initial bidding process, but it`s also important to make sure these windows are placed and installed in the right places that are sufficient for a home inspection.
Here are some of the key code requirements to consider during your renovation project. Are your new replacement windows installed legally? Find out here! #CustomWindowsTX Click To TweetExit The window installation code is designed to help homeowners find the safest and most energy-efficient windows on the market. A trained and experienced company, like the custom Windows team, has these rules in mind to avoid guesswork so you can focus on customizing your home.
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