Florida Wind Code – Certified Garage Door, Inc.

STEP 1: Determine Your Wind Speed

Determine the minimum wind speed (MPH) your door must meet or exceed from the map below or go to https://hazards.atcouncil.org.

Determine if wind-borne debris is applicable. See map below.

Wind-Borne Debris

The wind-borne debris region is also known as those areas that require the large missile impact rated windows. In Florida, being farther south and closer to the shoreline, it is more likely a home or building will be in the wind-borne debris region.

High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ)

Miami-Dade and Broward Counties require all garage doors meet the large missile impact rating, regardless if the garage door has windows or not. Standard windows are not available in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

Insurance companies sometimes give discounts for garage doors and other exterior building products that exceed the local building code, including meeting wind-borne debris requirements not mandated. This means that installing a new garage door with the large missile impact rating may reduce your insurance premiums. Please check with your insurance agent for details.

STEP 2: Determine If Your Home is in an Exposure B, Exposure C, or Exposure D Region

Exposure B

Defined as urban and suburban areas, wooded areas or other terrain with numerous closely spaced obstructions.

Exposure C

Defined as open terrain with scattered obstructions including flat open ground, grasslands. All of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties is Exposure C, unless meets Exposure D definition.

Exposure D

Defined as being within 600 ft. of the ocean front or other large body of water measuring at least 5,000 feet across. Contact building code official or DASMA Technical Data Sheet #155t for design pressures.

STEP 3: Determine the Structural Type of Your Home

STEP 4: Find Your Windcode or Wind-Load Rating

Design Pressures

The design wind load pressure rating of a door as expressed in PSF (pounds per square foot). The design pressure of the door must equal or exceed the design pressure for the garage door opening that a door is to be installed. Design pressure has positive and negative values.

Every manufacturer has its own wind code chart. Click the button below to access the manufacturer-specific wind code charts to determine the required wind code.

Florida Building Code: 707.4

Replacement of Windows and Doors.

The replacement of garage doors, exterior doors, skylights, and operative and inoperative windows shall be designed and constructed to comply with Chapter 16 of the Florida Building Code, Building.

Exceptions:

Opening protection exception: For one and two family dwellings constructed under codes other than the Florida Building Code and located in wind-borne debris regions, the replacement of garage doors and exterior doors with glazing, sliding glass doors, glass patio doors, skylights, and operable and inoperable windows within any 12-month period shall not be required to have opening protection but shall be designed for wind pressures for enclosed buildings, provided the aggregate area of the glazing in the replaced components does not exceed 25 percent of the aggregate area of the glazed openings in the dwelling or dwelling unit.
Opening protection exception for High-Velocity Hurricane Zones: For one- and two-family dwellings constructed under codes prior to September 1, 1994 the replacement of exterior doors with glazing, sliding glass doors, glass patio doors, skylights, and operable and inoperable windows within any 12 month period shall not be required to have opening protection provided the aggregate area of the glazing in the replaced components does not exceed 25 percent of the aggregate area of the glazed openings in the dwelling or dwelling unit.

Impact-Resistant Glazing or Opening Protection Requirement

All windows or doors replaced in Florida’s wind borne debris region require either impact-resistant glazing (glass) or opening protection as follows:

Impact-resistant glazing (glass) meeting the requirements of ANSI/DASMA 115 (for garage doors and rolling doors) or TAS 201, 202 and 203, AAMA 506, ASTM E1996, and ASTM E1886 referenced herein, or an approved impact-resistant standard as follows:

a) Glazed openings located within 30 feet (9144 mm) of grade shall meet the requirements of the large missile test of ASTM E1996.
b) Glazed openings located more than 30 feet (9144 mm) above grade shall meet the provisions of the small missile test of ASTM E1996.
c) Storage sheds that are not designed for human habitation and that have a floor area of 720 square feet (67 m2) or less are not required to comply with the mandatory wind-borne debris impact standards of this code.

Opening protection (such as shutters), meeting the requirements of FBC-Building 1609 Wind Loads; unless there is less than 25% of the glass area of a home being replaced within 12 months on a one or two-family home for which the home building permit was applied for before 3/1/2002.

Per Florida Building Code (FBC)-Existing Building 707.4: Opening protection exception: For one- and two family dwellings constructed under codes other than the Florida Building Code (where the original home building permit was applied for before March 1, 2002) and located in wind borne debris regions, the replacement of garage doors and exterior doors with glazing, sliding glass doors, glass patio doors, skylights, and operable and inoperable windows within any 12-month period shall not be required to have opening protection but shall be designed for wind pressures for enclosed buildings, provided the aggregate area of the glazing in the replaced components does not exceed 25 percent of the aggregate area of the glazed openings in the dwelling or dwelling unit.

If more than 25% of the windows and/or doors in a pre-Florida Building Code home are being replaced and the windows/doors are NOT impact glass, the windows/doors are required to have opening protection (such as shutters).

Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB)

LOCAL TECHNICAL AMENDMENT

FLORIDA BUILDING CODE 7th EDITION (2020) - BUILDING

All windows or doors replaced in Florida’s wind borne debris region require either impact-resistant glazing (glass) or opening protection as follows:

1609.3 Ultimate Design Wind Speed

The ultimate design wind speed Vult, in mph, for the determination of the wind loads shall be determined by Figures 1609.3(1), 1609.3(2), 1609.3(3) and 1609.4.
The ultimate design wind speed, Vult, for use in the design of Risk Category II buildings and structures shall be obtained from Figure 1609.3(1).
The ultimate design wind speed, Vult, for use in the design of Risk Category III buildings and structures shall be obtained from Figure 1609.3(2).
The ultimate design wind speed, Vult, for use in the design of Risk Category IV buildings and structures shall be obtained from Figure 1609.3(3).
The ultimate design wind speed, Vult, for use in the design of Risk Category I buildings and structures shall be obtained from Figure 1609.3(4).
The ultimate design wind speed, Vult, for the special wind regions indicated near mountainous terrain and near gorges shall be in accordance with local jurisdiction requirements.
The ultimate design wind speeds, Vult, determined by the local jurisdiction shall be in accordance with Chapter 26 of ASCE 7.

The exact location of wind speeds are approved and adopted as follows:

All incorporated and unincorporated Pinellas County,

Risk Category I – 135 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16;
Risk Category II – 145 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16;
Risk Category III – 155 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16;
Risk Category IV – 157 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16

Local Conditions and Need — This amendment defines Pinellas County’s basic wind speed designations.

Fiscal Impact Statement — This amendment adopts Pinellas County’s minimum basic wind speeds. There is no cost impact associated with this amendment.

Effective Date — Upon Board Approval and posting on the Commission Website.

Effect of Implementation — This amendment if implemented would not discriminate against materials, products, or construction techniques of demonstrated capabilities.

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4 Steps To Determine Your Windcode Door Rating