Florida has some of the most demanding glazing code requirements of any state in the country. Between wind load requirements, the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, Florida Product Approval, and the state's own energy code, commercial glazing in Florida involves more regulatory complexity than most other states. This guide is a practical reference — not a substitute for the code itself or for project-specific engineering — but it covers the framework every contractor working in Florida needs to understand.
Important: Code requirements are project-specific and change with each code cycle. This guide provides general orientation — always refer to the current adopted code edition, your project's construction documents, and the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for requirements that govern your specific project.
Florida Building Code: The 8th Edition Framework
The Florida Building Code (FBC) 8th Edition is the current adopted code governing commercial construction in the state. The FBC is a Florida-specific adaptation of the International Building Code (IBC) with Florida amendments that address the state's unique climate, wind exposure, and hurricane risk. For commercial glazing, the most relevant portions are the structural provisions (wind load requirements), the energy code, and the specific glazing and opening protection requirements.
Florida adopts its code on a triennial cycle, with updates to the Florida Building Code typically tracking updates to the IBC and related referenced standards. The 8th Edition incorporated significant updates to how wind loads are calculated and applied, aligned with the ASCE 7-22 standard.
The Florida Building Commission oversees the FBC, and each local jurisdiction — county or municipality — serves as the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for permit review, plan review, and inspections. While the FBC establishes minimum statewide standards, local amendments can add requirements, and local plan reviewers and inspectors interpret the code. Understanding how your specific AHJ applies the FBC is as important as knowing the code itself.
Wind Load Requirements and ASCE 7-22
Wind load is the central structural consideration for commercial glazing in Florida. The FBC references ASCE 7 (Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures) for wind load calculations. The current edition referenced in the FBC 8th Edition is ASCE 7-22.
Wind loads for glazing are calculated based on several factors: the basic wind speed for the project location (determined from ASCE 7 wind speed maps), the building's risk category (I through IV, based on occupancy and use), the exposure category (B, C, or D, based on surrounding terrain), the building's height and configuration, and the location of the glazing element on the building (corner zones, edge zones, and field zones have different pressure coefficients).
For commercial glazing, wind load is expressed as design pressure (DP) — typically in pounds per square foot (psf) — applied to the glazing system. The glazing system (glass, frame, anchors, and sealants) must be engineered and tested to resist the calculated design pressure. In Florida, design pressures for commercial glazing commonly range from moderate values in inland low-rise applications to very high values in coastal high-rise construction.
The structural engineer of record on each project calculates the required design pressures for each glazing location. Those pressures are what the glazing sub and glazing system must meet or exceed. A glazing system is approved for installation at a given pressure by having a product approval (either Florida Product Approval or a Miami-Dade NOA) that covers that design pressure at the specified frame configuration and glass makeup.
Florida Product Approval and FL Numbers
Florida Product Approval (FL PA) is a statewide product evaluation and approval system administered by the Florida Building Commission. Products that have been evaluated and approved under this system are assigned a Florida Product Approval number (FL#). When a glazing contractor installs an approved product, they provide the FL# in their submittal package, and the plan reviewer can verify the product's approval status in the Florida Building Product Approval database.
Florida Product Approval evaluations are conducted by approved evaluation entities and are based on testing, engineering analysis, or a combination of both. Each approval specifies the conditions under which the product is approved — maximum glass size, design pressure limits, installation requirements, anchoring specifications, and applicable uses. The approval is only valid when the product is installed in accordance with those conditions.
For most commercial glazing systems — storefronts, curtainwall, window wall, and impact windows — major manufacturers maintain current FL PA numbers for their product lines. Part of selecting a glazing system for a Florida project is confirming that the system has an approval that covers the required design pressures and configuration on your specific project.
Miami-Dade NOA
In Miami-Dade and Broward counties — Florida's High Velocity Hurricane Zone — the applicable product approval is a Notice of Acceptance (NOA) issued by Miami-Dade County's Building Department. NOAs are evaluated under the Miami-Dade Protocol, which has historically been more demanding than the statewide FL PA process. Products with Miami-Dade NOAs are also accepted outside the HVHZ, but the reverse is not always true: a Florida Product Approval does not automatically satisfy HVHZ requirements.
The High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ)
Florida's High Velocity Hurricane Zone covers Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Commercial glazing in the HVHZ must comply with the specific provisions of FBC Section 1626 and referenced standards that address HVHZ conditions, including Miami-Dade Protocol testing requirements and NOA documentation.
HVHZ requirements for commercial glazing generally include: impact resistance testing for glazing in exterior applications (protecting against large and small missile impacts), testing for cyclic wind pressure following an impact event, and product approval through the Miami-Dade NOA process rather than the statewide FL PA system.
The HVHZ designation does not apply to Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, or other Florida markets outside Miami-Dade and Broward. This is a common source of confusion. However, many coastal locations outside the HVHZ still require impact-rated glazing based on wind speed maps, exposure category, and building type — the requirements just follow the statewide FL PA process rather than NOA.
ACG installs in both HVHZ and non-HVHZ markets across Florida. We carry FL PA-approved and NOA-documented products for the full range of systems we install. Our Scope Engine factors in regional code requirements when we generate your scope and pricing — including whether your project is in or near the HVHZ.
Florida Energy Code and Commercial Glazing
Florida's energy code for commercial buildings is based on ASHRAE 90.1 with Florida amendments, administered as part of the FBC. For commercial glazing, the energy code governs the thermal performance of the building envelope — specifically the U-factor (a measure of heat transfer) and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC, a measure of how much solar energy passes through the glazing) of window and glazing systems.
Florida's climate is dominated by cooling loads — buildings spend most of the year trying to keep heat out rather than retain heat inside. The energy code reflects this by placing greater weight on SHGC than in northern climates. For most commercial building types in Florida, SHGC is a critical driver of glazing product selection. Low-E coatings that reduce solar heat gain are standard on most commercial glazing in Florida, and the specific coating and glass makeup must be documented in submittals to demonstrate energy code compliance.
Energy code compliance for commercial glazing is typically demonstrated through the COMcheck software tool (developed by the DOE/PNNL) or through whole-building energy modeling. The glazing sub provides the thermal performance specifications (U-factor and SHGC) for each glazing system, and the mechanical engineer or energy consultant uses those values in the compliance calculation.
The specific U-factor and SHGC requirements vary by climate zone, building type, and window-to-wall ratio. Florida is primarily in ASHRAE climate zones 1 and 2. Confirm the applicable requirements with the mechanical engineer or energy consultant on each project rather than assuming standard values apply.
Design Pressure Ratings and Glazing System Selection
Design pressure ratings are the performance metric that connects wind load calculations to glazing product selection. A glazing system's FL PA approval will specify its rated design pressures — typically both positive (inward pressure from wind) and negative (outward, or suction, from wind). The system must be rated at or above the design pressures calculated by the structural engineer for your project location and building configuration.
Design pressure requirements are not uniform across a building facade. Corner zones typically have higher pressure requirements than field zones. Upper floors of tall buildings may have higher requirements than lower floors. The structural engineer's facade pressure calculations will identify the required DP for each zone of the glazing scope.
For a glazing contractor, this means that a single glazing system may not be appropriate for every location on a building. In some cases, a heavier frame, additional anchoring, or a different glass makeup is required in high-pressure zones. This coordination between the structural drawings and the glazing product selection is part of the shop drawing process.
What This Means for Project Planning
For GCs and owners planning a commercial project in Florida, the regulatory framework around glazing has practical implications:
Product selection must happen early. The glazing system needs to be selected, and its FL PA approval needs to be confirmed against the project's required design pressures, before shop drawings can begin. This is not something to figure out during construction.
Submittals are more detailed in Florida. A Florida glazing submittal package includes FL# documentation, product approval language, and the compliance documentation linking the approved product to the project's specific requirements. This is more involved than a simple cut sheet submission.
Plan review times may be longer. Florida counties vary in their plan review timelines and in their scrutiny of glazing submittals. Miami-Dade County's HVHZ review is particularly thorough. Build appropriate lead time into your schedule.
ACG manages the full product approval and code compliance documentation process on every project we install. Our shop drawing packages are built to pass plan review in every Florida county where we operate. Use our Scope Engine to start a scope for your Florida project, review our full services, and see our portfolio of completed Florida commercial projects. Questions about code requirements on a specific project? Contact us directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does all commercial glazing in Florida need to be impact-rated?
Not necessarily. Impact-rating requirements depend on the project's wind-borne debris region designation, which is determined by the basic wind speed at the project location and proximity to the coast. Projects in wind-borne debris regions require glazing that is either impact-rated (tested to resist large and small missile impacts) or protected by shutters or other approved opening protection systems. Your project's structural drawings and the AHJ plan review will confirm the applicable requirements.
What is a Florida Product Approval number (FL#)?
A Florida Product Approval number (FL#) is assigned to a building product that has been evaluated and approved under the Florida Building Product Approval Program. For glazing systems, the FL# documents the product's tested performance characteristics, approved configurations, and installation requirements. Glazing contractors provide FL# documentation in their submittal packages to demonstrate that the installed product meets the code's product evaluation requirements.
Is the Florida Building Code the same as the International Building Code?
The FBC is based on the IBC but includes Florida-specific amendments throughout. For glazing specifically, the FBC includes amendments related to wind load, opening protection, and the HVHZ that go beyond what the base IBC requires. Contractors familiar with the IBC from other states will find the FBC framework familiar but should review the Florida amendments carefully before working in the state.