If your project sits in Miami-Dade or Broward County — or in a coastal zone with HVHZ designation — the glazing sub you hire must be able to document approved products, proper testing, and field installation that satisfies an entirely different compliance framework than the rest of Florida. Here's what to look for and what to demand before award.
What HVHZ Actually Means
HVHZ stands for High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. It's a geographic designation under the Florida Building Code (FBC) that identifies areas exposed to the most extreme design wind events — sustained winds exceeding 110 mph and gusts well above that during a major hurricane. The HVHZ currently covers all of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties in their entirety. Portions of Palm Beach County along the coastline, and certain areas in other southeastern Florida counties, may also carry HVHZ or equivalent special wind zone designations depending on local amendments and the specific site's design wind speed from the FBC wind speed maps.
The HVHZ framework was formalized after Hurricane Andrew made landfall in August 1992. Andrew's destruction of tens of thousands of buildings — largely attributable to product failures rather than structural failures — forced Miami-Dade County to develop the nation's strictest product testing and approval requirements for windows, doors, and glazing systems. Those requirements were later formalized into the Florida Building Code as the HVHZ provisions that apply today.
In practical terms, HVHZ designation means that standard Florida Product Approvals are not sufficient for the project. Products must carry a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA).
Florida Product Approval vs. Miami-Dade NOA: The Critical Distinction
This is the most common compliance confusion point on projects that cross county lines or involve teams less familiar with South Florida's requirements.
A Florida Product Approval (FL PA) is a statewide approval issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) through its product approval system. An FL PA is sufficient for non-HVHZ areas anywhere in Florida. The testing protocols and standards are substantial, but they are designed for the standard Florida wind environment — not the HVHZ.
A Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) is issued by Miami-Dade County's Building Department, specifically the Product Control Section. An NOA certifies that the product has passed the Testing Application Standards (TAS) required for HVHZ use — specifically TAS 201 (impact), TAS 202 (cyclic wind pressure), and TAS 203 (water infiltration). These tests are conducted at larger specimen sizes and under more demanding protocols than comparable non-HVHZ product approvals.
A product with only an FL PA cannot be legally installed in a Miami-Dade HVHZ project. A product with an NOA satisfies both HVHZ and non-HVHZ requirements statewide. When evaluating glazing bids for HVHZ work, confirm that the specific product and configuration proposed carries a valid, current NOA — not just a Florida PA.
What Documentation to Demand Before Award
Before committing to a glazing subcontractor on an HVHZ project, request the following in writing:
- NOA numbers for proposed products. Get the specific NOA number for every glazing system they're proposing — storefront, curtainwall, window wall, impact windows and doors. Verify each NOA on the Miami-Dade Product Control website (miamidade.gov/building/pc-search.asp) to confirm it's current and not expired.
- NOA installation instructions compliance. Each NOA comes with installation instructions that are part of the approval. The glazing must be installed exactly as detailed — anchor spacing, frame embedment, glazing pocket dimensions, sealant requirements. Ask the sub specifically how they track NOA installation instruction compliance in the field.
- Configuration match. NOAs cover specific configurations — frame sizes, glass thicknesses, overall unit dimensions. Confirm that the proposed configuration falls within the tested and approved parameters of the NOA. An NOA for a 48" x 96" unit doesn't cover a 60" x 120" unit of the same product without supplemental testing or a separate NOA that covers that size.
- Prior HVHZ project references. Ask for specific projects in Miami-Dade or Broward County where they've installed the proposed systems. Get permit numbers if possible — those are public record and you can verify the project was completed without stop-work orders or failed inspections.
- Inspector's affidavit process. Miami-Dade requires specific inspection milestones and documentation during HVHZ glazing installation. Ask how the sub handles the required inspections and whether they've worked with the specific inspector or inspection firm you're using.
Systems That Commonly Carry NOA Coverage
Not every glazing product is tested and approved for HVHZ use. Market leaders in commercial glazing typically carry Miami-Dade NOAs for their primary product lines. Systems from manufacturers like Kawneer, YKK AP, PGT Commercial, CGI Commercial, and WinDoor carry broad NOA coverage across their product families. Mid-tier and specialty products may carry NOAs for limited configurations only, or may carry FL PA only.
Hollow metal storefront systems, thermally broken curtainwall, and commercial impact doors from established commercial manufacturers almost universally carry NOA coverage in the configurations most commonly specified. Custom or specialty glazing — oversized units, unusual frame profiles, monumental doors — requires more careful verification that the specific configuration is covered.
For projects in Broward County, confirm whether the specific municipality (Broward has 31 incorporated municipalities) accepts Miami-Dade NOA directly or requires any supplemental local review. Most Broward jurisdictions accept Miami-Dade NOA, but confirming before bid avoids surprises during permitting.
ACG's HVHZ Experience
American Commercial Glass has completed HVHZ-compliant glazing installations across South Florida, including projects in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Our project managers maintain current familiarity with Miami-Dade's Product Control database and verify NOA coverage for every proposed system as part of our standard pre-bid process. We don't propose systems without confirmed NOA coverage for the specific configurations required on your project.
If you're bidding an HVHZ project and need a glazing scope that includes product approval documentation from day one, send us your plans. We'll confirm NOA coverage for the specified systems and flag any substitution risks before you've committed to a scope.
FAQ
What does HVHZ mean in Florida construction?
HVHZ stands for High-Velocity Hurricane Zone — a designation under the Florida Building Code identifying areas subject to extreme wind events, primarily all of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. In HVHZ zones, glazing and other building envelope products must meet stricter product approval standards, including a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) rather than a standard Florida Product Approval. The designation originated after Hurricane Andrew's 1992 destruction of conventional building products in South Florida.
What is a Miami-Dade NOA?
A Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) is a product approval issued by Miami-Dade County's Building Department certifying that a building product has passed the Testing Application Standards (TAS 201, 202, and 203) required for HVHZ use. Unlike a Florida Product Approval, which is a statewide approval, an NOA is specific to Miami-Dade's requirements and involves large-scale physical testing under protocols that exceed standard FL PA requirements. Products installed in HVHZ areas must carry a valid, unexpired NOA for the exact configuration being installed.