Florida's High Velocity Hurricane Zone represents the most stringent commercial glazing environment in the United States. Understanding what's required — and how to document compliance — is essential for GCs building in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
What Is the HVHZ?
The High Velocity Hurricane Zone is a geographic designation in the Florida Building Code that applies to Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Buildings in the HVHZ are required to resist wind loads and wind-borne debris that exceed the requirements applicable to the rest of Florida.
The HVHZ designation reflects these counties' historical experience with major hurricane impacts — Andrew in 1992 was particularly formative — and the recognition that the population density and value concentration in Southeast Florida warrants the highest available building performance standards.
The Core Requirement: Large Missile Impact
The foundational HVHZ glazing requirement is large missile impact resistance. Glazing products used in HVHZ construction must be tested and approved for large missile impact — specifically, a 9-pound 2x4 lumber projectile impacting the glazing at 50 feet per second.
This test is the most demanding impact standard in the US building codes. Products that pass small missile testing only (1.75-ounce steel ball) are not compliant for HVHZ applications, even if they meet non-HVHZ Florida Building Code requirements.
Large missile impact testing also includes cyclic pressure testing following the impact — the glazing must maintain its structural integrity and water resistance through 9,000 pressure cycles after taking the initial impact.
Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA)
The primary compliance documentation for HVHZ glazing products is the Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance. The NOA is issued by Miami-Dade County's Building Code Compliance Office (BCCO) and documents the specific products, configurations, and installation methods that are approved for HVHZ use.
Key NOA requirements GCs need to understand:
Product Specifications Must Match
The NOA is product-specific. If the NOA covers a particular window with a 3/16" laminated glass unit in a specific frame extrusion, using a different glass thickness or frame profile voids the approval. ACG verifies NOA compliance during submittal preparation, not after installation.
Installation Methods Are Prescribed
The NOA specifies exactly how the product must be installed — anchor spacing, anchor type, sealant type, and glazing method. Deviating from these specifications voids the approval even if the product itself is on the approval list.
NOAs Have Expiration Dates
Miami-Dade NOAs expire and must be renewed. Using a product under an expired NOA is a code violation even if the product hasn't changed. We verify current NOA status before specifying any product on an HVHZ project.
Florida Product Approval (FPA)
In addition to Miami-Dade NOAs, Florida's statewide product approval system (Florida Product Approval) provides a pathway for products approved for HVHZ use without going through Miami-Dade's BCCO. Products with a valid FPA listing that includes HVHZ approval are compliant.
In practice, most major manufacturers maintain both Miami-Dade NOA and FPA listings. ACG works with products that have current, valid listings under at least one of these programs.
What Gets Inspected
HVHZ glazing inspections focus on:
- Product approval documentation — valid NOA or FPA listing in the job file
- Installation compliance — anchor spacing, type, and embedment matching the approval
- Glass type verification — glass markings confirming the laminate construction matches the approved product
- Sealant compliance — correct sealant type and application method per the NOA
Inspectors in Miami-Dade and Broward are experienced and thorough. Deficiencies require remediation before CO — which in the worst cases means removing and reinstalling glazing that was installed with non-compliant anchors or glass.
The Submittal Package
A complete HVHZ glazing submittal includes:
- Current NOA or FPA listing for each glazing product
- Shop drawings showing installation details per the approval
- Anchor calculations stamped by a Florida-licensed PE
- Glass specifications confirming compliance with the approved glass configuration
- Sealant manufacturer certifications for compatibility with the substrate conditions
ACG prepares complete HVHZ submittal packages that pass first review. We've submitted hundreds of HVHZ packages across Miami-Dade and Broward — we know what the reviewers require and we prepare our submittals accordingly. Incomplete submittals that go back-and-forth through the plan review cycle add weeks to your schedule. We don't do that.