Florida's High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) — Miami-Dade and Broward counties — requires every exterior glazing system to carry a valid Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance) documenting passing performance on three test protocols: TAS 201 (large-missile impact, a 2x4 at 50 ft/sec), TAS 202 (structural air-pressure load), and TAS 203 (9,000-cycle wind pressure cycling). Compliance is governed by Florida Building Code Section 1609. Permit packages must include the current NOA number, the design pressure rating sized to the building wind load, and complete anchorage details for the specified frame size. This guide walks through every requirement.
HVHZ — High Velocity Hurricane Zone — is the most stringent wind-load protection regime in the Florida Building Code. It was established after Hurricane Andrew (1992) destroyed substantial portions of South Florida's building stock and is administered under FBC Chapter 16 with specific testing requirements codified in TAS 201, 202, and 203.
HVHZ applies to Miami-Dade and Broward counties only. Every other coastal Florida jurisdiction follows the Wind-Borne Debris Region (WBDR) standard, which is similar but does not require Miami-Dade NOA documentation. A glazing system rated for HVHZ is automatically rated for WBDR; the inverse is not true.
The HVHZ designation comes from FBC Section 1609.1.1 and applies to:
Adjacent Palm Beach County is not HVHZ but is WBDR. Monroe County (the Keys) is not HVHZ — it follows separate Florida Keys high-wind requirements that overlap with WBDR. Always confirm jurisdiction during the permit-prep phase of preconstruction.
Florida Building Code Section 1609 is the governing code for wind loads on buildings, including the protection of exterior openings. The relevant subsections for glazing:
The three Testing Application Standards (TAS) are the missile-impact, structural, and cyclic-loading tests a glazing system must pass to be HVHZ-approved.
| Test | What it does | Pass criteria |
|---|---|---|
| TAS 201 | Large-missile impact: 9 lb 2x4 wood projectile fired at glazing at 50 ft/sec. | No penetration of the projectile through the system. Glazing may break but must remain in frame. |
| TAS 202 | Structural uniform static air pressure to confirm DP rating. | No glass breakage, no permanent deformation beyond limits at the rated +/- DP. |
| TAS 203 | Cyclic wind pressure loading — 9,000 cycles simulating sustained hurricane-force gusting. | System maintains air, water, and structural integrity through the full cycle count. |
Systems are tested at the maximum frame size the manufacturer intends to certify. The resulting NOA specifies maximum size, glass thickness, glazing pocket, and anchorage. Field installations larger than the tested envelope are not covered by the NOA.
The NOA is the certification document issued by the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, Product Control Section, confirming that a manufacturer's glazing system has been tested to TAS 201, 202, and 203 and is approved for HVHZ installation.
Every NOA includes:
NOAs are public records, searchable at the Miami-Dade Product Control website. Always verify the NOA is current at the time of permit submission, not just at the time of design.
Design Pressure quantifies the wind load a glazing system must withstand, expressed in PSF with positive (windward, push) and negative (leeward / corner suction, pull) values. Typical Florida HVHZ design pressures:
Design pressure is calculated using ASCE 7-22 (or the version referenced in the active FBC), incorporating building height, exposure category (B, C, or D), surrounding terrain, building shape, and end-zone factors. A glazing system's NOA must rate to the project's DP at the specified opening size, or it cannot be used.
Both regulate hurricane glazing, but they are distinct standards:
| Standard | Where it applies | Approval mechanism | Test protocols |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBDR | Coastal Florida 130+ mph wind zones (excluding HVHZ) | Florida Product Approval (FPA) | ASTM E1886 / E1996 large missile testing |
| HVHZ | Miami-Dade and Broward counties only | Miami-Dade NOA | TAS 201, 202, 203 |
A system with an HVHZ NOA is acceptable for WBDR installations as well. A WBDR-only FPA is not acceptable for HVHZ.
American Commercial Glass installs HVHZ-rated systems from its seven approved manufacturer partners. Systems carry current Miami-Dade NOAs for HVHZ use:
System selection depends on aesthetic requirements (frame depth, sightline width), DP rating needed for the opening size and exposure, available lead time, and budget.
An HVHZ-compliant glazing submittal package includes:
HVHZ permit review at the Miami-Dade or Broward Building Department typically follows this sequence:
HVHZ anchorage requirements are dictated by the NOA. Common substrate types and their NOA implications:
Substrate verification at the rough opening stage is critical. ACG performs pre-glazing rough opening tolerance checks per ASTM E2112 plus NOA-specified substrate requirements before mobilizing glazing crews.
HVHZ is the High Velocity Hurricane Zone — Miami-Dade and Broward counties — where glazing systems must carry a Miami-Dade NOA proving passing performance on TAS 201, 202, and 203.
Miami-Dade and Broward. The rest of Florida is non-HVHZ but still requires WBDR-compliant glazing in coastal exposure zones.
Florida Building Code Section 1609 governs wind loads and the protection of openings; Section 1609.1.2 requires impact-rated glazing or impact-resistant coverings in WBDR and HVHZ.
TAS 201 is the large-missile impact test. TAS 202 is the structural air-pressure test. TAS 203 is the 9,000-cycle wind-pressure cycling test. A glazing system must pass all three for HVHZ NOA approval.
An NOA (Notice of Acceptance) is the Miami-Dade County Product Control document certifying a glazing system meets HVHZ test requirements. Each NOA specifies system, size, glass make-up, design pressure, and anchorage.
Typically 5 years, renewable on retest. Always confirm the NOA is current at the time of permit submission.
The wind load (PSF) a glazing system is rated to withstand, with positive (push) and negative (suction) values. Florida HVHZ typically requires +/-75 to +/-100 PSF depending on building height and exposure.
Only systems with current Miami-Dade NOAs. Common HVHZ-approved systems ACG installs include PGT WinGuard, ESWindows ES425 impact, Euro-Wall E68 impact, and Slimpact slim-profile impact.
WBDR (Wind-Borne Debris Region) covers coastal Florida and uses Florida Product Approvals based on ASTM E1886/E1996. HVHZ is a stricter subset (Miami-Dade and Broward) requiring Miami-Dade NOAs based on TAS 201/202/203. All HVHZ-approved systems are WBDR-acceptable; the inverse is not true.
Yes. American Commercial Glass (FL CGC #1531993) installs HVHZ-approved glazing across Miami-Dade and Broward, supplying NOA documentation in every submittal package.
HVHZ products must pass TAS 201 (large- and small-missile impact), TAS 202 (air, water, structural, and forced-entry performance), and TAS 203 (cyclic pressure simulating sustained hurricane winds). American Commercial Glass specifies tested, approved systems and has Florida HVHZ and Miami-Dade NOA compliance experience on commercial work.
The large-missile impact test fires a roughly 9-pound, 2x4 wood missile at a glazing product multiple times, after which the product must survive positive and negative cyclic pressure while remaining in place and operable. Products that pass earn HVHZ approval. American Commercial Glass installs systems certified to this standard across Florida.
The High-Velocity Hurricane Zone covers Miami-Dade and Broward counties, plus coastal portions of Palm Beach and Monroe counties, where wind speeds can reach 170–200 mph. American Commercial Glass, headquartered in West Palm Beach, has HVHZ and Miami-Dade NOA compliance experience on commercial glazing projects in these zones.