How does ACG handle NOA documentation on Florida projects?

American Commercial Glass includes the live NOA for every installed system in the standard submittal package on every Florida commercial project. ACG maintains a current NOA library across ESWindows, Euro-Wall, PGT, Allegion, TGP, Slimpact, and Aldora products, verifies NOA currency at the time of permit submission, and supplies any updated NOA documentation requested by the building official or owner.

Florida NOA Explained — Notice of Acceptance Guide

Q: What is a Florida NOA?

An NOA, or Notice of Acceptance, is the Florida Product Approval document issued by the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, Product Control Section. It certifies that a glazing or building product has been tested to Florida Building Code (FBC) and TAS protocols and is approved for installation in Florida’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). Each NOA specifies tested system size, glass make-up, design pressure, and anchorage.

Q: How do I read an NOA number?

NOA numbers follow the format YY-MMDD.NN, where YY is the two-digit year of issuance, MMDD is the month and day, and NN is the sequence number within that date. Example: NOA 21-1108.05 was the 5th NOA issued on November 8, 2021. The full document is available at the Miami-Dade Product Control web portal.

Q: How long is an NOA valid?

Typically 5 years from issuance. Renewal requires either re-testing or formal extension request submitted to Miami-Dade Product Control. Permit applications must reference an NOA that is current at the time the permit is issued, not just at the time of design.

Q: Where do I look up a current NOA?

Active NOAs are publicly searchable at the Miami-Dade County Product Control website. Search by NOA number, manufacturer, product category, or expiration status. American Commercial Glass maintains a live working library of NOAs for every system we install and verifies currency at the time of submittal.

Q: What does an NOA contain?

A typical NOA includes the NOA number, issue and expiration dates, manufacturer name, product description, frame size limits (maximum tested width and height), design pressure tables (allowable PSF positive and negative by size), glass make-up specification (e.g., 9/16 inch laminated with 0.090 inch PVB), anchorage details (fastener spacing, edge distance, substrate type), and any applicable installation conditions.

Q: Is an NOA the same as a Florida Product Approval (FPA)?

Not exactly. An NOA is the Miami-Dade-issued document specifically for HVHZ use. A Florida Product Approval (FPA) is a separate state-level approval administered by the Florida Building Commission for non-HVHZ Florida use under the Florida Building Code. Many products carry both. NOAs are accepted statewide as HVHZ-compliant; FPAs cover non-HVHZ jurisdictions.

Q: What happens if my NOA expires mid-project?

If a permit was issued referencing a current NOA, that NOA generally remains valid for the duration of that permit. However, if the NOA expires before permit issuance, the permit review will be held until a current NOA is referenced. ACG tracks expiration dates and proactively flags renewal needs during preconstruction.

What an NOA is

An NOA — Notice of Acceptance — is a certification document issued by the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, Product Control Section. It certifies that a manufacturer's glazing system (or other building product) has been tested to the Florida Building Code requirements for HVHZ use and is approved for installation in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

NOAs are also accepted as HVHZ compliance evidence statewide and are the universal Florida code reference for hurricane-rated glazing assemblies.

How an NOA is structured

A typical glazing NOA contains the following:

Field	Description
NOA number	Format YY-MMDD.NN (e.g., 21-1108.05)
Issue date	Date the NOA was first issued
Expiration date	Typically 5 years after issue date
Manufacturer	The named product manufacturer
Product description	System family, profile, finish
Frame size limits	Maximum tested width and height — installations larger than tested envelope are not covered
Design pressure (DP)	Allowable PSF positive and negative by frame size, in tabular form
Glass make-up	Exact glass specification (e.g., 9/16" laminated with 0.090" PVB)
Anchorage	Fastener type, spacing, edge distance, substrate requirements
Conditions	Installation requirements, accessory products, restrictions

NOA versus Florida Product Approval (FPA)

Two parallel approval mechanisms exist in Florida:

NOA — issued by Miami-Dade County for HVHZ use. Tested to TAS 201, 202, 203 protocols. Universally accepted for Miami-Dade and Broward.
FPA — Florida Product Approval, administered by the Florida Building Commission for non-HVHZ Florida use. Tested to ASTM E1886 / E1996. Accepted for non-HVHZ coastal and inland jurisdictions.

Many products carry both NOA and FPA. NOAs are accepted as HVHZ compliance statewide; an FPA-only product is not acceptable in HVHZ.

NOA workflow on an ACG project

Project specification references HVHZ compliance for exterior glazing.
ACG selects systems from approved manufacturers (ESWindows, Euro-Wall, PGT, Allegion, TGP, Slimpact, Aldora) with current NOAs covering the required design pressure and size envelope.
ACG pulls the live NOA from Miami-Dade Product Control at the time of submittal.
NOA is included in the standard submittal package alongside shop drawings, glass make-up specification, anchorage details, and DP analysis.
Building official reviews and approves.
ACG verifies NOA currency at the time of permit issuance — if any NOA has expired or been superseded, the package is updated before mobilization.
Field installation per NOA conditions; closeout documentation includes the approved NOA.

Common NOA pitfalls

Expired NOA at permit submission — the building official will hold the package until a current NOA is referenced.
Frame size outside tested envelope — installations larger than the NOA-tested envelope are not covered; the system either needs a larger-envelope NOA or a project-specific engineering analysis.
Substrate not matching NOA — anchorage callouts specify substrate types (typically concrete, CMU, steel); installing into a non-matching substrate voids the NOA.
Glass make-up substitution — substituting glass make-up from what the NOA specifies (interlayer thickness, lite thickness, low-E layer) voids the NOA. Always match the NOA glass make-up exactly.
Anchorage spacing miss — fasteners installed at intervals exceeding the NOA's maximum spacing void the NOA.

FAQ — Florida NOA

What is a Florida NOA?

An NOA (Notice of Acceptance) is the Miami-Dade County Product Control document certifying that a glazing or building product has been tested to the Florida Building Code and TAS 201/202/203 protocols and is approved for installation in HVHZ — Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

How do I read an NOA number?

NOA numbers follow YY-MMDD.NN. Example: NOA 21-1108.05 was the 5th NOA issued on November 8, 2021.

How long is an NOA valid?

Typically 5 years from issuance, renewable on retest or formal extension. Permit packages must reference a current NOA at the time of permit issuance.

Where do I look up a current NOA?

Miami-Dade County Product Control web portal — search by NOA number, manufacturer, or product category.

What does an NOA contain?

NOA number, issue and expiration dates, manufacturer, product description, frame size limits, design pressure tables, glass make-up specification, and anchorage details.

Is an NOA the same as a Florida Product Approval (FPA)?

No. An NOA is the Miami-Dade-issued HVHZ approval. An FPA is the state-issued non-HVHZ Florida approval. Many products carry both.

What happens if my NOA expires mid-project?

If a permit was issued under a then-current NOA, that NOA generally remains valid for the duration of that permit. If the NOA expires before permit issuance, the package is held until a current NOA is referenced.

How does ACG handle NOA documentation?

American Commercial Glass includes live NOAs in the submittal package on every Florida commercial project, verifies currency at permit submission, and supplies any updated documentation requested.