TAS 201, 202, 203 — Florida HVHZ glazing testing protocols

What TAS stands for

TAS stands for Testing Application Standard. The TAS protocols are a set of test procedures developed and administered by the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, Product Control Section. They were created specifically for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) — Miami-Dade and Broward counties — and govern how glazing and other building envelope products must be tested before they can receive a Notice of Acceptance (NOA) for HVHZ installation.

TAS protocols are distinct from the national ASTM standards used elsewhere in Florida. While ASTM E1886 and E1996 govern hurricane glazing in non-HVHZ regions of Florida, only TAS-based testing produces the Miami-Dade NOA required in HVHZ. The TAS numbering system covers a range of building envelope test types; TAS 201, TAS 202, and TAS 203 are the three protocols directly applicable to exterior glazing systems including windows, storefronts, curtainwalls, and impact-rated door systems.

Miami-Dade Product Control publishes the TAS protocols as part of its technical library. The Florida Building Code references TAS 201, 202, and 203 in FBC Section 1709 (structural tests) for HVHZ glazing products.

TAS 201 — large-missile impact test

TAS 201, formally titled Impact Test Procedures, is the large-missile impact protocol. It simulates the debris impact a glazing assembly would experience during a major hurricane — specifically, the debris-loading scenario that caused widespread failure of building envelopes in Miami-Dade and Broward during Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

Projectile and velocity

The test projectile is a 9-pound section of dimensional lumber (2x4), 8 feet long, fired at a horizontal velocity of 50 feet per second (approximately 34 mph). This projectile represents the large airborne debris — fence boards, roof decking, framing members — documented during actual hurricane events in South Florida.

Impact locations

TAS 201 requires impacts at multiple specified locations across the glazing assembly, including:

• Corner zones of the glazed panel
• Edge zones along the perimeter
• Center of the glazed panel
• Frame members, including mullions on multi-lite assemblies

This multi-location approach is more rigorous than certain national standards, which may require fewer impact points per specimen. The objective is to identify weak points in the assembly that a single-location test might miss.

Pass criteria

A glazing assembly passes TAS 201 if:

• The projectile does not penetrate through the assembly at any impact location
• The glazing material, though it may crack or fracture, remains retained within the frame (it does not fall out or create an opening in the building envelope)
• No opening large enough to allow entry of a 3-inch sphere is created

Laminated glass is the standard glazing material that achieves this performance, with the PVB (polyvinyl butyral) or SGP (SentryGlas) interlayer holding fractured glass lite in place after impact. The frame, glazing pocket, and anchorage must also survive the impact intact enough to allow the specimen to proceed to TAS 202 and TAS 203.

TAS 202 — structural performance test

TAS 202, formally titled Criteria for Testing Impact and Non-Impact Resistant Building Envelope Components Using Uniform Static Air Pressure, confirms that the glazing assembly achieves its rated design pressure (DP) under static loading in both positive (inward, windward push) and negative (outward, leeward suction) directions.

Test procedure

The test chamber applies uniform static air pressure across the face of the glazing assembly. The sequence for an impact-rated product (one that has already passed TAS 201) is:

1. Apply the required positive design pressures in incremental steps, recording deflection and performance at each step
2. Release to zero pressure
3. Apply the required negative design pressures in incremental steps
4. Perform air infiltration testing at specified pressure differentials
5. Perform water infiltration testing at the corresponding pressure per the test standard

For impact-rated products that will also undergo TAS 203, one specimen is sufficient for TAS 202. For non-impact products (where TAS 201 and 203 are not required), three specimens must be tested to TAS 202.

Pass criteria

A glazing assembly passes TAS 202 if:

• No glass fractures under the rated design pressure loading
• No permanent deformation of the frame exceeds the prescribed limits after load is released
• Air infiltration rates do not exceed the maximum allowable per the standard
• No water infiltration occurs during the water test sequence

The resulting DP rating — expressed in pounds per square force (PSF) with positive and negative values — is documented in the NOA's design pressure table. The table specifies DP by frame size, so larger frames typically carry lower rated DPs than smaller frames from the same system.

TAS 203 — cyclic wind pressure loading test

TAS 203, formally titled Criteria for Testing Products Subject to Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading, is the test that most distinguishes the TAS protocol from national ASTM standards. It simulates the sustained, repetitive wind gusting that characterizes a major hurricane — not a single peak pressure event, but thousands of alternating positive and negative pressure cycles.

Test procedure

The TAS 203 test is performed on the same specimen that previously passed TAS 201 (and TAS 202). The test chamber subjects the post-impact assembly to:

• 9,000 pressure cycles alternating between positive (inward) and negative (outward) pressures
• Pressure magnitude at 1.5 times the rated design pressure in both directions
• Simultaneous wind-driven rain applied at 80% of the design pressure throughout the cycling sequence
• Total cycle duration of approximately 3 to 8 hours depending on cycle rate and DP

What 9,000 cycles represents

The 9,000-cycle requirement was derived from analysis of measured wind pressure fluctuations during actual hurricane events. A sustained-intensity hurricane passing over a fixed point can produce thousands of gusting cycles as the eyewall and rain bands move through. The cyclic test is intended to reveal fatigue failures, glazing bite degradation, sealant delamination, and fastener loosening that static pressure tests would not detect.

Pass criteria

A glazing assembly passes TAS 203 if, throughout the full 9,000-cycle sequence and immediately after:

• No water infiltration occurs during water spray application
• No structural failure of the frame, anchorage, or glazing retention system occurs
• No fastener withdrawal or loosening beyond allowable limits
• The assembly remains substantially intact and capable of maintaining building envelope integrity

Testing sequence: TAS 201, then 202, then 203

For an impact-rated glazing system seeking HVHZ NOA approval, the three TAS tests are performed in a prescribed, sequential order on the same specimen. The sequence is not interchangeable:

This sequential testing on a single specimen is significant: the cyclic loading in TAS 203 is applied to an assembly that has already absorbed missile impacts. This replicates the real-world scenario where a building envelope is struck by debris early in a storm and must continue to perform through hours of sustained wind pressure.

Why all three TAS tests are required for HVHZ NOA

Each of the three tests addresses a distinct failure mode observed during actual hurricane events in South Florida:

• TAS 201 addresses missile penetration — the scenario where airborne debris breaches the building envelope, allowing wind pressure inside the structure, which can then blow out walls and the roof from inside.
• TAS 202 addresses structural capacity under wind load — the scenario where the glazing system deflects or fails under the peak pressure of the storm, separate from any debris impact.
• TAS 203 addresses sustained hurricane gusting and fatigue — the scenario where a system that can withstand a single impact and a single peak pressure load degrades over hours of repeated pressure cycling, eventually allowing water infiltration or structural failure.

Miami-Dade Product Control requires all three because the building code analysis after Hurricane Andrew showed that failures often involved multiple causes: a system weakened by debris impact, then failed structurally under sustained wind load, then allowed water to enter and cause secondary damage. Requiring all three tests — on the same post-impact specimen — addresses this multi-stage failure scenario.

There are no exceptions or substitutions. A glazing assembly with only TAS 201 and TAS 202 results, or only TAS 202 and TAS 203, does not qualify for an HVHZ NOA. All three are required.

TAS vs. ASTM E1886/E1996 — the non-HVHZ comparison

Outside of HVHZ, Florida glazing in Wind-Borne Debris Regions (WBDR) uses ASTM E1886 (test method) and ASTM E1996 (performance specification) to qualify for a Florida Product Approval (FPA). Understanding the differences helps clarify why HVHZ requirements are more stringent:

A system holding a current Miami-Dade NOA satisfies both HVHZ and non-HVHZ Florida requirements. An FPA-only system cannot be used in Miami-Dade or Broward. For multi-county Florida projects spanning HVHZ and non-HVHZ jurisdictions, specifying TAS-tested systems uniformly simplifies the submittal process.

Note that the Florida Building Code allows Florida Product Approval for HVHZ when the FPA was specifically obtained using TAS protocols — effectively the same testing path as an NOA. This applies to products that went through the state FPA system using TAS testing rather than the Miami-Dade NOA track. In practice, most HVHZ product approvals for glazing appear as Miami-Dade NOAs.

TAS revision history

The active versions of the three protocols for glazing are TAS 201-94, TAS 202-94, and TAS 203-94. The "-94" suffix denotes the year of adoption: 1994. This was the year Miami-Dade County formally codified the post-Hurricane Andrew building code reforms into its product approval testing framework.

Origin: Hurricane Andrew (1992)

Hurricane Andrew made landfall in South Florida on August 24, 1992, as a Category 5 storm. The damage assessment that followed documented widespread failures of glazing and building envelopes that had been considered compliant with then-current codes. The investigation found that many systems had not been tested under conditions representative of actual HVHZ hurricane loads: multiple missile impacts, sustained gusting, and simultaneous wind-driven rain.

Miami-Dade County undertook a comprehensive review of its product approval standards following Andrew, leading to the development of the TAS protocol family. The 1994 adoption date reflects the approximately two-year timeline from the 1992 hurricane event to the formal codification of the new requirements.

Current status

TAS 201-94, TAS 202-94, and TAS 203-94 remain the referenced versions under the current (2023, 8th Edition) Florida Building Code for HVHZ glazing product approval. The protocols have not been substantially revised since 1994, reflecting their continued technical validity. Any regulatory updates or interpretations from Miami-Dade Product Control are issued as product approval notices on the Miami-Dade County website rather than as full protocol revisions.

What gets tested: the full assembly

TAS 201, 202, and 203 are not tests of individual components. They are tests of the complete glazing assembly as it will be installed in the field. The tested assembly includes:

• Frame — the complete extrusion profile, including all thermal breaks, reinforcing, and hardware cutouts
• Glass make-up — the exact glass specification: number of lites, individual lite thicknesses, interlayer material (PVB, SGP, or ionoplast), interlayer thickness, and any coatings or films
• Glazing pocket and bite — the depth of glass engagement in the frame pocket and the glazing method (dry-set, wet-set, structurally glazed)
• Sealant — perimeter and glazing sealants used in the test assembly
• Anchorage — the fasteners, spacing, and substrate type used to attach the frame during the test

The test is conducted at the maximum frame size the manufacturer intends to certify. Testing at maximum size is most conservative because larger frames experience greater deflection and bending moment under the same pressure loading.

The resulting NOA documents every one of these parameters. Field installations must match the tested configuration within the size limits and to the specifications in the NOA. Any substitution — a different glass interlayer, a different sealant, anchorage at wider spacing, a frame larger than the tested envelope — is not covered by the NOA and must be evaluated separately.

Field installation must match the tested configuration

The TAS test protocol is only meaningful if field installations replicate what was tested. The Florida Building Code and the NOA conditions both require that field installation match the tested configuration in the following respects:

Frame size envelope

The NOA specifies the maximum tested width and height for each system and design pressure. An opening larger than the tested envelope is not covered. For oversized openings, the manufacturer must either have tested a larger specimen (and hold an NOA covering that size) or provide project-specific engineering and a separate approval pathway.

Glass make-up

The glass specification in the NOA must be followed exactly: number of lites, each lite's thickness, interlayer material and thickness, and any specified coatings. Substituting a different interlayer manufacturer, changing an interlayer from 0.060" to 0.090" PVB (or vice versa), or adding a low-E coating not present in the tested assembly requires a new test or explicit NOA coverage for that variant.

Anchorage

The NOA specifies the fastener type (typically stainless steel or galvanized), diameter, minimum edge distance from the frame to the substrate, maximum fastener spacing, and substrate type (concrete, CMU, steel). Installing with greater fastener spacing, shallower embedment, or into a substrate not listed in the NOA is a deviation. Many building officials perform field inspections specifically checking anchorage compliance with the NOA.

Substrate

NOAs typically specify the minimum concrete compressive strength (f'c), CMU cell fill requirements, or structural steel grade for the substrate into which anchors are installed. Substrates not addressed in the NOA require project-specific engineering review.

Where to find TAS-tested glazing systems

TAS-tested glazing systems and their associated NOAs are publicly searchable at the Miami-Dade County Product Control web portal (miamidade.gov/building/pc-search_app.asp). The portal allows search by:

• Manufacturer name
• Product category (e.g., windows, curtain walls, storefronts, doors)
• NOA number, if known
• Expiration status (active vs. expired)

Each NOA document in the portal includes the test report references confirming TAS 201, 202, and 203 testing was performed and passed. The NOA document itself is the primary verification tool — the test reports are referenced within it and may be requested from the manufacturer for detailed review.

Manufacturers also publish their current NOAs on product datasheets and distributor resources. For any NOA cited on a project submittal, always verify its current status in the Miami-Dade portal at the time of submission rather than relying solely on manufacturer-provided copies, which may reflect an older approval.

ACG's TAS-compliant manufacturer partners and example systems

American Commercial Glass installs glazing systems from seven approved manufacturer partners, all of which hold current Miami-Dade NOAs based on TAS 201, 202, and 203 testing. Example TAS-compliant systems ACG installs:

System selection for a given HVHZ project depends on the required design pressure at each opening size, aesthetic requirements (sightline width, frame depth, finish), applicable fire-rating requirements, and lead time. ACG reviews the current NOA for every selected system at the time of submittal to confirm TAS coverage matches project conditions.