The Florida Commercial Glazing Specifier Checklist

1. 01

   Project Discovery

   Scope, location, building type, occupancy — the inputs every later decision depends on.
   • Define the glazing scope boundary in writing — what is in the Division 08 package and what belongs to other trades (rough openings, sealant tie-ins, blocking, flashing, fire-stopping).
   • Confirm the project address and which Florida jurisdiction and building department has authority over permitting and inspections.
   • Identify the building type and occupancy classification (business, mercantile, assembly, institutional, residential) per Florida Building Code Chapter 3.
   • Establish the Risk Category (I–IV) per FBC / ASCE 7 Table 1.5-1. Essential facilities such as hospitals, emergency operations centers, and fire stations are Risk Category IV and carry higher design loads.
   • Note the mean roof height and number of stories — this drives both wind load and the frame system family that is appropriate.
   • Flag any coastal, flood, or AHJ-specific overlays (Coastal Construction Control Line, flood zone elevation, local design criteria) that add requirements beyond the base code.
   Why this matters

   Everything downstream — wind pressure, impact rating, glass make-up, frame depth, anchor design — is calculated from location, height, and occupancy. Get the Risk Category wrong and the engineer designs to the wrong load; get the scope boundary wrong and two trades both leave out the perimeter sealant. Settling these first is the cheapest insurance on the whole package.

   What's in a Division 08 scope Inclusions & exclusions ACG capabilities
2. 02

   Wind + Impact Requirements

   HVHZ vs. non-HVHZ, design pressure, product approval, and the FBC compliance path.
   • Determine whether the site is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. In Florida the HVHZ is Miami-Dade and Broward counties, where the stricter HVHZ provisions of the FBC apply.
   • Establish the ultimate design wind speed for the site from the FBC / ASCE 7 wind maps, adjusted for Risk Category, then have the engineer calculate component-and-cladding design pressures (positive and negative) for each opening zone.
   • Confirm impact resistance is required and to what level — large-missile impact at lower elevations and small-missile impact above 30 feet, tested to ASTM E1996 / E1886 (or TAS 201, 202, 203 in the HVHZ).
   • Verify each specified system carries valid documentation: a Florida Product Approval (FL number) statewide, or a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) in the HVHZ, with design pressures that meet or exceed the calculated loads.
   • Check that the product approval covers the actual configuration — size, glass make-up, anchor type, and substrate — not just the system family. Approvals are limited to the tested assembly.
   • Coordinate the anchorage and structural backup with the structural engineer so the opening can actually deliver the reactions the glazing system imposes.
   Why this matters

   This is where Florida glazing is won or lost. A building official will not approve a glazing submittal without product approval documentation that matches the calculated design pressure and the as-installed configuration. Specifying a system without a valid FL approval or NOA — or one rated below the opening's actual load — is the most common reason a glazing submittal gets rejected and the schedule slips. The HVHZ path is stricter still, and Miami-Dade and Broward will hold the line on it.

   HVHZ requirements Florida NOA explained Miami-Dade NOA TAS 201/202/203 testing FBC 1609 compliance Wind pressure calculator HVHZ zone lookup
3. 03

   Glass Performance Specs

   Laminated, tempered, low-E, solar heat gain, U-factor, and acoustic targets.
   • Specify laminated glass where impact resistance is required — define the interlayer type (PVB or the stiffer SentryGlas / SGP for higher loads) and thickness, since the interlayer governs the impact and structural performance.
   • Identify safety-glazing locations per FBC Chapter 24 / IBC 2406 (doors, sidelites, low glazing, wet areas) and call out tempered or laminated as required.
   • Set the low-E coating and the target Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). In hot, sunny Florida a low SHGC controls cooling load and helps meet the FBC Energy Conservation requirements.
   • Set the target U-factor for the glazing assembly, and confirm whether a thermally broken frame is needed to hit the overall fenestration performance.
   • Define the visible light transmittance and any tint, reflectivity, frit, or spandrel treatment so the aesthetic intent and the energy numbers agree.
   • Where noise is a concern (airports, highways, hospitality), set an acoustic STC / OITC target and confirm the glass make-up can achieve it.
   • Confirm the insulating glass unit (IGU) make-up, spacer type, and edge-seal warranty, and that the unit is compatible with the structural and impact requirements above.
   Why this matters

   Glass make-up has to satisfy three masters at once: structural and impact performance, energy code, and the architect's appearance. A spec that calls for impact resistance but a thin PVB interlayer will not pass; one that hits the look but ignores SHGC will fail the energy review. Pinning the interlayer, coating, SHGC, U-factor, and acoustic target up front keeps the IGU order from being re-cut later.

   Impact glass & doors Specialty glazing Glass weight calculator
4. 04

   Frame System Selection

   Storefront vs. curtain wall vs. window wall — matched to height and structure.
   • Match the frame family to the application: storefront for grade-level, lower-rise punched and ribbon openings; curtain wall for taller, continuous, structurally spanning facades; window wall for floor-to-floor infill between slab edges, common in multifamily.
   • Confirm the system depth and member sizing the engineer needs to carry the design pressure over the actual span — deeper mullions for taller glass and higher loads.
   • Decide pre-glazed (factory-glazed) vs. field-glazed. Pre-glazed storefront speeds the field install and tightens quality; field glazing offers flexibility on complex or large lites.
   • Specify thermal break where the energy target requires it, and confirm the finish (anodized or painted aluminum) with the architect.
   • Confirm the chosen system has a Florida Product Approval or NOA at the required design pressure for the intended configuration (tie back to Section 02).
   • Evaluate manufacturer options including ACG-authorized partners such as ESWindows, Euro-Wall, and PGT, and confirm availability and approval coverage for the system you intend to spec.
   Why this matters

   Storefront, curtain wall, and window wall are not interchangeable — they attach to the structure differently and carry load differently. Specifying storefront framing on a span that calls for curtain wall, or vice versa, leads to a value-engineering scramble after award. Knowing the building height and the design pressure first (Sections 01 and 02) makes this selection straightforward.

   Storefront vs. curtain wall Curtain wall vs. window wall Storefront systems comparison Storefront systems Curtain wall systems Window wall systems Manufacturer partners
5. 05

   Hardware + Operability

   Door hardware, panic devices, automatic operators, and ADA operating force.
   • Specify the full door hardware set for each entrance — closers, pivots or continuous hinges, locks, thresholds, weatherstripping — and coordinate keying with the owner's hardware schedule.
   • Identify exits that require panic or fire-exit hardware per the means-of-egress provisions (FBC / IBC Chapter 10) based on occupancy and occupant load.
   • Confirm ADA / FBC Accessibility compliance: maximum 5 lbf opening force on interior doors, accessible thresholds, lever or push-pull operation, and clear maneuvering clearances.
   • Where automatic operators or sliding/swinging auto-doors are specified, confirm compliance with the BHMA / ANSI A156 series and coordinate power, activation, and safety sensors with the electrical scope.
   • Coordinate access control, electrified hardware, and door position monitoring with low-voltage and security trades, including the power-transfer path.
   • For folding and multi-slide door systems, confirm the operating hardware, sill drainage, and the rough-opening tolerances the manufacturer requires.
   Why this matters

   Hardware is where glazing, electrical, security, and accessibility all meet, and it is the part of the scope most often left vague until it is too late to coordinate. An entrance that misses panic hardware on an egress door, or exceeds the ADA opening force, will not pass inspection. Specifying the full set — including the electrified and automatic pieces — up front keeps the trades from finger-pointing at close-out.

   Storefront hardware Automatic entrances Multi-slide & folding doors Allegion hardware
6. 06

   Fire-Rated Requirements

   UL listings, time ratings, fire-protective vs. fire-resistive, and listed products.
   • Identify every fire-rated opening from the architectural life-safety plan — stair and corridor enclosures, area separations, shaft walls — and the required time rating (20, 45, 60, 90, or 120 minutes).
   • Distinguish fire-protective glazing (rated against flame and smoke, tested to NFPA 252 / 257 or UL 9 / 10C, with area and use limits) from fire-resistive glazing (rated against radiant heat transfer, tested to ASTM E119 / UL 263) and apply the right category per FBC / IBC Chapter 7.
   • Verify each assembly carries a current UL listing or equivalent third-party label that matches the required rating and the actual opening size and configuration.
   • Confirm the framing is the listed fire-rated frame for the assembly — the glass and frame are tested and listed together, not mixed and matched.
   • Evaluate listed product options for the rating and aesthetic needed, including TGP fire-rated glass and framing among ACG-authorized partners, and confirm the listing covers your opening.
   • Check the permanent label and hose-stream requirements, and confirm where ceramic glazing-types versus intumescent multi-laminate products are appropriate for the rating.
   Why this matters

   Fire-rated glazing is a life-safety system and the building official treats it that way. The most common error is mixing fire-protective glazing into an opening that the code requires to be fire-resistive, or pairing rated glass with an unrated frame. Because the glass and frame are listed as one tested assembly, the listing has to match the exact opening — a missing or mismatched label fails inspection and holds the certificate of occupancy.

   Fire-rated glass systems TGP fire-rated installer
7. 07

   Submittal Package

   Shop drawings, structural calcs, product approvals, manufacturer data, and samples.
   • Shop drawings showing elevations, plans, sections, details, anchor locations, glass types by opening, and dimensions reconciled to verified field conditions.
   • Signed and sealed structural calculations from a Florida-registered engineer demonstrating the system and anchorage meet the design pressures for each zone.
   • Florida Product Approval (FL) or Miami-Dade NOA documents for every system, with the approval numbers and design pressures clearly cross-referenced to the openings.
   • Manufacturer product data, glass cut sheets with performance values (SHGC, U-factor, VLT, STC), finish specifications, and the hardware schedule.
   • Physical samples as specified — glass, finish, and any special treatments — for the architect's approval before fabrication releases.
   • Required test reports and certifications (impact, air, water, structural) referenced to ASTM E283, E330, E331, and E1996 / E1886 or the TAS protocols.
   • Warranty letters and confirmation of the review/approval workflow in the project's document system (Procore or equivalent) so the submittal log stays clean.
   Why this matters

   A complete submittal package is the difference between one review cycle and three. The two pieces most often missing are sealed structural calculations and product-approval documents that actually match the openings — and those are exactly the two the reviewer checks first. Assembling the full package up front protects the fabrication-release date, which protects the whole schedule.

   Glazing submittal package Shop drawings & submittals Submittal process
8. 08

   Schedule + Close-Out

   Lead times, install sequence, punch, and the warranty and close-out documents.
   • Get the fabrication lead time in writing from the manufacturer, measured from approved submittals — not from contract execution. Aluminum framing and impact-rated systems commonly run on the order of 8–16 weeks; specialty, custom, and fire-rated assemblies run longer. Confirm current lead times for your specific products.
   • Build the submittal-to-fabrication-to-delivery sequence into the project schedule so glazing release does not become the critical-path bottleneck behind dry-in.
   • Coordinate the install sequence with adjacent trades — rough openings ready and verified, blocking and flashing in place, and a clear path for material handling and glass hoisting.
   • Plan field water testing (AAMA 501.2 or ASTM E1105) where the spec requires it, and schedule it before interior finishes close in the openings.
   • Define the punch-list and inspection process, including the building official's final glazing and life-safety inspections.
   • Collect the close-out package: signed warranties (glass / IGU, frame finish, sealant, installation), operation and maintenance manuals, as-built shop drawings, and final product-approval documentation for the owner's records.
   Why this matters

   Glazing lead time is the quiet schedule killer. Because fabrication does not start until submittals are approved, a slow submittal cycle (Section 07) pushes delivery weeks to the right and lands glazing on the critical path behind building dry-in. Pinning lead times in writing, sequencing the install, and lining up the close-out documents keeps the scope from being the reason the certificate of occupancy waits.

   Installation timeline Permit timelines Manufacturer partners Glazing glossary

This checklist is general guidance for Florida commercial glazing, current as of 2026. Code editions, product approvals, and manufacturer lead times change. Always verify the current Florida Building Code edition, the live Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA, and confirmed lead times against your specific project, and defer to the architect of record, engineer of record, and the building official with jurisdiction.