Quick answer: HVHZ-rated glass is glazing tested and approved for use in Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone — Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and portions of Palm Beach County. It must pass three tests: TAS 201 (large missile impact), TAS 202 (uniform static air pressure), and TAS 203 (cyclic wind pressure). Approval is documented via a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) or a Florida Product Approval (FL #).
The HVHZ covers all of Miami-Dade County, all of Broward County, and portions of Palm Beach County east of Military Trail. Inland Palm Beach County and points north use the standard Florida Building Code wind requirements — not HVHZ. The boundary matters because it changes which products you can legally install.
TAS 201 fires a 9-pound 2x4 lumber projectile at the glass at 50 feet per second to simulate flying debris. TAS 202 applies static positive and negative wind pressure equivalent to design wind loads. TAS 203 cycles positive and negative pressure 9,000 times to simulate sustained hurricane wind.
Both are valid. A Miami-Dade NOA is issued by the Miami-Dade County Product Control Section. A Florida Product Approval (FL #) is issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Both reference the same testing. Outside HVHZ counties, FL # is sufficient. Inside HVHZ, the AHJ typically wants the Miami-Dade NOA.
Laminated glass with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or SentryGlas Plus (SGP) interlayer is standard. Common impact assemblies use 1/8" + .090 PVB + 1/8" outboard with a 1/4" tempered inboard in a sealed insulating unit. Framing matters too — the entire assembly (frame + glass + sealant + anchor) is tested together, not just the glass.
1) Specifying glass alone instead of the full tested assembly. 2) Mixing glass from manufacturer A with frame from manufacturer B when the NOA is for the combined assembly. 3) Wind load on the drawings exceeds the design pressure rating on the NOA. 4) Approved alternates not properly documented. 5) NOA expired (NOAs have expiration dates — check before submittal).
HVHZ-rated glass is glazing tested for use in Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which covers Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and parts of Palm Beach County. It must pass TAS 201, 202, and 203 testing and carry a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or Florida Product Approval.
HVHZ applies in all of Miami-Dade County, all of Broward County, and portions of Palm Beach County east of Military Trail. The rest of Florida follows standard Florida Building Code wind requirements.
All HVHZ-rated glass is impact glass, but not all impact glass is HVHZ-rated. Inland Florida projects can use impact glass that meets ASTM E1996/E1886 without requiring the more stringent HVHZ TAS 201/202/203 testing.
Not legally — Florida Product Approval (FL #) is accepted statewide. But many AHJs in Broward and Palm Beach prefer to see Miami-Dade NOAs because they reference HVHZ-level testing.
Check the Miami-Dade County Product Control Section's online database. Search by manufacturer or NOA number. Confirm the expiration date is in the future — NOAs are issued for 5-year terms and must be renewed.
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