Residential Window Code Requirements in Florida

If you have done any construction on your home, you know it is crucial to comply with state building codes. State building codes are laws that outline all the regulations for construction in that state. So what are the residential window code requirements that homeowners should be aware of when starting their window replacement project? 

 

Let's outline some of the most critical pieces of the Florida codes.

 

Safety-Focus

Before diving into the critical residential building codes, it is essential to note that the Florida building code has evolved. Living in Florida has many advantages, but on the flip side, there are weather-related risks that are foreign to most of the country. As such, experts wrote the codes with the health and safety of the public in mind.

 

Impact-Resistance

Much of the state of Florida can be prone to winds of 130 miles per hour or more. Due to the significant threat of hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida, there are codes in place to ensure homeowners' safety. The regulation states that openings in a structure must be either made of impact-resistant material or use impact coverings, such as accordion shutters or hurricane panels. 

 

Your location in Florida can further define your window requirements regarding impact resistance. For example, the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) is a region in the southeast of Florida (Miami/Dade and Broward Counties) where the Florida Building Code requires you to have HVHZ products installed in your home.

 

For much of the rest of the state, properties are regulated by Florida Building Code (FBC) and must have FBC approval to be installed on your home. Have your window professional check the specific requirements for the county where you live when selecting your windows.

 

Egress Windows

The word "Egress" means "the action of going out or leaving a place." So an egress window is large enough to use as an emergency exit. For a window to qualify as an egress window, you must be able to open the window from the interior of the home without tools or keys and climb out. Specific dimensions are required to distinguish the window as one a human will fit through.

 

Building code documents contain hundreds of pages of information, rules, and regulations. Choose a reputable company that is familiar with these codes when you start construction on your home. The right company, with the right experts, will give you the peace of mind that you are abiding by residential window codes with your home project. 

 

Trust The Window Depot to help guide you through your window replacement decisions. We are an exterior home remodeling company based in Tampa Bay, Florida, offering the best in windows, doors, siding, and more to update our customers' homes' beauty, value, energy efficiency, and safety. We specialize in enhancing a home's beauty, making it as energy efficient as possible, and improving its defense against the forces of nature, such as hurricanes. 

 

Our goal is to provide a clean, prompt, and professional home improvement experience from start to finish. That is The Window Depot difference. Contact us to get a free online quote or call us at 813-901-5555.

 

 

Sources:

https://www.pgtwindows.com/blog/florida-building-codes-how-they-started-what-it-means-for-you/

https://www.storm-solutions.net/blog/what-are-floridas-egress-window-requirements

 

 
Location: 4154 Corporate Ct, Palm Harbor, FL 34683, USA

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