Are Your Windows Up to the Florida Building Code?

The Florida Building Code, abbreviated as the FBC, is a state-wide set of regulations that is applied to all buildings in Florida. The FBC’s rules cover a wide range of topics, such as:

• General standards for all buildings
• Specific standards for buildings based on use
• Product approval requirements for building materials
• Special rules based on building region (for example, stricter rules for buildings in wind-borne debris [WBD] regions or flood zones)
• Considerations for buildings based on elevation
• Environmental protection rules for buildings (such as the Turtle Glass requirement for structures near vulnerable wildlife nesting sites)

Every few years, the Florida Building Code gets updated based on the latest version of the International Code Council’s (ICC’s) standards for buildings. 

And therein lies the problem for many homeowners in Florida. When their homes were initially built, they were built according to the requirements of the FBC at that time. However, in the intervening decades, the requirements of the Code may have changed. So, homes that were once in compliance with FBC regulations now need an update that is compliant with the new version of the Code.

So, when some homeowners try to get a like-for-like replacement for their windows or other major components of the home requiring a permit application, they get blindsided by a denial since the old components don’t meet the new requirements.

Which leads to a question: Are your windows up to date with the current version of the Florida Building Code? If not, it’s probably time to replace them!

How Do I Know if My Windows Meet Florida Building Code Requirements?

Here’s a common question for homeowners who are worried that their home might not be up to code. They wonder if there’s an easy way to know if their current windows are in line with the most recent version of the Florida Building Code.

This can be especially difficult if the windows were the ones included in the building when you first purchased your home and you don’t have the original permit application documents. 

In that case, you may not even know what make and model of windows you have in each window opening of your home, much less whether they match up with FBC requirements.

Step 1: Identify the Window

So, how can you tell if your existing windows are in line with the FBC? The first step is to identify your windows.

Every window should have a permanent label on the window frame with a set of identifying numbers that you can use with the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) Certified Products Directory search tool. In addition to the permanent label in the frame, the window glass should also have identifying markings which can help you find the manufacturer and model name.

Step 2: Check if Your Home Is in a Wind Borne Debris Region

Your home may or may not need to meet extra stringent requirements for wind mitigation depending on where your home is located. If your home is located in a wind borne debris region (WBD), then your window openings will require protection against strong winds and flying storm debris (such as can be provided by an impact-rated window).

You can check this by using the ASCE Hazard Tool and entering your address. Or, you can contact your local municipal government and request more detailed information about all of the hazards and special building restrictions that apply to your home.

Step 3: Check Your Window Against the List of Approved Products in Florida

Once you know the name of your window or its model number, you can enter that information into the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Product or Application Search Tool to see if the window is currently approved for installation in Florida inside or outside of a high-velocity hurricane zone (HVHZ).

If you get really granular, you can even look for approved replacement windows that have specific design pressure ratings. 

If your window appears on the current list of approved products, it may still be in compliance with the FBC. If it isn’t, then it’s definitely time to get your window replaced!

This process is also good for helping you identify that the windows your installer puts in are the genuine article and not knockoffs designed to simply imitate leading brands without actually matching their quality.

Alternative Method: Consult an Expert

Having difficulty finding the markings on your windows or researching them using the online tools available? Don’t worry! That’s what experts are for. You can reach out to a window installation professional to request an in-person inspection.

This can be a great way to save time and effort while getting a clear “yes” or “no” answer about whether your windows meet the code requirements for your home.

Am I Required to Replace My Windows if the Florida Building Code Changes?

No. You are not required to make changes to your home as soon as the Florida Building Code is updated. 

As noted by Lamacchia Realty in a guide explaining code changes: “Permits issued after the code’s effective date must comply with the new standards.” Existing buildings and fenestration put in prior to the effective date of the updated code are ‘grandfathered’ in under the old rule and do not have to be immediately replaced with code-compliant alternatives.

However, with that being said, any remodeling or replacement work requiring a permit application will need to follow the newest version of the Florida Building Code in order to be approved.

Additionally, the actual installation work also needs to pass inspection to verify that it meets code.

What to Do If Your Windows Don’t Meet FBC Requirements

So, say you check out your windows and they don’t meet the minimum requirements for the latest version of the Florida Building Code. What can you do?

While you don’t have to change your windows right away just because the old ones aren’t in line with the newest version of the code, it is a good idea to make changes to bring your windows in line with the FBC as soon as possible.

Why? 

Because, the regulations in the Building Code are written in blood. These rules are designed to prevent repeats of past tragedies so they do not happen again. When the code changes, it’s because the ICC changed in response to some previously-unforeseen hazard. 

Replacing your out-of-compliance windows with newer ones that do meet the compliance requirements is a good idea if only because it helps improve your home’s safety against the hazards the code was written to address.

Future-Proof Your Home with Windows That Go Above and Beyond the Florida Building Code!

Looking for new windows to match the newest version of the Florida Building Code? Don’t just get the bare minimum quality of window and installation… Get new windows that go above and beyond to future-proof your home as much as possible!

Karoly Windows & Doors can help you get the best windows to protect your home from the worst effects of hurricane season. Reach out today to request a free in-home window inspection and consultation!