If you’re a homeowner living near the waterfront in Clearwater or near a marine life preserve anywhere else in the state of Florida, you might have heard of Turtle Glass. Maybe a contractor mentioned it to you, or a installation expert might have said that you might need to install Turtle Glass windows in your home for all the windows facing the beach.
If you’re looking to install new windows in a zone that falls under Florida Building Code Section 3109, then you’ll need to know all about Turtle Glass: What it is, whether your home needs it, and where you can get it.
What Is Turtle Glass?
Turtle Glass, sometimes called ‘turtle-safe glass,’ is a name for glass that has been manufactured or given a coating to minimize visible transmittance (VT) through the glass.
To be considered ‘turtle safe,’ Turtle Glass must, as specified in Section 3109.6.2.1.6 of the Florida Building Code, “be tinted to a transmittance value (light transmission from inside to outside) of 45% or less through the use of tinted glass, window film, or similar light control measures.”
Why Is It Called “Turtle Glass?”
The name for this glass is because the Florida Building Code regulation specifying its use is designed chiefly to protect marine life. Specifically, it is intended to prevent disruptions of the marine turtle nesting season.
Strong light sources, such as spotlights or even the normal lights in your home may, as noted in FBC 3109, “deter adult female sea turtles from nesting or disorient hatchlings.” This can have a negative impact on the survival of sea turtles.
By preventing light pollution from reaching the beaches where sea turtles nest and lay their eggs, Turtle Glass helps keep the turtles safe. It also helps minimize human impacts on other marine life that may otherwise be attracted to the bright lights at nighttime.
Does My Clearwater Home Require Turtle Glass?
The answer is: “It depends.” If your home falls within “Zone 2” as specified by FBC 3109, then yes, your windows will need to be made using Turtle Glass… unless your home falls under one of the exceptions to the rule.
What Is Zone 2, According to FBC 3109?
According to FBC 3109, Zone 2 consists of the area that “extends landward for 300 feet from the coastal construction control line established on December 19, 1978… or to where the seaward right-of-way line of a State or County road occurs closer to the coastal construction control line than 300 ft.”
In other words, if you can see the beach from your house, odds are good that you fall under Pinellas County’s regulations regarding the controlled use, design, and positioning of lights to “provide protection for nesting marine turtles and their hatchlings during the nesting season.”
What Are the Exceptions to the Turtle Glass Rule?
FBC 3109 does outline a few exceptions to the ‘Coastal Code’ requirements. The biggest exemption is for “existing structures or structures under construction or for which a valid Pinellas County or municipal building permits were issued, prior to December 19, 1978.”
So, an existing home that’s been there since before 1978, when the requirement was first passed, is exempt from the requirement to use Turtle Glass. However, any new permits to replace existing windows would need to follow the current building code.
Are There Any Other Benefits to Using Turtle-Safe Glass?
What if you don’t need turtle glass? Are there other benefits to using it in your home? Even without the regulatory requirements, there are some reasons why you might want to use glass that has a low visible light transmittance, such as:
- Enhanced Privacy. Stronger window tints that minimize light transmission from your home to the outside can be a good fit for homeowners who want to enhance their privacy.
- Glare Reduction. Tinted glass helps reduce the glare from the sun. This can be especially beneficial in the mornings and evenings when the sun is rising or setting if you have large windows facing the east and west.
Some other benefits of turtle glass may vary depending on the manufacturer. For example, some sources tout that Turtle Glass improves UV protection or reduces heat gain… but this isn’t necessarily the case.
A window’s visible transmittance does not always match its UV protection, solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), or U factor values. These are separate measurements. To be considered Turtle Glass, a window only needs to have a low VT.
It is possible to have a window with a very dark tint that doesn’t do a thing to stop the heat of the sun coming into your home, and a window that is perfectly clear while significantly reducing how much of the sun’s radiation and heat makes it into your home.
So, when looking at heavily-tinted windows, be sure to check the U-factor, SHGC, and VT stats as well to find a window that meets all of your needs.
Who Makes Turtle Glass?
Where can you find Turtle Glass in Florida? Several different Florida-based window manufacturers have Turtle Glass options available for their windows.
For example, PGT offers dark glass tints that qualify as Turtle Glass. Simonton also has a line of ProSolar Turtle Glass options that combine energy efficiency, durability, and glare reduction. Simonton’s option exceeds the minimum Turtle Glass requirement in FBC 3109, “only allowing 40% of visible light to be projected through the window to the shore.”
Karoly Windows & Doors works with both Simonton and PGT Windows to provide top-quality Turtle Glass windows to homeowners throughout Clearwater.
Need compliant Turtle Glass window (or glass door) installation for your beachside home in Clearwater? Reach out to the Karoly Windows & Doors team and request a quote!
One of our window experts will come to your home to take in-person measurements so you get the most accurate estimate for your window installation with no surprises!
