THE PROCESS
Here’s how the Miami-Dade County product approval process works:
- Windows and doors are sent to an approved lab where they are tested for air and water leakage,
structural pressure, forced entry and impact resistance.
- Two impacts are conducted on each window and three on each door.
(Two out of three windows also receive a structural impact test.)
- Then with no repairs or adjustments, the impacted windows are subjected to 9,000 cycles of
positive and negative wind loads to certify that the product can still survive hurricane-force winds.
- This entire process is videotaped.
- The videotape, test report, drawings and accompanying engineering data are submitted to
Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office, Product Control Divisions, for review by a licensed engineer.
- After approval, a recommendation is sent to the Building Code and Product Review Committee
for final approval and a Notice of Acceptance is issued.
THE IMPACT TEST
The Miami-Dade Building Code requires that every exterior opening - residential or commercial - be provided with protection against wind-borne debris caused by hurricanes. Such protection could either be shutters or impact-resistant products. There are two types of impact-resistant products: large-missile resistant and small- missile resistant.
Large-missile resistant
A product is declared large-missile resistant after it has been exposed to various impacts with a piece of
lumber weighing approximately 9 pounds, measuring 2" x 4" x 6’ in size, traveling at a speed of 50 feet per
second (34 mph). The product must pass positive and negative wind loads for 9,000 cycles, with impact
creating no hole larger than 1/16 x 5" in the interlayer of the glass.
Small-missile resistant
A product is declared small-missile resistant after it has been exposed to various impacts with 10 ball bearings
traveling at a speed of 80 feet per second (50 mph). The product is then subjected to wind loads for 9,000 cycles.
WHICH PRODUCT IS REQUIRED?
In a structure where doors and windows are located 30 feet or less from ground level, you must install products
that are large-missile impact resistant. Where doors and windows are located more than 30 feet above ground
level, you may install products that are either large-missile resistant or small-missile resistant. Broward Impact
carries a full line of products that meet both test criteria, large- and small-missile resistant.
Source: The Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office
