Why Florida has special window rules
After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Florida rewrote its building code. Windows are a big part of it: in a hurricane, a broken window lets wind inside, and wind inside pushes up on the roof. So the code sets a high bar for what a window must survive.
Florida Product Approval
Windows sold for use in Florida need Florida Product Approval — a state review that confirms the window passed the required tests. Each approved product has an approval number you can look up on the state's website. When we quote your project, we tell you exactly which approved products we're installing.
The tests windows must pass
Impact windows are tested with a large missile test (a 9-pound 2x4 fired at the glass) and a small missile test (steel balls for upper floors), followed by thousands of cycles of wind pressure pushing and pulling on the glass. The window must stay in its frame and the opening must stay sealed. That's what "impact rated" means — it passed these tests.
Wind zones matter
Florida's code divides the state by wind speed risk. Orlando sits inland, but the code still requires serious protection — and many Orlando-area homeowners choose impact windows even where the code would allow shutters, because shutters need to be put up before every storm and taken down after.
Permits are required
Window replacement in Florida generally requires a building permit, and the finished job gets inspected. We pull the permit and schedule the inspection as part of every project — it's not optional and it's not extra.