Two kinds of approval
Florida Product Approvals are issued by the state for products used across Florida and are listed with a number that starts with FL. Miami-Dade Notices of Acceptance, or NOAs, are issued by Miami-Dade County and are required in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone.
Both documents describe exactly what was tested and what is allowed.
What is on the document
Approvals list the manufacturer, the product description, the sizes, the glass types, the frame materials, the anchors and the design pressures. They include installation drawings and an expiration date.
Read the limits carefully, because they describe what the approval actually covers.
Matching your opening
Compare your opening’s size, glass build and design pressure to the approval. If your window is larger than the approved size, or your design pressure is higher than the rating, the product does not qualify.
When in doubt, ask the manufacturer or the building department.
Keep it with the job
Inspectors often ask for the approval and the installation instructions on site. Keep them in the permit set or a binder, and confirm that the label on the product matches the approval.
Check the expiration date before you order.
