Hi Casey1948-ga,
First, please note that you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view
many of the reference files and links included, so if you don?t
already have it, you may download a free copy here:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Now then, both Broward County and city of Coral Springs reference the
Florida Building Code, and provide links to it. See here:
Broward County Building Code Services Division website:
http://www.broward.org/building/welcome.htm
Coral Springs Building Services online:
http://www.coralsprings.org/building/index.cfm
Specific requirements for Broward and Dade counties were previously
covered under the South Florida Building Code, but all local
requirements have been superceded and are now covered under the new
Florida Building Code (FBC) in the ?High Velocity Hurricane Zone?
provisions. Here is a FAQ about the new code you may find useful:
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:boaFyEVzrwsJ:www.ibhs.org/dg.lts/id.127/building_codes.view.htm+%22What+is%22+%22high+velocity+hurricane+zone%22+florida&hl=en
Here is another reference, from the FBC Chapter 2 ?Definitions,?
Section 202 ?Definitions:?
?HIGH VELOCITY HURRICANE ZONE
This zone consists of Broward and Dade Counties.?
http://www2.iccsafe.org/florida_building_code/changed/ch-2/sec-202.pdf
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Information pertaining to hurricane shutters is in the current 2001
FBC, Chapter 24 ?Glass and Glazing,? Section 2413 ?High Velocity
Hurricane Zones Storm Shutters/External Protective Devices.? The
sections in the building code which apply to your question are:
?2413.7
Storm shutters must completely cover an opening in all directions.?
?2413.7.1 On any side of an opening, the maximum side clearance
between the shutter and a wall or inset surface shall be ¼ inch (6.4
mm). Any distance in excess of ¼ inch (6.4 mm) shall require end
closure or shutter overlap, where applicable.?
?2413.7.2 Shutter overlap shall be a minimum of 1.5 times the side
clearance between the shutter and the wall.?
The full text of this section may be found here:
http://www2.iccsafe.org/florida_building_code/changed/ch-24/sec-2413.pdf
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The full text of the 2001 Florida Building Code , which is currently
in effect, may be found here:
http://www2.iccsafe.org/florida_building_code/index.htm
Also, while local amendments are permitted, those must be published
and included with the code so they may easily be found. Also, they can
only make the requirements more stringent, not weaken them. Here?s a
FAQ about local amendments to the code:
http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fbc/local_amendments/FAQsonlocalamendments2.pdf
I was not able to find any inserts or updates or mention on either the
Broward Co. or Coral Springs websites that indicated local amendments
to the code that would affect the overlap on shutters.
On that page you may also find a link to the text of the draft of the
new 2004 Florida Building Code, which is to go into effect in Oct. of
this year. Howevever, it appears there is no change in minimum overlap
requirements, i.e.:
?2413.7
Storm shutters must completely cover an opening in all directions.
2413.7.1
On any side of an opening, the maximum side clearance between the
shutter and a wall or inset surface shall be ¼ inch (6.4 mm). Any
distance in excess of ¼ inch (6.4 mm) shall require end closure or
shutter overlap, where applicable.
2413.7.2
Shutter overlap shall be a minimum of 1.5 times the side clearance
between the shutter and wall.
Here is the text of the 2004 FBC draft of this section:
http://infosolutions.com/icce/gateway.dll/Florida%20Custom/Build2004_FL/502/515?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0
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If you are fabricating your own shutters, I would interpret this
requirement as saying the formula for determining minimum overlap for
hurricane panels would be ¼? x 1.5 = 3/8? or .375 inch. But I?d advise
caution, as the regulations indicate storm shutters should be approved
by
In practice, though, it appears overlaps, at least of slats, are
considerably more than this. Take the installation instructions, here:
http://www.stormsmart.com/window.html
One panel is 15 inches. For an opening requiring 1 ½ panels, the total
width would be 21 inches, which would indicate an overlap of 1 inch,
etc. Therefore, you might get by with just the minimum, but it?s clear
that for best effect you might need to allow more than that.
So, if you are ordering commercially made shutters, overlap will be
calculated automatically from your measurements. For instance, one
maker of storm panels instructs you to send them the measurements of
your opening, and says, ?We will determine the number of panels
needed for your structure.? Therefore, the overlap is built in. See
here: http://www.hurricaneshutters.com/hurricane-shutters-questions.htm
(Scroll down to see the ?What are the thickness of the Storm Panels??
question.
And here?s information from another maker that confirms the overlap is
built in when ordering the shutters:
http://www.stormshutters.com/storm-panels/measuring-inst.html
=========================================================================
Additional information and resources:
Detailed portion of a blog with commentary on installation of
hurricane window panels, with mention of code requirements on
thickness of aluminum and other matters:
http://geekswithblogs.net/mtreadwell/archive/2005/06/03/41820.aspx
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) ?Unified Facilities
Guide Specification? for storm shutters, updated June 2005:
http://www.ccb.org/docs/ufgshome/pdf/10716.pdf
Sun-Sentinel ?Hurricane Shutter Guide:?
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sfl-hc-shutterguide,0,2678313.htmlstory
2001 FBC Chapter 20 ?Light Metal Alloys?
Section 2003 ? High Velocity Hurricane Zones Aluminum?
http://www2.iccsafe.org/florida_building_code/changed/ch-20/sec-2003.pdf
(FEMA) ?Homebuilders Guide to Coastal Construction? contains
information about Miami-Dade product approvals for storm shutters, and
includes references to applicable sites:
http://www.flash.org/resources/files/HGCC_Fact25.pdf
I hope you will find this information helpful for your needs. If I
have misunderstood your needs, or anything isn?t clear, please use the
?Request Clarification? feature to ask before rating and/or closing
your question so I can be sure you have what you need, as I will be
glad to work with you until you?re satisfied. I hope you will never
need the protection of those shutters!
Best wishes,
Byrd-ga
Search terms used:
[florida code aluminum overlap slats "storm shutters" OR "hurricane]
[panels" OR "hurricane shutters"]
["broward county" florida "building code" hurricane]
[florida code aluminum overlap slats "storm shutters" OR "hurricane]
[panels" OR "hurricane shutters"]
["high velocity hurricane zone" florida]
[minimum overlap hurricane panels]
["coral springs" florida local building codes]
["florida building code"]
Once I ascertained that the 2001 Florida Building Code was the
appropriate regulation covering this topic, I then searched through it
for references to storm shutters, hurricane panels, aluminum and
related terms, reading the related chapters and sections to determine
if they applied to this particular application. |
