Miami-Dade County Impact Testing Process

        THE PROCESS

        Here’s how the Miami-Dade County product approval process works:

1.  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.
2.  Two impacts are conducted on each window and three on each door.
   (Two out of three windows also gets a structural impact.)
3.  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.
4.  This entire process is videotaped.
5.  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.
6.  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 gainst 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. WinGuard products
are both large- and small-missile resistant.

Source: The Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office

The SFLAImpact Difference! Are qualities like timeliness, responsiveness, accountability, reasonable prices, and good workmanship important to you?  They are to us.  So, in order to ensure we bring each of these qualities into each and every project, we've developed a clearly defined 6 step process to guarantee it....    We call it the SFLAImpact Difference!     Wind Protection is Job #1 Our sole focus is on Impact rated window and door systems, the future of S. Florida... All products we sell are Dade County approved... the most rigid code in the state. - Learn more about Dade County Approval tests and how they work... - Learn more about what wind speeds to expect in your area... - Learn more about the Saffir-Simpson scale and what to expect with each category...