Roofing in Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone

Where the HVHZ applies

The Florida Building Code, Building defines the high-velocity hurricane zone as Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The 8th Edition (2023) of the code took effect on December 31, 2023, and the Florida Building Commission's site already posts material on the 2026 update.

Sections 1512 through 1525 of chapter 15 set the zone's minimum requirements for roofing components, systems and assemblies and their waterproofing. Section 1512.2 applies them, with their roofing application standards (RAS) and testing application standards (TAS), in the HVHZ or wherever a local jurisdiction has adopted them under section 553.73 of the Florida Statutes.

Product approval comes first

In the zone, every roofing component, system and assembly must carry a valid and current product approval. Where a manufacturer's literature conflicts with the approval, the approval prevails; where the approval conflicts with something chapter 15 expressly addresses, the chapter prevails. Asphalt shingles, tile and metal panels are labeled on the underside with the code insignia, the approval number or the words Florida Building Code, Building Product Approved, plus the maker's initials or logo.

Miami-Dade product control and the NOA

Miami-Dade County's Product Control Section, in the Board and Code Administration Division, reviews and approves or denies building envelope products including roofing, windows, doors, skylights and shutters. The county requires the testing laboratories behind those approvals to be certified by Miami-Dade, and it lists an approval term of five years, with five-year renewals.

The approval document is the Notice of Acceptance, or NOA. The code refers to it directly: mechanically fastened tile systems, for example, must have their static uplift results listed in the manufacturer's NOA. You can look one up on the county's product control search, which filters by file classification, including high velocity hurricane zone, and by category such as roofing.

At the state level, section 553.842 of the Florida Statutes lists roofing among the product categories that need approval, and names Miami-Dade's product control division among the evaluation entities the Florida Building Commission specifically approves.

The TAS protocols behind an approval

The 2023 Florida Building Code, Test Protocols for High Velocity Hurricane Zone, Eighth Edition, took effect December 31, 2023. Its contents list these roofing tests among others, summarised here by title:

Chapter 15 says which protocol applies to which roof. Asphalt shingle systems must meet TAS 100, TAS 107, ASTM D3462 and ASTM D3018, under a quality control program with an unannounced follow-up visit by an independent listing agency. Continuous systems must pass TAS 110 and TAS 114 and resist at least 90 pounds per square foot of tested uplift pressure. A 2:1 margin of safety applies to wind uplift test results, and 1.45:1 to on-site tests.

A shingle roof in the zone

Section 1518.7 requires shingles to be installed under RAS 115 and limits them to a mean roof height of 33 feet unless the product approval says otherwise. Each shingle takes at least six approved nails or fasteners, and the starter course, eaves, rakes, valleys and gable ends are set in an 8-inch bed of approved adhesive or roofing cement. Perimeter terminations and valleys must be metal.

Permits and inspections

A permit is required in the zone for the application, repair or maintenance of any roofing component, except where Section 105 allows otherwise. New roofs, re-roofs, repairs and maintenance all need the HVHZ Uniform Roofing Permit Application, completed and executed by a licensed contractor. For shingle and tile roofs, the building official inspects at the base sheet or underlayment, at the cap sheet and during installation of the roof covering. Adhesive-set and mortar-set tile also needs a TAS 106 field verification and static uplift test before final inspection.

Hiring for an HVHZ roof

Section 1512.2.5 requires HVHZ roofing work to be done by a qualified contractor licensed to perform roofing. NRD's roofing licensing guide points to each state's lookup, the find-a-roofer directory helps you shortlist, and the NRD Storm Center is the place to start after a hurricane. Roofers who work in the zone can claim a listing.

Frequently asked questions

How do roofing products get approved statewide in Florida?

Section 553.842 of the Florida Statutes sets several routes to statewide approval, including a certification mark or listing, a test report from an approved laboratory and an evaluation report from an approved entity. Miami-Dade's product control division is one of the entities the commission specifically approves.

How long does a Miami-Dade product approval last?

The county lists five years for a first approval and five years for each renewal.

Do the HVHZ test protocols cover hail?

By title, yes: TAS 114's Appendix F is a test procedure for susceptibility to hail damage for roofing systems. The 2024 IRC's roof chapter has no comparable hail rating; see the IRC wind and hail guide.