How are you protecting your home if it is in a high velocity hurricane zone? Here are the HVHZ solutions you can trust to keep your home safe and sound every day of the year.
No matter what part of the sunny peninsula you visit or live in, there are plenty of outdoor and indoor activities to enjoy in Florida. Every season brings different challenges, and while the Sunshine State might see more sunny days than most year round, there are several stormy days that Floridians anticipate during hurricane season.
There is a part of Florida’s building code dedicated to high velocity hurricane zones where installations and building materials undergo special testing.
In Florida, the only areas in an HVHZ are Miami Dade and Broward Counties. Here are a couple definitions from the ICC (International Code Council) you should be familiar with, including:
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- Hurricane-Prone Regions: Areas vulnerable to hurricanes defined as:
The U.S. Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts where the basic wind speed is greater than 90 mph (40 m/s) and Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. - Wind-Borne Debris Region: Portions of hurricane-prone regions that are within 1 mile (1.61 km) of the coastal mean high water line where the basic wind speed is 110 mph (48 m/s) or greater, or portions of hurricane-prone regions where the basic wind speed is 120 mph (53 m/s or greater; or Hawaii.)
- Hurricane-Prone Regions: Areas vulnerable to hurricanes defined as:
The best way to know if you live in a high velocity hurricane zone is by seeing where your home sits in a wind map.
5 HVHZ Solutions You Can Trust
Protecting your vacation home or your forever home from hurricane force winds is possible with the right solutions that you can trust. Here are five HVHZ approved solutions to better protect your home from an impending hurricane.
1. Bertha Picture Window
2. Bertha Impact Vinyl Awning Window
3. Bertha Single Hung Window
4. Bertha Sliding Glass Door 623 Series
5. French Door 5000 Series
Have HVHZ Questions? We Have Your Answers
There are several ways to prepare and protect your home from an impending hurricane, and investing in HVHZ approved installations is money well spent.
Not every solution is the same, so here are a few trade tips you will want to keep your eyes peeled for when selecting the right high velocity hurricane zone windows and doors for your home and lifestyle.
Use our dealer locator tool to find EAS HVHZ solutions and compare replacement windows for your home or click the button below to learn more about our products and our answers to the most frequently asked high-performance window and door solution questions.
