Installing Windows With Florida Building Code

Assess the thickness necessary for the type of glass being installed. If the glass is hollow, the minimum thickness is 3/16 inch or 4.88 mm. Standard glass is 3 7/8 inches or 98 mm in thickness. Thin units can be solid or hollow; with hollow units the thickness should be at least 3 1/8 inches or 79 mm, whereas solid units should be at least 3 inches or 76 mm thick.

Ensure that the window being installed has an acceptable wind resistance rating (see Resources). In residential units, if the window opening is located more than 6 feet above the finished grade, the window sill must be at least 24 inches above the floor of that room. Glazing between the floor and the sill must be fixed or have no openings through which a 4-inch-diameter sphere can pass through.

Check the opening where the window will be installed. Ensure the measurements fit the glass as snugly as possible to ensure the best water sealing. Once the glass is placed in the opening, ensure the window is leveled and check the window square. Fit the window correctly in the opening and make sure there are no gaps.

The surface of any areas that will be in contact with the building material must be treated with latex-based paint or a polyvinyl coating. The coating must have certain tension, tearing and water penetration properties (see Resources). Complete the installation of the window by insulating against any wind drafts or openings.

Get the window tested by an approved independent testing laboratory and labeled as compliant. The testing will be based on wind resistance, impact resistance and glazing thickness compliance. The window's installation instructions will also be taken into account when testing the window. If the window is temporarily approved, the temporary sticker must stay in place until a building official provides a permanent sticker.